arXiv subjects

Salah Nasri

Publications and source records attributed to Salah Nasri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Gravity from the Determinant of the Energy-Momentum: Astrophysical Implications

Determinants of the second-rank tensors stand useful in forming generally invariant terms as in the case of the volume element of the gravitational actions. Here, we extend the action of the matter fields by an arbitrary function $f(D)$ of the determinants of their energy-momentum, and the metric, $D=|\textbf{det}.T|/|\textbf{det}.g|$. We derive the gravitational field equations and examine the nonlinear terms induced by the determinant, specifically, the inverse of the energy-momentum tensor. We also show that these extensions require a nonzero stress-energy tensor for the vacuum. We propose a scale-free model, $f(D)=λD^{1/4}$, and show how it induces the familiar invariant terms formed by the trace of the energy-momentum tensor by expanding the action around the stress-energy of the vacuum. We study the hydrostatic equilibrium equations for a neutron star by providing relevant values of the dimensionless constant $λ$. We show that the differences from the predictions of general relativity, in the mass-radius relations, which are sensitive to the equations of state, are conspicuous for $λ\sim -10^{-2}$. We also show that the model does not affect the predictions on the primordial nucleosynthesis when it is applied to the early radiation era. This novel and unfamiliar type of gravity-matter coupling can lead to a rich phenomenology in gravitational physics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Constraining the Cosmic Strings Gravitational Wave Spectra in No Scale Inflation with Viable Gravitino Dark matter and Non Thermal Leptogenesis

We revisit the hybrid inflation model gauged by $U(1)_{B-L}$ extension of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) in a no-scale background. Considering a single predictive framework, we study inflation, leptogenesis, gavitino cosmology, and the stochastic background of gravitational waves produced by metastable cosmic strings. The spontaneous breaking of $U(1)_{B-L}$ at the end of inflation produces a network of metastable cosmic strings while, the interaction between $U(1)_{B-L}$ Higgs field and the neutrinos generate heavy Majorana masses for the right-handed neutrinos. The heavy Majorana masses explain the tiny neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism, a realistic scenario for reheating and non-thermal leptogenesis. We show that a successful non-thermal leptogenesis and a stable gravitino as a dark matter candidate can be achieved for a wide range of reheating temperatures and $U(1)_{B-L}$ symmetry breaking scales. The possibility of realizing metastable cosmic strings in a grand unified theory (GUT) setup is briefly discussed. We find that a successful reheating with non-thermal leptogenesis and gravitino dark matter restrict the allowed values of string tension to a narrow range $10^{-9} \lesssim Gμ_{CS} \lesssim 8 \times 10^{-6}$, predicting a stochastic gravitational-wave background that lies within the 1-$σ$ bounds of the recent NANOGrav 12.5-yr data, as well as within the sensitivity bounds of future GW experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Brane inflation: swampland criteria, TCC, and reheating predictions

We consider inflation in a five -dimensional space time with the inflaton field confined to live on a brane world. In this scenario, we study different types of potentials for the inflaton, discuss their observational consequences, and compare with data. We find that some class of potentials are in good agreement with observation and that the value of the inflaton field can be sub-Planckian. Moreover, we investigate the swampland criteria in this scenario and determine the consistency of the model with the conjectures. Doing so, we could determine models that simultaneously satisfy both observational data and swampland criteria. More constraints are applied by studying the reheating phase where the acceptable range for the reheating temperature imposes some bounds on the models. As the last step, the result of trans-Planckian censorship conjecture for the model is considered where it is shown the constraint of TCC will be very strong and it could be used to applied limit on the brane tension.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Isocurvature modes and non-Gaussianity in affine inflation

Inflationary dynamics driven by multiple fields, especially with nonminimal couplings, allow for highly interesting features such as isocurvature, non-Gaussianity, and preheating. In this paper, we study two-field inflation in the context of purely affine gravity, where the metrical structure results from the dynamics of the spacetime affine connection. We introduce a covariant formulation in the new framework and show that it leads to a curved field space which can produce conspicuous departure from the purely metric gravity. In the case where the fields are canonical, the field manifold gains a conformally flat shape. Interestingly, while the manifold is generally curved, it is possible to be flattened by allowing specific non-canonical field kinetic terms. This in turn simplifies the inflationary dynamics significantly while allowing for new predictions due to the effects of the nonminimal coupling function on the potential solely. We use this new feature in studying two-field inflation driven by quartic potentials for given parameter constants. We perform a numerical solution of the slow-roll dynamics and track the possible non-Gaussianity. We focus on field parameters that allow for spectral indices within the favored region of the Planck results. These are associated to tiny tensor-to-scalar ratios, $r \sim 10^{-6}$ for single field and $r \sim 10^{-4}$ for two-fields. We also show that two-field Higgs inflation may favor a curved field manifold.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Dynamical aspects of asymmetric Eddington gravity with scalar fields

