arXiv subjects

Sarben Sarkar

Publications and source records attributed to Sarben Sarkar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Tree level Leptogenesis from Kalb-Ramond Torsion Background

The effect of torsion in theories of quantum gravity is known to be well described by an axion-like field which couples to matter as well as to gravitation and radiation gauge fields. In this note we consider a particular kind of torsion, arising from the Kalb-Ramond antisymmetric tensor field that appears in the gravitational multiplet of string theory. We investigate the implications for leptogenesis. It is shown that leptogenesis can occur even at tree-level and with only one generation of right-handed Majorana neutrinos, due to CP and CPT violation introduced by the background geometry.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Infinitely many inequivalent field theories from one Lagrangian

Logarithmic time-like Liouville quantum field theory has a generalized PT invariance, where T is the time-reversal operator and P stands for an S-duality reflection of the Liouville field $ϕ$. In Euclidean space the Lagrangian of such a theory, $L=\frac{1}{2}(\nablaϕ)^2-igϕ\exp(iaϕ)$, is analyzed using the techniques of PT-symmetric quantum theory. It is shown that L defines an infinite number of unitarily inequivalent sectors of the theory labeled by the integer n. In one-dimensional space (quantum mechanics) the energy spectrum is calculated in the semiclassical limit and the mth energy level in the nth sector is given by $E_{m,n}\sim(m+1/2)^2a^2/(16n^2)$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Neutrinos in the Early Universe, Kalb-Ramond Torsion and Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry

The generation of a matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe may be induced by the propagation of fermions in non-trivial, spherically asymmetric (and hence Lorentz violating) gravitational backgrounds. Such backgrounds may characterise the epoch of the early universe. The key point in these models is that the background induces different dispersion relations, hence populations, between fermions and antifermions, and thus CPT Violation (CPTV) appears in thermal equilibrium. Species populations may freeze out leading to leptogenesis and baryogenesis. We consider here a string-inspired scenario, in which the CPTV is associated with a cosmological background with torsion provided by the Kalb-Ramond (KR) antisymemtric tensor field of the string gravitational multiplet. In a four-dimensional space time this field is dual to a pseudoscalar ``axion-like'' field. The mixing of the KR field with an ordinary axion field can lead to the generation of a Majorana neutrino mass.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Environmental CPT Violation in an Expanding Universe in String Theory

We consider a model of an expanding Universe in string theory that yields `environmental' CPT violation for fermions, in the sense of different dispersion relations for fermions and antifermions. These are induced by a cosmological background with constant torsion provided by the Kalb-Ramond antisymmetric tensor field (axion) of the string gravitational multiplet. This effect induces different densities of neutrinos and antineutrinos while in chemical equilibrium, offering new scenarios for leptogenesis and baryogenesis even in the absence of CP violation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Double-Scaling Limit of the O(N)-Symmetric Anharmonic Oscillator

In an earlier paper it was argued that the conventional double-scaling limit of an O(N)-symmetric quartic quantum field theory is inconsistent because the critical coupling constant is negative and thus the integral representing the partition function of the critical theory does not exist. In this earlier paper it was shown that for an O(N)-symmetric quantum field theory in zero-dimensional spacetime one can avoid this difficulty if one replaces the original quartic theory by its PT-symmetric analog. In the current paper an O(N)-symmetric quartic quantum field theory in one-dimensional spacetime [that is, O(N)-symmetric quantum mechanics] is studied using the Schroedinger equation. It is shown that the global PT-symmetric formulation of this differential equation provides a consistent way to perform the double-scaling limit of the O(N)-symmetric anharmonic oscillator. The physical nature of the critical behavior is explained by studying the PT-symmetric quantum theory and the corresponding and equivalent Hermitian quantum theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

PT-symmetric interpretation of double-scaling

The conventional double-scaling limit of an O(N)-symmetric quartic quantum field theory is inconsistent because the critical coupling constant is negative. Thus, at the critical coupling the Lagrangian defines a quantum theory with an upside-down potential whose energy appears to be unbounded below. Worse yet, the integral representation of the partition function of the theory does not exist. It is shown that one can avoid these difficulties if one replaces the original theory by its PT-symmetric analog. For a zero-dimensional O(N)-symmetric quartic vector model the partition function of the PT-symmetric analog is calculated explicitly in the double-scaling limit.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Asymptotic Analysis of the Boltzmann Equation for Dark Matter Relics in the presence of a Running Dilaton and Space-Time Defects

The interplay of dilatonic effects in dilaton cosmology and stochastic quantum space-time defects within the framework of string/brane cosmologies is examined. The Boltzmann equation describes the physics of thermal dark-matter-relic abundances in the presence of rolling dilatons. These dilatons affect the coupling of stringy matter to D-particle defects, which are generic in string theory. This coupling leads to an additional source term in the Boltzmann equation. The techniques of asymptotic matching and boundary-layer theory, which were recently applied by two of the authors (CMB and SS) to a Boltzmann equation, are used here to find the detailed asymptotic relic abundances for all ranges of the expectation value of the dilaton field. The phenomenological implications for the search of supersymmetric dark matter in current colliders, such as the LHC, are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

