arXiv subjects

Ruth Lazkoz

Publications and source records attributed to Ruth Lazkoz.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Phenomenological models for Unified Dark Matter with fast transition

A fast transition between a standard matter-like era and a late $Λ$ cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM)-like epoch (or more in general, a CDM+DE era), generated by a single Unified Dark Matter component, can provide a new interesting paradigm in the context of general relativity, alternative to $Λ$CDM itself or other forms of DE or modified gravity theories invoked to explain the observed acceleration of the Universe. UDM models with a fast transition have interesting features, leading to measurable predictions, thus they should be clearly distinguishable from $Λ$CDM (and alternatives) through observations. Here we look at different ways of prescribing phenomenological UDM models with fast transition, then focusing on a particularly simple model. We analyse the viability of this model by studying features of the background model and properties of the adiabatic UDM perturbations, which depend on the effective speed of sound and the functional form of the Jeans scale. As a result, theoretical constraints on the parameters of the models are found that allow for a behaviour compatible with observations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

First cosmological constraints on the Superfluid Chaplygin gas model

In this work we set observational constraints of the Superfluid Chaplygin gas model, which gives a unified description of the dark sector of the Universe as a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) that behaves as dark energy (DE) while it is in the ground state and as dark matter (DM) when it is in the excited state. We first show and perform the various steps leading to a form of the equations suitable for the observational tests to be carried out. Then, by using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) code, we constrain the model with a sample of cosmology-independent long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) calibrated using their Type I Fundamental Plane, as well as the Union2.1 set and observational Hubble parameter data. In this analysis, using our cosmological constraints, we sketch the effective equation of state parameter and deceleration parameter, and we also obtain the redshift of the transition from deceleration to acceleration: $z_t$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Observational constraints on electromagnetic Born-Infeld cosmology

The cosmological model consisting of an electromagnetic Born-Infeld (BI) field coupled to a Robertson-Walker geometry is tested with the standard probes of SNIa, GRBs and direct Hubble parameter. The analysis shows that the inclusion of the nonlinear electromagnetic component does not contribute in a significative way to the observed expansion. The BI electromagnetic matter is considered with an abundance of $Ω_{BI}$, that our best fit leads to $Ω_{BI}=0.037$ when tested with SNIa and the Hubble parameter data (0.1<z<1.75); while when tested with GRBs the result is of $Ω_{BI}=0.304$, which may indicate that this electrodynamics was important at epochs close to the appearance of large structure (redshifts of approximately 7), although this late result has not as much reliability as that corresponding to the first two probes, since we know that the dispersion in GRBs data is still considerable. In view of these results we can rule out the electromagnetic Born-Infeld matter as the origin of the present accelerated expansion, this conclusion concerns exclusively the Born-Infeld theory.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Measuring large-scale structure with quasars in narrow-band filter surveys

We show that a large-area imaging survey using narrow-band filters could detect quasars in sufficiently high number densities, and with more than sufficient accuracy in their photometric redshifts, to turn them into suitable tracers of large-scale structure. If a narrow-band optical survey can detect objects as faint as i=23, it could reach volumetric number densities as high as 10^{-4} h^3 Mpc^{-3} (comoving) at z~1.5 . Such a catalog would lead to precision measurements of the power spectrum up to z~3-4. We also show that it is possible to employ quasars to measure baryon acoustic oscillations at high redshifts, where the uncertainties from redshift distortions and nonlinearities are much smaller than at z<1. As a concrete example we study the future impact of J-PAS, which is a narrow-band imaging survey in the optical over 1/5 of the unobscured sky with 42 filters of ~100 A full-width at half-maximum. We show that J-PAS will be able to take advantage of the broad emission lines of quasars to deliver excellent photometric redshifts, σ_{z}~0.002(1+z), for millions of objects.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

SN and BAO constraints on (new) polynomial dark energy parametrizations: current results and forecasts

