arXiv subjects

Pankaj Jain

Publications and source records attributed to Pankaj Jain.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Noncommutative Geometry and the Primordial Dipolar Imaginary Power Spectrum

We argue that an anisotropic dipolar imaginary primordial power spectrum is possible within the framework of noncommutative space-times. We show that such a spectrum provides a good description of the observed dipole modulation in CMBR data. We extract the corresponding power spectrum from data. The dipole modulation is related to the observed hemispherical anisotropy in CMBR data, which might represent the first signature of quantum gravity.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

Phenomenological Implications of Very Special Relativity

We discuss several phenomenological implications of Very Special Relativity (VSR). It is assumed that there is a small violation of Lorentz invariance and the true symmetry group of nature is a subgroup called SIM(2). This symmetry group postulates the existence of a fundamental or preferred direction in space-time. We study its implications by using an effective action which violates Lorentz invariance but respects VSR. We find that the problem of finding the masses of fundamental fermions is in general intractable in the presence of VSR term. The problem can be solved only in special cases which we pursue in this paper. We next determine the signal of VSR in torsion pendulum experiment as well as clock comparison experiment. We find that VSR predicts a signal which is different from other Lorentz violating theories and hence a dedicated data analysis is needed in order to impose reliable limits. Assuming that signal is absent in data we determine the limits that can be imposed on the VSR parameters. We also study the implications of VSR in particle decay experiments taking the charged pion and kaon decay as an example. The effective interaction between the charged pion and the final state leptons is related to the fundamental VSR mass terms through a loop calculation. We also predict a shift in the angular dependence of the decay products due to VSR. In particular we find that these no longer display azimuthal symmetry with respect to the momentum of the pion. Furthermore the azimuthal and polar angle distributions show time dependence with a period of a sidereal day. This time dependence provides us with a novel method to test VSR in future experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Testing the isotropy of the log N - log S slope for the NVSS radio catalogue

The cumulative number count $N$, of sources above a threshold is known to approximately follow a power law behaviour $N\propto S^{-x}$. We study the variation of spectral index $x$ across the sky in order to look for possible signals of violation of isotropy. We develop a rigorous algorithm of likelihood maximisation to accurately fit for the spectral index. We divide the sky into upper and lower hemispheres for a particular choice of $z$-axis and determine the difference $Δx$ between the best fit values of the spectral indices between the two hemispheres. The maximum value of this difference obtained by varying over the $z$-axis provides us with a measure of departure from isotropy. We find that the data support isotropy of the spectral index. The maximum difference is found to be 1.3\% of the full sky best fit value of $x$. The deviation is found to be significant only at 2$σ$ level which indicates a weak departure from isotropy. We also perform a dipole fit to the spectral index as a function of the angular coordinates. The result is found to be consistent with isotropy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Probing statistical isotropy of cosmological radio sources using SKA

There currently exist many observations which are not consistent with the cosmological principle. We review these observations with a particular emphasis on those relevant for Square Kilometre Array (SKA). In particular, several different data sets indicate a preferred direction pointing approximately towards the Virgo cluster. We also observe a hemispherical anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) temperature fluctuations. Although these inconsistencies may be attributed to systematic effects, there remains the possibility that they indicate new physics and various theories have been proposed to explain them. One possibility, which we discuss in this review, is the generation of perturbation modes during the early pre-inflationary epoch, when the Universe may not obey the cosmological principle. Better measurements will provide better constraints on these theories. In particular, we propose measurement of the dipole in number counts, sky brightness, polarized flux and polarization orientations of radio sources. We also suggest test of alignment of linear polarizations of sources as a function of their relative separation. Finally we propose measurement of hemispherical anisotropy or equivalently dipole modulation in radio sources.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Cosmological Power Spectrum in Non-commutative Space-time

We propose a generalized star product which deviates from the standard product when the fields at evaluated at different space-time points. This produces no changes in the standard Lagrangian density in non-commutative space-time but produces a change in the cosmological power spectrum. We show that the generalized star product leads to physically consistent results and can fit the observed data on hemispherical anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Extracting Spectral Index of Intergalactic Magnetic Field from Radio Polarizations

We explain the large scale correlations in radio polarization in terms of the correlations of galaxy cluster/supercluster magnetic field. Assuming that the polarization correlations closely follow the spatial correlations of the background magnetic field we recover the magnetic field spectral index as -2.74$\pm$0.04.This remarkably agrees with cluster magnetic field spectral index obtained in cosmological magneto-hydrodynamic simulations. We discuss possible physical scenarios in which the observed polarization alignment is plausible.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