CPT-Violating Leptogenesis induced by Gravitational Defects

We explore leptogenesis induced by the propagation of neutrinos in gravitational backgrounds that may occur in string theory. The first background is due to linear dilatons and the associated Kalb-Ramond field (axion) in four non-compact space-time dimensions of the string, and can be described within the framework of local effective lagrangians. The axion is linear in the time coordinate of the Einstein frame and gives rise to a constant torsion which couples to the fermion spin through a gravitational covariant derivative. This leads to different energy-momentum dispersion relations for fermions and anti-fermions and hence leptogenesis. The next two backgrounds go beyond the local effective lagrangian framework. One is a stochastic (Lorentz Violating) Finsler metric which again leads to different dispersion relations between fermions and antifermions. The third background of primary interest is the one due to populations of stochastically fluctuating point-like space-time defects that can be encountered in string/brane theory (D0 branes). Only neutral matter interacts non-trivially with these defects, as a consequence of charge conservation. Hence, such a background singles out neutrinos among the Standard Model excitations as the ones interacting predominantly with the defects. The back-reaction of the defects on the space-time due to their interaction with neutral matter results in stochastic Finsler-like metrics (similar to our second background). On average, the stochastic fluctuations of the D0 brane defects preserve Lorentz symmetry, but their variance is non-zero. Interestingly, the particle/antiparticle asymmetry comes out naturally to favour matter over antimatter in this third background, once the effects of the kinematics of the scattering of the D branes with matter is incorporated.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Implications of a Stochastic Microscopic Finsler Cosmology

Within the context of supersymmetric space-time (D-particle) foam in string/brane-theory, we discuss a Finsler-induced Cosmology and its implications for (thermal) Dark Matter abundances. This constitutes a truly microscopic model of dynamical space-time, where Finsler geometries arise naturally. The D-particle foam model involves point-like brane defects (D-particles), which provide the topologically non-trivial foamy structures of space-time. The D-particles can capture and emit stringy matter and this leads to a recoil of D-particles. It is indicated how one effect of such a recoil of D-particles is a back-reaction on the space-time metric of Finsler type which is stochastic. We show that such a type of stochastic space-time foam can lead to acceptable cosmologies at late epochs of the Universe, due to the non-trivial properties of the supersymmetric (BPS like) D-particle defects, which are such so as not to affect significantly the Hubble expansion. The restrictions placed on the free parameters of the Finsler type metric are obtained from solving the Boltzmann equation in this background for relic abundances of a Lightest Supersymmetric Particle (LSP) dark matter candidate. It is demonstrated that the D-foam acts as a source for particle production in the Boltzmann equation, thereby leading to enhanced thermal LSP relic abundances relative to those in the Standard LambdaCDM Cosmology. For D-particle masses of order TeV, such effects may be relevant for dark matter searches at colliders. The latter constraints complement those coming from high energy gamma-ray astronomy on the induced vacuum refractive index that D-foam models entail. We also comment briefly on the production mechanisms of such TeV-mass stringy defects at colliders, which, in view of the current LHC experimental searches, will impose further constraints on their couplings.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Asymptotic Analysis of the Boltzmann Equation for Dark Matter Relics

This paper presents an asymptotic analysis of the Boltzmann equations (Riccati differential equations) that describe the physics of thermal dark-matter-relic abundances. Two different asymptotic techniques are used, boundary-layer theory, which makes use of asymptotic matching, and the delta expansion, which is a powerful technique for solving nonlinear differential equations. Two different Boltzmann equations are considered. The first is derived from general relativistic considerations and the second arises in dilatonic string cosmology. The global asymptotic analysis presented here is used to find the long-time behavior of the solutions to these equations. In the first case the nature of the so-called freeze-out region and the post-freeze-out behavior is explored. In the second case the effect of the dilaton on cold dark-matter abundances is calculated and it is shown that there is a large-time power-law fall off of the dark-matter abundance. Corrections to the power-law behavior are also calculated.

hep-th↗

arXiv2012

Condensate Structure of D-particle Induced Flavour Vacuum

It is argued that four Fermi interactions induced by non-perturbative effects due to scattering of stringy matter from D-particles, D-instantons and more generally bulk gauge fields in models with large extra dimensions have in specific situations condensate structure described by flavour vacua.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Flavour-Condensate-induced Breaking of Supersymmetry in Free Wess-Zumino Fluids

Recently we argued that a particular model of string-inspired quantum space-time foam (D-foam) may induce oscillations and mixing among flavoured particles. As a result, rather than the mass-eigenstate vacuum, the correct ground state to describe the underlying dynamics is the flavour vacuum, proposed some time ago by Blasone and Vitiello as a description of quantum field theories with mixing. At the microscopic level, the breaking of target-space supersymmetry is induced in our space-time foam model by the relative transverse motion of brane defects. Motivated by these results, we show that the flavour vacuum, introduced through an inequivalent representation of the canonical (anti-) commutation relations, provides a vehicle for the breaking of supersymmetry (SUSY) at a low-energy effective field theory level; on considering the flavour-vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor and comparing with the form of a perfect relativistic fluid, it is found that the bosonic sector contributes as dark energy while the fermion contribution is like dust. This indicates a strong and novel breaking of SUSY, of a non-perturbative nature, which may characterize the low energy field theory of certain quantum gravity models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Finsler metrics and CPT