In this work we introduce two new polynomial parametrizations of dark energy and explore their correlation properties. The parameters to fit are the equation of state values at z=0 and z=0.5, which have naturally low correlation and have already been shown to improve the popular Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) parametrization. We test our models with low redshift astronomical probes: type Ia supernovae and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), in the form of both current and synthetic data. Specifically, we present simulations of measurements of the radial and transversal BAO scales similar to those expected in a BAO high precision spectroscopic redshift survey similar to EUCLID. According to the Bayesian deviance information criterion (DIC), which penalizes large errors and correlations, we show that our models perform better than the CPL re-parametrization proposed by Wang (in terms of z=0 and z=0.5). This is due to the combination of a lower correlation and smaller relative errors. The same holds for a frequentist perspective: our Figure-of-Merit is larger for our parametrizations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Revisiting a model-independent dark energy reconstruction method

Model independent reconstructions of dark energy have received some attention. The approach that addresses the reconstruction of the dimensionless coordinate distance and its two first derivatives using a polynomial fit in different redshift windows is well developed \cite{DalyDjorgovski1,DalyDjorgovski2,DalyDjorgovski3}. In this work we offer new insights into the problem by focusing on two types of observational probes: SNeIa and GRBs. Our results allow to highlight some of the intrinsic weaknesses of the method. One of the directions we follow is to consider updated observational samples. Our results indicate than conclusions on the main dark energy features as drawn from this method are intimately related to the features of the samples themselves (which are not quite ideal). This is particularly true of GRBs, which manifest themselves as poor performers in this context. In contrast to original works, we conclude they cannot be used for cosmological purposes, and the state of the art does not allow to regard them on the same quality basis as SNeIa. The next direction we contribute to is the question of how the adjusting of some parameters (window width, overlap, selection criteria) affect the results. We find again there is a considerable sensitivity to these features. Then, we try to establish what is the current redshift range for which one can make solid predictions on dark energy evolution. Finally, we strengthen the former view that this model is modest in the sense it provides only a picture of the global trend. But, on the other hand, we believe it offers an interesting complement to other approaches given that it works on minimal assumptions.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Comprehensive cosmographic analysis by Markov Chain Method

We study the possibility to extract model independent information about the dynamics of the universe by using Cosmography. We intend to explore it systematically, to learn about its limitations and its real possibilities. Here we are sticking to the series expansion approach on which Cosmography is based. We apply it to different data sets: Supernovae Type Ia (SNeIa), Hubble parameter extracted from differential galaxy ages, Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) and the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) data. We go beyond past results in the literature extending the series expansion up to the fourth order in the scale factor, which implies the analysis of the deceleration, q_{0}, the jerk, j_{0} and the snap, s_{0}. We use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method (MCMC) to analyze the data statistically. We also try to relate direct results from Cosmography to dark energy (DE) dynamical models parameterized by the Chevalier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) model, extracting clues about the matter content and the dark energy parameters. The main results are: a) even if relying on a mathematical approximate assumption such as the scale factor series expansion in terms of time, cosmography can be extremely useful in assessing dynamical properties of the Universe; b) the deceleration parameter clearly confirms the present acceleration phase; c) the MCMC method can help giving narrower constraints in parameter estimation, in particular for higher order cosmographic parameters (the jerk and the snap), with respect to the literature; d) both the estimation of the jerk and the DE parameters, reflect the possibility of a deviation from the LCDM cosmological model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH): An Overview

The Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) is a 524-orbit multi-cycle treasury program to use the gravitational lensing properties of 25 galaxy clusters to accurately constrain their mass distributions. The survey, described in detail in this paper, will definitively establish the degree of concentration of dark matter in the cluster cores, a key prediction of CDM. The CLASH cluster sample is larger and less biased than current samples of space-based imaging studies of clusters to similar depth, as we have minimized lensing-based selection that favors systems with overly dense cores. Specifically, twenty CLASH clusters are solely X-ray selected. The X-ray selected clusters are massive (kT > 5 keV; 5 - 30 x 10^14 M_solar) and, in most cases, dynamically relaxed. Five additional clusters are included for their lensing strength (Einstein radii > 35 arcsec at z_source = 2) to further quantify the lensing bias on concentration, to yield high resolution dark matter maps, and to optimize the likelihood of finding highly magnified high-redshift (z > 7) galaxies. The high magnification, in some cases, provides angular resolutions unobtainable with any current UVOIR facility and can yield z > 7 candidates bright enough for spectroscopic follow-up. A total of 16 broadband filters, spanning the near-UV to near-IR, are employed for each 20-orbit campaign on each cluster. These data are used to measure precise (sigma_phz < 0.02(1+z)) photometric redshifts for dozens of newly discovered multiply-lensed images per cluster. Observations of each cluster are spread over 8 epochs to enable a search, primarily in the parallel fields, for Type Ia supernovae at z > 1 to improve constraints on the time dependence of the dark energy equation of state and the evolution of such supernovae in an epoch when the universe is matter dominated.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Dynamics of dark energy models and centre manifolds

