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Ninfa Radicella

Publications and source records attributed to Ninfa Radicella.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2016

A thermodynamic point of view on dark energy models

We present a conjugate analysis of two different dark energy models investigating both their agreement with recent data and their thermodynamical properties. The successful match with the data allows to both constrain the model parameters and characterize their kinematical properties. As a novel step, we exploit the strong connection between gravity and thermodynamics to further check models viability by investigating their thermodynamical quantities. In particular, we study whether the cosmological scenario fulfills the generalized second law of thermodynamics and, moreover, we contrast the two model asking whether the evolution of the total entropy is in agreement with the expectation for a closed system. As a general result, we discuss whether thermodynamic constraints can be a valid complementary way to both constrain dark energy models and differentiate among rival scenarios.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2016

Constraining the Schwarzschild-de Sitter Solution in Models of Modified Gravity

The Schwarzschild-de Sitter (SdS) solution exists in the large majority of modified gravity theories, as expected, and in particular the effective cosmological constant is determined by the specific parameters of the given theory. We explore the possibility to use future extended radio-tracking data from the currently ongoing New Horizons mission in the outskirts peripheries of the Solar System, at about 40 au, in order to constrain this effective cosmological constant, and thus to impose constrain on each scenario's parameters. We investigate some of the recently most studied modified gravities, namely $f(R)$ and $f(T)$ theories, dRGT massive gravity, and Hořava-Lifshitz gravity, and we show that New Horizons mission may bring an improvement of one-two orders of magnitude with respect to the present bounds from planetary orbital dynamics.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Constraining f(T) gravity in the Solar System

In the framework of $f(T)$ theories of gravity, we solve the field equations for $f(T)=T+αT^{n}$, in the weak-field approximation and for spherical symmetry spacetime. Since $f(T)=T$ corresponds to Teleparallel Gravity, which is equivalent to General Relativity, the non linearity of the Lagrangian are expected to produce perturbations of the general relativistic solutions, parameterized by $α$. Hence, we use the $f(T)$ solutions to model the gravitational field of the Sun, and exploit data from accurate tracking of spacecrafts orbiting Mercury and Saturn to infer preliminary insights on what could be obtained about the model parameter $α$ and the cosmological constant $Λ$. It turns out that improvements of about one-three orders with respect to the present-day constraints in the literature of magnitude seem possible.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Weak-Field Spherically Symmetric Solutions in $f(T)$ gravity

We study weak-field solutions having spherical symmetry in $f(T)$ gravity; to this end, we solve the field equations for a non diagonal tetrad, starting from Lagrangian in the form $f(T)=T+αT^{n}$, where $α$ is a small constant, parameterizing the departure of the theory from GR. We show that the classical spherically symmetric solutions of GR, i.e. the Schwarzschild and Schwarzschild-de Sitter solutions, are perturbed by terms in the form $\propto r^{2-2n}$ and discuss the impact of these perturbations in observational tests.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Kantowski-Sachs Universes sourced by a Skyrme fluid

The Kantowski-Sachs cosmological model sourced by a Skyrme field and a cosmological constant is considered in the framework of General Relativity. Assuming a constant radial profile function for the hedgehog ansatz, the Skyrme contribution to Einstein equations is shown to be equivalent to an anisotropic fluid. Using dynamical system techniques, a qualitative analysis of the cosmological equations is presented. Physically interesting features of the model such as isotropization, bounce and recollapse are discussed.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2014

Constraints on Covariant Horava-Lifshitz Gravity from frame-dragging experiment

The effects of Horava-Lifshitz corrections to the gravito-magnetic field are analyzed. Solutions in the weak field, slow motion limit, referring to the motion of a satellite around the Earth are considered. The post-newtonian paradigm is used to evaluate constraints on the Horava-Lifshitz parameter space from current satellite and terrestrial experiments data. In particular, we focus on GRAVITY PROBE B, LAGEOS and the more recent LARES mission, as well as a forthcoming terrestrial project, GINGER.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2014

Detectability of Torsion Gravity via Galaxy Clustering and Cosmic Shear Measurements

Alterations of the gravity Lagrangian introduced in modified torsion gravity theories---also referred to as $f(T)$ gravity---allows for an accelerated expansion in a matter dominated Universe. In this framework, the cosmic speed up is driven by an effective `torsion fluid'. Besides the background evolution of the Universe, structure formation is also modified because of a time dependent effective gravitational constant. Here, we investigate the imprints of $f(T)$ gravity on galaxy clustering and weak gravitational lensing to the aim of understanding whether future galaxy surveys could constrain torsion gravity and discriminate amongst it and standard general relativity. Specifically, we compute Fisher matrix forecasts for two viable $f(T)$ models to both infer the accuracy on the measurement of the model parameters and evaluate the power that a combined clustering and shear analysis will have as a tool for model selection. We find that with such a combination of probes it will indeed be possible to tightly constrain $f(T)$ model parameters. Moreover, the Occam's razor provided by the Bayes factor will allow us to confirm an $f(T)$ power-law extension of the concordance $Λ{\rm CDM}$ model, were a value larger than 0.02 of its power-law slope measured, whereas in $Λ{\rm CDM}$ it is exactly 0.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2014

Thermodynamics of the unified dark fluid with fast transition

In the so-called unified dark fluid models, the dark sector gets simplified because dark matter and dark energy are replaced by a single fluid that behaves as the former at early times and as the latter at late times. In this short paper we analyze this class of models from the thermodynamic viewpoint. While the second law of thermodynamics is satisfied, the first two derivatives of the entropies of the apparent horizon and of the energy components suffer such a sharp oscillation that doubts are raised about the soundness of this class of models.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Why we need dark energy

It is argued that dark energy -or something dynamically equivalent at the background level- is necessary if the expanding universe is to behave as an ordinary macroscopic system; that is, if it is to tend to some thermodynamic equilibrium state in the long run.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Does the entropy of the Universe tend to a maximum?