ELKO fermions as dark matter candidates

We study the implications of the ELKO fermions as a cold dark matter candidate. Such fermions arise in theories that are not symmetric under the full Lorentz group. Although they do not carry electric charge, ELKOs can still couple to photons through a nonstandard interaction. They also couple to the Higgs but do not couple to other standard model particles. We impose limits on their coupling strength and the ELKO mass assuming that these particles give dominant contribution to the cosmological cold dark matter. We also determine limits imposed by the direct dark matter search experiments on the ELKO-photon and the ELKO-Higgs coupling. Furthermore we determine the limit imposed by the gamma ray bursts time delay observations on the ELKO-Higgs coupling. We find that astrophysical and cosmological considerations rule out the possibility that ELKO may contribute significantly as a cold dark matter candidate. The only allowed scenario in which it can contribute significantly as a dark matter candidate is that it was never in equilibrium with the cosmic plasma. We also obtain a relationship between the ELKO self-coupling and its mass by demanding it to be consistent with observations of dense cores in the galactic centers.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Non-relativistic matter and Dark energy in a quantum conformal model

We consider a generalization of the standard model which respects quantum conformal invariance. This model leads to identically zero vacuum energy. We show how non-relativistic matter and dark energy arises in this model. Hence the model is shown to be consistent with observations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

The fine tuning of the cosmological constant in a conformal model

We consider a conformal model involving two real scalar fields in which the conformal symmetry is broken by a soft mechanism and is not anomalous. One of these scalar fields is representative of the standard model Higgs. The model predicts exactly zero cosmological constant. In the simplest version of the model, some of the couplings need to be fine tuned to very small values. We formulate the problem of fine tuning of these couplings. We argue that the problem arises since we require a soft mechanism to break conformal symmetry. The symmetry breaking is possible only if the scalar fields do not evolve significantly over the time scale of the Universe. We present two solutions to this fine tuning problem. We argue that the problem is solved if the classical value of one of the scalar fields is super-Planckian, i.e. takes a value much larger than the Planck mass. The second solution involves introduction of a strongly coupled hidden sector that we call hypercolor. In this case the conformal invariance is broken dynamically and triggers the breakdown of the electroweak symmetry. We argue that our analysis applies also to the case of the standard model Higgs multiplet.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

The Dirac Form Factor Predicts the Pauli Form Factor in the Endpoint Model

We compute the momentum-transfer dependence of the proton Pauli form factor $F_{2}$ in the endpoint overlap model. We find the model correctly reproduces the scaling of the ratio of $F_{2}$ with the Dirac Form factor $F_{1}$ observed at the Jefferson Laboratory. The calculation uses the leading-power, leading twist Dirac structure of the quark light-cone wave function, and the same endpoint dependence previously determined from the Dirac form factor $F_{1}$. There are no parameters and no adjustable functions in the endpoint model's prediction for $F_{2}$. The model's predicted ratio $F_{2}(Q^{2})/F_{1}(Q^{2})$ is quite insensitive to the endpoint wave function, which explains why the observed ratio scales like $1/Q$ down to rather low momentum transfers. The endpoint model appears to be the only comprehensive model consistent with all form factor information as well as reproducing fixed-angle proton-proton scattering at large momentum transfer. Any one of the processes is capable of predicting the others.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Relating the inhomogeneous power spectrum to the CMB hemispherical anisotropy

We relate the observed hemispherical anisotropy in the cosmic microwave radiation data to an inhomogeneous power spectrum model. The hemispherical anisotropy can be parameterized in terms of the dipole modulation model. This model leads to correlations between spherical harmonic coefficients corresponding to multipoles, l and l+1. We extract the $l$ dependence of the dipole modulation amplitude, A, by making a fit to the WMAP and PLANCK CMBR data. We propose an inhomogeneous power spectrum model and show that it also leads to correlations between multipoles, l and l+1. The model parameters are determined by making a fit to the data. The spectral index of the inhomogeneous power spectrum is found to be consistent with zero.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Dipole anisotropy in sky brightness and source count distribution in radio NVSS data

We study the dipole anisotropy in number counts and flux density weighted number counts {or sky brightness} in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) data. The dipole anisotropy is expected due to our local motion with respect to the CMBR rest frame. We analyse data with an improved fit to the number density, n(S), as a function of the flux density S, which allows deviation from a pure power law behaviour. We also impose more stringent cuts to remove the contribution due to clustering dipole. In agreement with earlier results, we find that the amplitude of anisotropy is significantly larger in comparison to the prediction based on CMBR measurements. The extracted speed is found to be roughly 3 times the speed corresponding to CMBR. The significance of deviation is smaller, roughly 2 sigma, in comparison to earlier estimates. For the cut, S>30 mJy, the speed is found to be $1110\pm370$ Km/s using the source count analysis. The direction of the dipole anisotropy is found to be approximately in agreement with CMBR. We find that the results are relatively insensitive to the lower as well as upper limit imposed on the flux density. Our results suggest that the Universe is intrinsically anisotropic with the axis of anisotropy axis pointing roughly towards the CMBR dipole direction. Finally we present a method which may allow an independent extraction of the local speed and an intrinsic dipole anisotropy, provided a larger data set becomes available in future.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Relating the cosmological constant and slow roll to conformal symmetry breaking