In Eddington gravity, the action principle involves only the symmetric parts of the connection and the Ricci tensor, with a metric that emerges proportionally to the latter. Here, we relax this symmetric character, prolong the action with the antisymmetric parts of the Ricci term, and allow for various couplings with scalar fields. We propose two possible invariant actions formed by distinct combinations of the independent Ricci tensors and show that the generated metric must involve an additional antisymmetric part due to the relaxation of the symmetrization property. The comprehensive study shows that the second curvature influences the dynamics of the connection, hence its solution in terms of the metric, and the evolution of the scalar fields. These new dynamical features are expected to stand viable and to have interesting implications in domains where scalar fields are indispensable.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Ricci-Determinant Gravity: Dynamical Aspects and Astrophysical Implications

The Palatini gravitational action is enlarged by an arbitrary function $f(X)$ of the determinants of the Ricci tensor and the metric, $X=|\textbf{det}.R|/|\textbf{det}.g|$. The resulting Ricci-determinant theory exhibits novel deviations from general relativity. We study a particular realization where the extension is characterized by the square-root of the Ricci-determinant, $f(X)=λ_\text{Edd}\sqrt{X}$, which corresponds to the famous Eddington action. We analyze the obtained equations for a perfect fluid source and show that the affine connection can be solved in terms of the energy density and pressure of the fluid through an obtained disformal metric. As an application, we derive the hydrostatic equilibrium equations for relativistic stars and inspect the significant effects induced by the square-root of the Ricci tensor. We find that an upper bound on $λ_{\rm Edd}$, at which deviations from the predictions of general relativity on neutron stars become prominent, corresponds to the hierarchy between the Planck and the vacuum mass scales. The Ricci-determinant gravity that we propose here is expected to have interesting implications in other cosmological domains.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Perturbative correction terms to electromagnetic self-force due to metric perturbation : astrophysical and cosmological implications

We consider the equation of motion of a charged particle or a charged compact object in curved space-time, under the reaction of electromagnetic radiation and also consider a physical situation such that the charged particle or compact object emits gravitational radiation, thereby gravitational radiation reaction also acts on it. We investigate the effect of this metric perturbation i.e. the gravitational radiation on the electromagnetic self-force. We show that, besides the interaction terms derived by P. Zimmerman and E. Poisson (Phys. Rev. D 90, 084030, 2014), additional perturbative terms are generated, which are linear in metric perturbation and are generated due to perturbation of the electromagnetic self-force by the metric perturbation. We discuss the conditions of significance of these perturbative terms and also the interaction terms with respect to the gravitational self-force in various astrophysical and cosmological cases ; such as the motion of charged particles around black holes, some extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) involving sufficiently accelerated motion of charged stars (specially neutron stars) or charged stellar mass black holes around supermassive black holes, and motion of charged particles around charged primordial black holes formed in the early Universe etc.. We find that in some astrophysical and cosmological cases these perturbative terms can have significant effect in comparison with the gravitational radiation-reaction term.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Phenomenology of the Hidden SU(2) Vector Dark Matter Model

We investigate the phenomenology of an extension of the Standard Model (SM) by a non-abelian gauge group $SU(2)_{HS}$ where all SM particles are singlets under this gauge group, and a new scalar representation $ϕ$ that is singlet under SM gauge group and doublet under $SU(2)_{HS}$. In this model, the dark matter (DM) candidates are the three mass degenerate dark photons $A_{i}$ $(i=1,2,3)$ of $SU(2)_{HS}$; and the hidden sector interacts with the (SM) particles through the Higgs portal interactions. Consequently, there will be a new CP-even scalar $η$ that could be either heavier or lighter than the SM-like Higgs. By taking into account all theoretical and experimental constraints such as perturbativity, unitarity, vacuum stability, non-SM Higgs decays, DM direct detection, DM relic density, we found viable DM is possible in the range from GeV to TeV. Within the viable parameters space, the both of the triple Higgs coupling and the di-Higgs production at LHC14 could be enhanced or reduced depending on the scalar mixing and the mass of the scalar particle $η$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Phenomenology of Minimal Leptophilic Dark Matter Models at Linear Colliders

