arXiv subjects

Saulo Carneiro

Publications and source records attributed to Saulo Carneiro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

J-PAS: Forecasts for dark matter - dark energy elastic couplings

We consider a cosmological model where dark matter and dark energy feature a coupling that only affects their momentum transfer in the corresponding Euler equations. We perform a fit to cosmological observables and confirm previous findings within these scenarios that favour the presence of a coupling at more than $3σ$. This improvement is driven by the Sunyaev-Zeldovich data. We subsequently perform a forecast for future J-PAS data and find that clustering measurements will permit to clearly discern the presence of an interaction within a few percent level with the uncoupled case at more than $10σ$ when the complete survey, covering $8500$ sq. deg., is considered. We found that the inclusion of weak lensing measurements will not help to further constrain the coupling parameter. For completeness, we compare to forecasts for DESI and Euclid, which provide similar discriminating power.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Dark sector interactions and the curvature of the Universe in light of Planck's 2018 data

We investigate the observational viability of a class of interacting dark energy (iDE) models in the light of the latest Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), type Ia supernovae (SNe) and SH0ES Hubble parameter measurements. Our analysis explores the assumption of a non-zero spatial curvature, the correlation between the interaction parameter $α$ and the current expansion rate $H_0$, and updates the results reported in \cite{micol}. Initially, assuming a spatially flat universe, the results show that the best-fit of our joint analysis clearly favours a positive interaction, i.e., an energy flux from dark matter to dark energy, with $α\approx 0.2$, while the non-interacting case, $α= 0$, is ruled out by more than $3σ$ confidence level. On the other hand, considering a non-zero spatial curvature, we find a slight preference for a negative value of the curvature parameter, which seems to relax the correlation between the parameters $α$ and $H_0$, as well as between $H_0$ and the normalization of the matter power spectrum on scales of 8$h^{-1}$ Mpc ($σ_8$). Finally, we discuss the influence of considering the SH$0$ES prior on $H_0$ in the joint analyses, and find that such a choice does not change considerably the standard cosmology predictions but has a significant influence on the results of the iDE model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Elementary charge and neutrino's mass from Planck length

It is shown that the postulation of a minimum length for the horizons of a black hole leads to lower bounds for the electric charges and magnetic moments of elementary particles. If the minimum length has the order of the Planck scale, these bounds are given, respectively, by the electronic charge and by $μ\sim 10^{-21} μ_B$. The latter implies that the masses of fundamental particles are bounded above by the Planck mass, and that the smallest non-zero neutrino mass is $m_ν \sim 10^{-2}$eV. A precise estimation in agreement to the area quantisation of Loop Quantum Gravity predicts a mass for the lightest massive state in concordance with flavor oscillation measurements, and a Barbero-Immirzi parameter in accordance to horizon entropy estimations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

On the value of the Immirzi parameter and the horizon entropy

In Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) the quantisation of General Relativity leads to precise predictions for the eigenvalues of geometrical observables like volume and area, up to the value of the only free parameter of the theory, the Barbero-Immirzi (BI) parameter. With the help of the eigenvalues equation for the area operator, LQG successfully derives the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of large black holes with isolated horizons, fixing at this limit the BI parameter as $γ\approx 0.274$. In the present paper we show some evidence that a black hole with angular momentum $\hbar$ and Planck mass is an eigenstate of the area operator provided that $γ= \sqrt{3}/6 \approx 1.05 \times 0.274$. As the black hole is extremal, there is no Hawking radiation and the horizon is isolated. We also suggest that such a black hole can be formed in the head-on scattering of two parallel Standard Model neutrinos in the mass state $m_2$ (assuming $m_1 = 0$). Furthermore, we use the obtained BI parameter to numerically compute the entropy of isolated horizons with areas ranging up to $250\,l_P^2$, by counting the number of micro-states associated to a given area. The resulting entropy has a leading term ${\cal S} \approx 0.25\, {\cal A}$, in agreement to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. As the identification of the above eigenstate rests on the matching between classical areas and quantum area eigenvalues, we also present, on the basis of an effective quantum model for the Schwarzschild black hole recently proposed by Ashtekar, Olmedo and Singh, an expression for the quantum corrected area of isolated horizons, valid for any black hole mass. Quantum corrections are shown to be negligible for a Planck mass black hole, of order $10^{-3}$ relative to the classical area.

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arXiv2019

Looking for interactions in the cosmological dark sector

We study observational signatures of non-gravitational interactions between the dark components of the cosmic fluid, which can be either due to creation of dark particles from the expanding vacuum or an effect of the clustering of a dynamical dark energy. In particular, we analyse a class of interacting models ($Λ$(t)CDM), characterised by the parameter $α$, that behaves at background level like cold matter at early times and tends to a cosmological constant in the asymptotic future. In our analysis we consider both background and primordial perturbations evolutions of the model. We use Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data together with late time observations, such as the Joint Light-curve Analysis (JLA) supernovae data, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) measurement of the local value of the Hubble-Lemaître parameter, and primordial deuterium abundance from Ly$α$ systems to test the observational viability of the model and some of its extensions. We found that there is no preference for values of $α$ different from zero (characterising interaction), even if there are some indications for positive values when the minimal $Λ$(t)CDM model is analysed. When extra degrees of freedom in the relativistic component of the cosmic fluid are considered, the data favour negative values of $α$, which means an energy flux from dark energy to dark matter.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Can the cosmological dark sector be modeled by a single scalar field?