We show that a theory with conformal invariance, which is explicitly broken by small terms, provides a solution to the fine tuning problem of the cosmological constant. In the absence of the symmetry breaking terms, the cosmological constant is zero. Its value in the full theory is controlled by the symmetry breaking terms. The symmetry breaking terms also provide the slow roll conditions, which may be useful in constructing a model of inflation.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Uncovering the Scaling Laws of Hard Exclusive Hadronic Processes in a Comprehensive Endpoint Model

We show that an endpoint overlap model can explain the scaling laws observed in exclusive hadronic reactions at large momentum transfer. The model assumes one of the valence quarks carries most of the hadron momentum. Hadron form factors and fixed angle scattering are related directly to the quark wave function, which can be directly extracted from experimental data. A universal linear endpoint behavior explains the proton electromagnetic form factor, proton-proton fixed angle scattering, and the t-dependence of proton-proton scattering at large s>>t. Endpoint constituent counting rules relate the number of quarks in a hadron to the power-law behavior. All proton reactions surveyed are consistent with three quarks participating. The model is applicable at laboratory energies and does not need assumptions of asymptotically-high energy regime. A rich phenomenology of lepton-hadron scattering and hadron-hadron scattering processes is found in remarkably simple relationships between diverse processes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Dipole Anisotropy in Integrated Linearly Polarized Flux Density in NVSS Data

We study the dipole anisotropy in integrated linearly polarization flux density in NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). We extract the anisotropy parameters in the number counts, number counts weighted by polarization observables, i.e. degree of polarization (p) and polarization flux (P). We also determine the anisotropy in the degree of polarization per source and polarization flux per source. We consider data with several different cuts on the flux density, S>10,20,30,40,50 mJy. For studies with degree of polarization we impose the additional cut 0.01 20 mJy to S>50 mJy. The corresponding direction parameters are found to be stable with the cut on flux density. The significance is even higher for the case of p weighted number counts. The observed anisotropy is found to be much larger in comparison to the CMBR expectations. We find that polarization observables show a much higher level of anisotropy in comparison to pure number counts or flux weighted number counts.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Polarization Alignment in JVAS/CLASS flat spectrum radio surveys

We present a detailed statistical analysis of the alignment of polarizations of radio sources at high redshift. We use the JVAS/CLASS 8.4-GHz surveys for our study. This study is motivated by the puzzling signal of alignment of polarizations from distant quasars at optical frequencies. We explore several different cuts on the polarization flux for our analysis. We find that the entire data shows a very significant signal of alignment on very large distance scales of order 500 Mpc. The alignment starts to decay only at much larger distances of order Gpc. If we only consider data with polarization flux greater than 1 mJy, we find alignment at distance scales less than 150 Mpc. We also find that data with polarization flux less than 0.5 mJy does not show significant alignment. Similar results are seen for data with degree of polarization less than 0.01, although here a mild signal of alignment is observed for a narrow range of angular separations. We argue that the signal cannot be explained in terms of bias due to systematic errors in removal of instrumental polarization. We also find that the degree of polarization shows a strong negative correlation with the total flux. The data appears to fall into two classes, one of which shows such a correlation. The remaining set, which has total flux greater than 100 mJy and degree of polarization lying between 0.01 and 0.1, shows a more random behaviour. The latter set is also found to show no alignment whereas the first set shows a very strong polarization alignment.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Direction dependence of the power spectrum and its effect on the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

We study several anisotropic inflationary models and their implications for the observed violation of statistical isotropy in the CMBR data. In two of these models the anisotropy decays very quickly during the inflationary phase of expansion. We explicitly show that these models lead to violation of isotropy only for low l CMBR modes. Our primary aim is to fit the observed alignment of l=2,3 multipoles to the theoretical models. We use two measures, based on the power tensor, which contains information about the alignment of each multipole, to quantify the anisotropy in data. One of the measures uses the dispersion in eigenvalues of the power tensor. We also define another measure which tests the overall correlation between two different multipoles. We perturbatively compute these measures of anisotropy and fix the theoretical parameters by making a best fit to l=2,3 multipoles. We show that some of the models studied are able to consistently explain the observed violation of statistical isotropy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

A flat space-time model of the Universe

We propose a model of the Universe based on Minkowski flat space-time metric. In this model the space-time does not evolve. Instead the matter evolves such that all the mass parameters increase with time. We construct a model based on unimodular gravity to show how this can be accomplished within the framework of flat space-time. We show that the model predicts the Hubble law if the masses increase with time. Furthermore we show that it fits the high z supernova data in a manner almost identical to the standard Big Bang model. Furthermore we show that at early times the Universe is dominated by radiative energy density. The phenomenon of recombination also arises in our model and hence predicts the existence of CMBR. However a major difference with the standard Big Bang is that the radiative temperature and energy density does not evolve in our model. Furthermore we argue that the basic motivation for inflation is absent in our model.

astro-ph.CO↗