We discuss the phenomenology of a minimal model for GeV-scale Majorana dark matter (DM) coupled to the standard model lepton sector via a charged scalar singlet. The theoretical framework extends the Standard Model by two $SU(2)_L$ singlets: one charged Higgs boson and a singlet right-handed fermion. The latter plays the role of the DM candidate. We show that there is an anti-correlation between the spin-independent DM-Nucleus scattering cross-section ($σ_{\rm SI}$) and the DM relic density. We suggest a scenario that can be tested in both electron-electron and electron-positron collisions using the production of same-sign charged Higgs pairs and mono-Higgs in association with right-handed neutrinos.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Probing the Dark Matter of Three-loop Radiative Neutrino Mass Generation Model with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

We investigate the prospect of detecting the Dark Matter (DM) candidate in the three-loop radiative neutrino mass generation model extended with large electroweak multiplets of the Standard Model (SM) gauge group, at the future imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope known as the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). We find that the addition of such large electroweak multiplets leads to a sizable Sommerfeld enhanced annihilation of the DM with $O(\text{TeV})$ mass, into the SM gauge bosons which results in continuum and line-like spectra of very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays, and therefore becomes observable for the CTA. We determine the viable models by setting the upper limit on the $SU(2)_{L}$ isospin of the multiplets from the partial-wave unitarity constraints and the appearance of low-scale Landau pole in the gauge coupling. Afterwards, by considering the continuum VHE gamma-rays produced from the DM annihilation at the Galactic center, we probe the parameter space of the model using the sensitivity reach of the CTA.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Searching for GeV-scale Majorana Dark Matter: inter spem et metum

We suggest a minimal model for GeV-scale Majorana Dark Matter (DM) coupled to the standard model lepton sector via a charged scalar singlet. We show that there is an anti-correlation between the spin-independent DM-Nucleus scattering cross-section ($σ_{\mathrm{SI}}$) and the DM relic density for parameters values allowed by various theoretical and experimental constraints. Moreover, we find that even when DM couplings are of order unity, $σ_{\mathrm{SI}}$ is below the current experimental bound but above the neutrino floor. Furthermore, we show that the considered model can be probed at high-energy lepton colliders using e.g. the mono-Higgs production and same-sign charged Higgs pair production.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

A Natural Scotogenic Model for Neutrino Mass \& Dark Matter

In this letter, we propose an extension of the scotogenic model where singlet Majorana particle can be dark matter (DM) without the need of a highly suppressed scalar coupling of the order $O(10^{-10})$. For that, the SM is extended with three singlet Majorana fermions, an inert scalar doublet, and two (a complex and a real) singlet scalars, with a global $Z_{4}$ symmetry that is spontaneously broken into $Z_{2}$ at a scale higher than the electroweak one by the vev of the complex singlet scalar. In this setup, the smallness of neutrino mass is achieved via the cancellation between three diagrams a la scotogenic, a DM candidate that is viable for a large mass range; and the phenomenology is richer than the minimal scotogenic model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Scalar-Connection Gravity and Spontaneous Scalarization

Scalar-tensor theories of gravity are known to allow significant deviations from general relativity through various astrophysical phenomena. In this paper, we formulate a scalar-connection gravity by setting up scalars and connection configurations instead of metric. Since the matter sector is not straightforward to conceive without a metric, we invoke cosmological fluids in terms of their one-form velocity in the volume element of the invariant action. This leads to gravitational equations with a perfect fluid source and a generated metric, which are expected to produce reasonable deviations from general relativity in the strong-field regime. As a relevant application, we study spontaneous scalarization mechanism and show that the Damour-Esposito-Farèse model arises in a certain class of scalar-connection gravity. Furthermore, we investigate a general study in which the present framework becomes distinguishable from the famed scalar-tensor theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Affine gravitational scenario for dark matter decay