The role of Finsler-like metrics in situations where Lorentz symmetry breaking and also CPT violation are discussed. Various physical instances of such metrics both in quantum gravity and analogue systems are discussed. Both differences and similarities between the cases will be emphasised. In particular the medium of D-particles that arise in string theory will be examined. In this case the breaking of Lorentz invariance, at the level of quantum fluctuations, together with concomitant CPT in certain situations will be analysed. In particular it will be shown correlations for neutral meson pairs will be modified and a new contribution to baryogenesis will appear.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Stringy Space-Time Foam, Finsler-like Metrics and Dark Matter Relics

We discuss modifications of the thermal Dark Matter (DM) relic abundances in stringy cosmologies with D-particle space-time foamy backgrounds. As a result of back-reaction of massive DM on the background space-time, owing to its interaction with D-particle defects in the foam, quantum fluctuations are induced in the space-time metric. We demonstrate that these lead to the presence of extra source terms in the Boltzmann equation used to determine the thermal dark matter relic abundances. The source terms are determined by the specific form of the induced metric deformations; the latter depend on the momentum transfer of the DM particle during its interactions with the D-particle defects and so are akin to Finsler metrics. In the case of low string scales arising from large extra dimensions our results may have phenomenological implications for the search of viable supersymmetric models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Flavour Condensates in Brane Models and Dark Energy

In the context of a microscopic model of string-inspired foam, in which foamy structures are provided by brany point-like defects (D-particles) in space-time, we discuss flavour mixing as a result of flavour non-preserving interactions of (low-energy) fermionic stringy matter excitations with the defects. Such interactions involve splitting and capture of the matter string state by the defect, and subsequent re-emission. Quantum fluctuations of the D-particles induce a non-trivial space-time background; in some circumstances this could be akin to a cosmological Friedman-Robertson Walker expanding-Universe, with weak (but non-zero) particle production. Furthermore the D-particle medium can induce an MSW type effect. We have argued previously, in the context of bosons, that the so-called flavour vacuum is the appropriate state to be used, at least for low-energy excitations, with energies/momenta up to a dynamically determined cutoff scale. In this work we evaluate the flavour-vacuum expectation value (condensate) of the stress-energy tensor of the (1/2)-spin fields with mixing in an effective low-energy Quantum Field Theory in this foam-induced curved space-time. We demonstrate, at late epochs of the Universe, that the fermionic vacuum condensate behaves as a fluid with negative pressure and positive energy, but alone it cannot lead to present-day accelerating Universes. One needs flavoured boson contributions for this purpose.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Implications of Space-Time foam for Entanglement Correlations of Neutral Kaons

The role of $CPT$ invariance and consequences for bipartite entanglement of neutral (K) mesons are discussed. A relaxation of $CPT$ leads to a modification of the entanglement which is known as the $ω$ effect. The relaxation of assumptions required to prove the $CPT$ theorem are examined within the context of models of space-time foam. It is shown that the evasion of the EPR type entanglement implied by $CPT$ (which is connected with spin statistics) is rather elusive. Relaxation of locality (through non-commutative geometry) or the introduction of decoherence by themselves do not lead to a destruction of the entanglement. So far we find only one model which is based on non-critical strings and D-particle capture and recoil that leads to a stochastic contribution to the space-time metric and consequent change in the neutral meson bipartite entanglement. The lack of an omega effect is demonstrated for a class of models based on thermal like baths which are generally considered as generic models of decoherence.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

The Omega Effect for Neutral Mesons

The possible role of decoherence due to space-time foam is discussed within the context of two models, one based on string/brane theory. and the other based on properties of black hole horizons in general relativity. It is argued that the density matrix satisfies a dissipative master equation, primarily from the study of renormalization group flows in non-critical string theory.This interpretation of the zero mode of the Liouville field as time leads necessarily to the CPT operator being ill defined. One striking consequence is that the quantum mechanical correlations of pair states of neutral mesons produced in meson factories are changed from the usual EPR state. The magnitude of this departure from EPR correlations is characterised by a parameter $ω$. The predicted value of $ω$ is very small or zero. However it is shown explicitly that the the non-vanishing of $ω$ is only a feature of the model based on string/brane theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Exploration of Possible Quantum Gravity Effects with Neutrinos I: Decoherence in Neutrino Oscillations Experiments

Quantum gravity may involve models with stochastic fluctuations of the associated metric field, around some fixed background value. Such stochastic models of gravity may induce decoherence for matter propagating in such fluctuating space time. In most cases, this leads to fewer neutrinos of all active flavours being detected in a long baseline experiment as compared to three-flavour standard neutrino oscillations. We discuss the potential of the CNGS and J-PARC beams in constraining models of quantum-gravity induced decoherence using neutrino oscillations as a probe. We use as much as possible model-independent parameterizations, even though they are motivated by specific microscopic models, for fits to the expected experimental data which yield bounds on quantum-gravity decoherence parameters.

hep-ph↗