Ordinary, macroscopic systems, naturally tend to a state of maximum entropy compatible with their constraints. However, this might not hold for gravity-dominated systems since their entropy may increase without bound unless this is precluded by the formation of a black hole. In this short note we suggest, based on the Hubble expansion history, that our Universe likely behaves as an ordinary system, i.e., that its entropy seems to tend to some maximum value.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

On the stability of the Einstein Static Universe in Massive Gravity

We consider static cosmological solutions along with their stability properties in the framework of a recently proposed theory of massive gravity. We show that the modifcation introduced in the cosmological equations leads to several new solutions, only sourced by a perfect fluid, generalizing the Einstein Static Universe found in General Relativity. Using dynamical system techniques and numerical analysis, we show that the found solutions can be either neutrally stable or unstable against spatially homogeneous and isotropic perturbations.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Constraining massive gravity with recent cosmological data

A covariant formulation of a theory with a massive graviton and no negative energy state has been recently proposed as an alternative to the usual General Relativity framework. For a spatially flat homogenous and isotropic universe, the theory introduces modified Friedmann equations where the standard matter term is supplemented by four effective fluids mimicking dust, cosmological constant, quintessence and stiff matter, respectively. We test the viability of this massive gravity formulation by contrasting its theoretical prediction to the Hubble diagram as traced by Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) and Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), the $H(z)$ measurements from passively evolving galaxies, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) from galaxy surveys and the distance priors from the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) anisotropy spectrum. It turns out that the model is indeed able to very well fit this large dataset thus offering a viable alternative to the usual dark energy framework. We finally set stringent constraints on its parameters also narrowing down the allowed range for the graviton mass.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Accelerating f(T) gravity models constrained by recent cosmological data

Generalised Teleparallel gravity, also referred to as f(T) gravity, has been recently proposed as an extended theory of gravitation able to give rise to an accelerated expansion in a matter only universe. The cosmic speed up is driven by an effective torsion fluid whose equation of state depend on the f(T) function entering the modified gravity Lagrangian. We focus on two particular choices for f(T) which share the nice property to emulate a phantom divide crossing as suggested by some recent data. We check their viability contrasting the predicted background dynamics to the Hubble diagram as traced by both Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) and Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), the measurement of the rate expansion H(z), the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) at different redshifts, and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) distance priors. Both f(T) models turn out to be in very good agreement with this large dataset so that we also investigate whether it is possible to discriminate among them relying on the different growth factors.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Spiral galaxies rotation curves in the Horava - Lifshitz gravity theory

We focus on a modified version of Horava - Lifschitz theory and, in particular, we consider the impact of its weak - field static spherically symmetric limit on the galaxy dynamics. In a previous paper, we used the modified gravitational potential obtained in this theory to evaluate the Milky Way rotation curve using a spheroidal truncated power - law bulge and a double exponential disc as the only sources of the gravitational field and showed that the modified rotation curved is not in agreement with the data. Making a step forward, we here include also the contribution from a dark matter halo in order to see whether this helps fitting the rotation curve data. As a test case, we consider a sample of spiral galaxies with smooth baryon matter distribution and well measured circular velocity profiles. It turns out that, although a marginal agreement with the data can be found, this can only be obtained if the dark matter halo has an unrealistically small virial mass and incredibly large concentration. Such results can be interpreted as a strong evidence against the reliability of the gravitational potential obtained in the modified version of Horava -Lifschitz theory that we consider.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2011

A thermodynamic motivation for dark energy

It is argued that the discovery of cosmic acceleration could have been anticipated on thermodynamic grounds, namely, the generalized second law and the approach to equilibrium at large scale factor. Therefore, the existence of dark energy -or equivalently, some modified gravity theory- should have been expected. In general, cosmological models that satisfy the above criteria show compatibility with observational data.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2010

On the $c^{2}$ term in the holographic formula for dark energy

It is argued that the $c^{2}$ term that appears in the conventional formula for holographic dark energy should not be assumed constant in general. Notwithstanding, there is at least an exception, namely, when the Ricci scale is chosen as the infrared cutoff length.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2010

The generalized second law in universes with quantum corrected entropy relations

We apply the generalized second law of thermodynamics to discriminate among quantum corrections (whether logarithmic or power-law) to the entropy of the apparent horizon in spatially Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes. We use the corresponding modified Friedmann equations along with either Clausius relation or the principle of equipartition of the energy to set limits on the value of a characteristic parameter entering the said corrections.

gr-qc↗