We analyse dark energy models where self-interacting three-forms or phantom fields drive the accelerated expansion of the Universe. The dynamics of such models is often studied by rewriting the cosmological field equations in the form of a system of autonomous differential equations, or simply a dynamical system. Properties of these systems are usually studied via linear stability theory. In situations where this method fails, for instance due to the presence of zero eigenvalues in the Jacobian, centre manifold theory can be applied. We present a concise introduction and show explicitly how to use this theory in two concrete examples.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Tension between SN and BAO: current status and future forecasts

Using real and synthetic Type Ia SNe (SNeIa) and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) data representing current observations forecasts, this paper investigates the tension between those probes in the dark energy equation of state (EoS) reconstruction considering the well known CPL model and Wang's low correlation reformulation. In particular, here we present simulations of BAO data from both the the radial and transverse directions. We also explore the influence of priors on Omega_m and Omega_b on the tension issue, by considering 1-sigma deviations in either one or both of them. Our results indicate that for some priors there is no tension between a single dataset (either SNeIa or BAO) and their combination (SNeIa+BAO). Our criterion to discern the existence of tension (sigma-distance) is also useful to establish which is the dataset with most constraining power; in this respect SNeIa and BAO data switch roles when current and future data are considered, as forecasts predict and spectacular quality improvement on BAO data. We also find that the results on the tension are blind to the way the CPL model is addressed: there is a perfect match between the original formulation and that by the low correlation optimized, but the errors on the parameters are much narrower in all cases of our exhaustive exploration, thus serving the purpose of stressing the convenience of this reparametrization.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Oscillations in the dark energy EoS: new MCMC lessons

We study the possibility of detecting oscillating patterns in the equation of state (EoS) of the dark energy using different cosmological datasets. We follow a phenomenological approach and study three different oscillating models for the EoS, one of them periodic and the other two damped (proposed here for the first time). All the models are characterised by the amplitude value, the centre and the frequency of oscillations. In contrast to previous works in the literature, we do not fix the value of the frequency to a fiducial value related to the time extension of chosen datasets, but consider a discrete set of values, so to avoid arbitrariness and try and detect any possible time period in the EoS. We test the models using a recent collection of SNeIa, direct Hubble data and Gamma Ray Bursts data. Main results are: I. even if constraints on the amplitude are not too strong, we detect a trend of it versus the frequency, i.e. decreasing (and even negatives) amplitudes for higher frequencies; II. the centre of oscillation (which corresponds to the present value of the EoS parameter) is very well constrained, phantom behaviour is excluded at $1σ$ level and trend which is in agreement with the one for the amplitude appears; III. the frequency is hard to constrain, showing similar statistical validity for all the values of the discrete set chosen, but the best fit of all the scenarios considered is associated with a period which is in the redshift range depicted by our cosmological data. The "best" oscillating models are compared with $Λ$CDM using dimensionally consistent a Bayesian approach based information criterion and the conclusion reached is the non existence of significant evidence against dark energy oscillations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Quintessence with quadratic coupling to dark matter

We introduce a new form of coupling between dark energy and dark matter that is quadratic in their energy densities. Then we investigate the background dynamics when dark energy is in the form of exponential quintessence. The three types of quadratic coupling all admit late-time accelerating critical points, but these are not scaling solutions. We also show that two types of coupling allow for a suitable matter era at early times and acceleration at late times, while the third type of coupling does not admit a suitable matter era.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Cosmic vector for dark energy: constraints from SN, CMB and BAO