Since the current evidence of its existence is revealed only through its gravitational influence, the way dark matter couples to gravity must be then of primary importance. Here, unlike the standard model sector which is typically coupled to metric, dark matter is supposed to couple only to spacetime affine connection through a $Z_2$-symmetry breaking term. We show that this structure leads to a coupling between dark matter, which is considered scalar, and the standard model Higgs potential. This induces dark matter decays into standard model particles through the Higgs which acts as a portal between the visible and the dark sectors. We study thoroughly the resulting decay modes for various mass ranges, and provide relevant bounds on the nonminimal coupling to affine gravity in line with observational data. Moreover, we find that the coupling to Higgs can be sufficiently large to facilitate production of dark matter lighter than 10 GeV at current and future high energy colliders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Brane Constant-roll Inflation

The scenario of constant-roll inflation in the frame of the RSII brane gravity model is considered. Based on the scenario, the smallness of the second slow-roll parameter is released and it is assumed as a constant which could be of the order of unity. Applying the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism, the constancy of the parameter gives a differential equation for the Hubble parameter which leads to an exact solution for the model. Reconsidering the perturbation equations we show there are some modified terms appearing in the amplitude of the scalar perturbations and in turn in the scalar spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio. Comparing the theoretical results of the model with observational data, the free parameters of the model are determined. Then, the consistency of the model with the swampland criteria is investigated for the obtained values of the free parameters. As the final step, the attractor behavior of the model is considered.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Compact stars with exotic matter

In this paper we employ Tolman VII solution with exotic matter that may be present in the extremely dense core of compact objects. The Tolman VII solution, an exact analytic solution to the spherically symmetric, static Einstein field equations with a perfect fluid source, has many characteristics that make it interesting for modeling high density stellar astronomical objects. For our purpose we use generalized non-linear equation of state which may incorporate exotic matter along with dust, radiation and dark energy. The equation of state (EoS) has a linear contribution comprising quark/radiation matters and a nonlinear contribution comprising dark energy/exotic matters. The amount of exotic matter contain can be modify by a parameter $n$ which can be linked to adiabatic index. As $n$ increases the exotic contribution increases which stiffens the EoS. The physical properties of the model such as pressure, density, mass function, surface redshift, gravitational redshift are examined and the stability of the stellar configuration is discussed in details. The model has promising features as it satisfies all energy conditions and is free from central singularities. The $M-R$ relation is constructed analytically and the maximum mass and its corresponding radius is determined using the exact solutions and is shown to satisfy various observational stellar compact stars.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Entropy Production in Affine Inflation

Multiple scalar fields nonminimally interacting through pure affine gravity are considered to generate primordial perturbations during an inflationary phase. The couplings considered give rise to two distinct sources of entropy perturbations that may not be suppressed in the long wavelength limit. The first is merely induced by the presence of more than one scalar and arises even in the minimal coupling limit. The second source however is restricted to nonminimal interaction. Unlike the case of metric gravity, and due to the absence of anisotropic stresses, the second source disappears for single scalar, showing that nonminimal couplings become relevant to non-adiabatic perturbations only when more than one scalar field are considered. Hence the notion of adiabaticity is not affected by the transition to minimal coupling contrary to the metric gravity case where it is confused by changing the frames. Precise data that might be able to neatly track different sources of isocurvature modes, if any, must not only distinguish between different models of inflation but also determine the most viable approach to gravity which underlies the inflationary dynamics itself.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Mono-Higgs Signature in the Scotogenic Model with Majorana Dark Matter

We study the phenomenology of scotogenic model in the case of Majorana Dark Matter (DM) candidate. This scenario gives important consequences since the parameter space of the model is almost unconstrained compared to the Inert Higgs Doublet Model (or the scotogenic model with scalar DM), and hence, offers new opportunities for discovery at future high energy collider, e.g. the HL-LHC. As an example, we focus on the production of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson in association with a pair of dark scalars. Owing to its clean signature, the $γγ$ decay channel of the SM Higgs boson is investigated in great detail at both the HL-LHC (at $\sqrt{s}=14$ TeV) and the future FCC-hh (at $\sqrt{s}=100$ TeV). After revisiting the LHC constraints from run-II on the parameter space of the model, and selecting benchmark points satisfying all the theoretical and experimental constraints, we found that scalars with mass up to $140$ GeV ($160$ GeV) can be probed at the LHC (FCC-hh) with a $3$ ab$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity assuming $5\%$ of uncertainty.

hep-ph↗