It has been recently shown that the presence of a vector field over cosmological scales could explain the observed accelerated expansion of the universe without introducing neither new scales nor unnatural initial conditions in the early universe, thus avoiding the coincidence problem. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the constraints imposed by SNIa, CMB and BAO data on the vector dark energy model with general spatial curvature. We find that contrary to standard cosmology, CMB data excludes a flat universe for this model and, in fact, predicts a closed geometry for the spatial sections. We see that CMB and SNIa Gold data are perfectly compatible at the 1-sigma level, however SNIa Union dataset exhibits a 3-sigma tension with CMB. The same level of tension is also found between SNIa and BAO measurements.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

DBI models for the unification of dark matter and dark energy

We propose a model based on a DBI action for the unification of dark matter and dark energy. This is supported by the results of the study of its background behavior at early and late times, and reinforced by the analysis of the evolution of perturbations. We also perform a Bayesian analysis to set observational constraints on the parameters of the model using type Ia SN, CMB shift and BAO data. Finally, to complete the study we investigate its kinematics aspects, such as the effective equation of state parameter, acceleration parameter and transition redshift. Particularizing those parameters for the best fit one appreciates that an effective phantom is preferred.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Internal space structure generalization of the quintom cosmological scenario

We introduce the Lagrangian for a multi-scalar field configuration in a $N$-dimensional internal space endowed with a constant metric $Q_{ik}$ and generalize the quintom cosmological scenario. We find the energy momentum tensor of the model and show that the set of dual transformations, that preserve the form of the Einstein equations in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, is enlarged. We show that the stability of the power law solutions leads to an exponential potential which is invariant under linear transformations in the internal space. Moreover, we obtain the general exact solution of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations for that potential. There exist solutions that cross the phantom divide and solutions that blow up at a finite time, exhibiting a superaccelerated behavior and ending in a big rip. We show that the quintom model with a separable potential can be identified with a mixture of several fluids. This framework includes the $Λ$CDM model, a bouncing model, and a setting sourced by a cosmic string network plus a cosmological constant. The we concentrate on the case where the dimension of the internal quintessence sector $N_{q}$ exceeds the dimension of the internal phantom sector $N_{ph}$. For $(N_q,N_{ph})=(2,1)$ the dark energy density derived from the 3-scalar field crosses the phantom divide and its negative component plays the role of the negative part of a classical Dirac Field.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Singular fate of the universe in modified theories of gravity

In this paper we study the final fate of the universe in modified theories of gravity. As compared with general relativistic formulations, in these scenarios the Friedmann equation has additional terms which are relevant for low density epochs. We analyze the sort of future singularities to be found under the usual assumption the expanding Universe is solely filled with a pressureless component. We report our results using two schemes: one concerned with the behavior of curvature scalars, and a more refined one linked to observers. Some examples with a very solid theoretical motivation and some others with a more phenomenological nature are used for illustration.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Dynamics of dark energy with a coupling to dark matter

Dark energy and dark matter are the dominant sources in the evolution of the late universe. They are currently only indirectly detected via their gravitational effects, and there could be a coupling between them without violating observational constraints. We investigate the background dynamics when dark energy is modelled as exponential quintessence, and is coupled to dark matter via simple models of energy exchange. We introduce a new form of dark sector coupling, which leads to a more complicated dynamical phase space and has a better physical motivation than previous mathematically similar couplings.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Bridging geometries and potentials in DBI cosmologies

We investigate the link between the warp function and the potential in DBI cosmologies in connection with the possibility they represent power-law solutions. A prescription is given to take advantage of the known result that given a warp factor there is always a choice of potential resulting in a constant ratio between pressure and energy density. The method is illustrated with examples with interesting models for either the warp factor or the potential. We complete this investigation by giving a recipe to exploit symmetries in order to generate new solutions from existing ones; this method can be applied, for instance, to the power-law cosmologies obtained using our prescription.

hep-th↗