In a previous paper it was shown that a minimally coupled scalar field of mass $M \sim H_0$ can describe both components of the dark sector in a unified way. In the solution found, the dark energy component decays linearly with the Hubble parameter, with a homogeneous creation of dark matter. In the present note we show that a $Λ$CDM dark sector can also be modeled by such a single field. More generally, we show that the system of Klein-Gordon and Einstein equations admits a uniparametric family of solutions that is equivalent to a non-adiabatic (with zero sound speed) generalised Chaplygin gas.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

The cosmological dark sector as a scalar $σ$-meson field

Previous quantum field estimations of the QCD vacuum in the expanding space-time lead to a dark energy component scaling linearly with the Hubble parameter, which gives the correct figure for the observed cosmological term. Here we show that this behaviour also appears at the classical level, as a result of the chiral symmetry breaking in a low energy, effective $σ$-model. The dark sector is described in a unified way by the $σ$ condensate and its fluctuations, giving rise to a decaying dark energy and a homogeneous creation of non-relativistic dark particles. The creation rate and the future asymptotic de Sitter horizon are both determined by the $σ$ mass scale.

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arXiv2015

Cosmological Signatures of Anisotropic Spatial Curvature

If one is willing to give up the cherished hypothesis of spatial isotropy, many interesting cosmological models can be developed beyond the simple anisotropically expanding scenarios. One interesting possibility is presented by shear-free models in which the anisotropy emerges at the level of the curvature of the homogeneous spatial sections, whereas the expansion is dictated by a single scale factor. We show that such models represent viable alternatives to describe the large-scale structure of the inflationary universe, leading to a kinematically equivalent Sachs-Wolfe effect. Through the definition of a complete set of spatial eigenfunctions we compute the two-point correlation function of scalar perturbations in these models. In addition, we show how such scenarios would modify the spectrum of the CMB assuming that the observations take place in a small patch of a universe with anisotropic curvature.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Concordance Cosmology with Particle Creation

A constant-rate creation of dark particles in the late-time FLRW spacetime provides a cosmological model in accordance with precise observational tests. The matter creation backreaction implies in this context a vacuum energy density scaling linearly with the Hubble parameter, which is consistent with the vacuum expectation value of the QCD condensate in a low-energy expanding spacetime. Both the cosmological constant and coincidence problems are alleviated in this scenario. We discuss the cosmological model that arises in this context and present a joint analysis of observations of the first acoustic peak in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy spectrum, the Hubble diagram for supernovas of type Ia (SNIa), the distance scale of baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) and the distribution of large scale structures (LSS). We show that a good concordance is obtained, albeit with a higher value of the present matter abundance than in the standard model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

GRB Hubble diagram and constraints on a Λ(t)CDM model

In previous papers, a cosmological model with constant-rate particle creation and vacuum term decaying linearly with the Hubble parameter was shown to lead to a good concordance when tested against precise observations: the position of the first peak in the spectrum of anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the Hubble diagram for supernovas of type Ia (SNe Ia), the distribution of large-scale structures (LSS) and the distance to the baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO). That model has the same number of parameters as the spatially flat standard model and seems to alleviate some observational/theoretical tensions appearing in the later. In this letter we complement those tests with 109 gamma ray bursters (GRB), 59 of them with redshifts above $z=1.4$, which permits to extend the Hubble diagram to redshifts up to $z\approx 8$. For the calibration of the 50 GRBs with $z<1.4$ we use the 288 supernovas of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) project, calibrated with the MLCS2k2 fitter, less model-dependent than other samples like Union2. Our results show a good concordance with the previous tests and, again, less tensions between SNe Ia and GRB best fits as compared to the standard model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Inflationary Perturbations in Anisotropic, Shear-Free Universes

In this work, the linear and gauge-invariant theory of cosmological perturbations in a class of anisotropic and shear-free spacetimes is developed. After constructing an explicit set of complete eigenfunctions in terms of which perturbations can be expanded, we identify the effective degrees of freedom during a generic slow-roll inflationary phase. These correspond to the anisotropic equivalent of the standard Mukhanov-Sasaki variables. The associated equations of motion present a remarkable resemblance to those found in perturbed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetimes with curvature, apart from the spectrum of the Laplacian, which exhibits the characteristic frequencies of the underlying geometry. In particular, it is found that the perturbations cannot develop arbitrarily large super-Hubble modes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Inflation driven by particle creation

The creation of ultra-light dark particles in the late-time FLRW spacetime provides a cosmological model in accordance with precise observational tests. The matter creation backreaction implies in this context a vacuum energy density scaling linearly with the Hubble parameter H, which is consistent with the vacuum expectation value of the QCD condensate in a low-energy expanding spacetime. Both the cosmological constant and coincidence problems are alleviated in this scenario. We also explore the opposite, high energy limit of the particle creation process. We show that it leads to a non-singular primordial universe where an early inflationary era takes place, with natural reheating and exit. The generated primordial spectrum is scale invariant and, by supposing that inflation lasts for 60 e-folds, we obtain a scalar expectral index n = 0.97.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Stability of the Einstein static universe in presence of vacuum energy

The Einstein static universe has played a central role in a number of emergent scenarios recently put forward to deal with the singular origin of the standard cosmological model. Here we study the existence and stability of the Einstein static solution in presence of vacuum energy corresponding to conformally-invariant fields. We show that the presence of vacuum energy stabilizes this solution by changing it to a centre equilibrium point, which is cyclically stable. This allows non-singular emergent cosmological models to be constructed in which initially the universe oscillates indefinitely about an initial Einstein static solution and is thus past eternal.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

On vacuum density, the initial singularity and dark energy

Standard cosmology poses a number of important questions. Apart from its singular origin, it possesses early and late accelerating phases required to account for observations. The vacuum energy has been considered as a possible way to resolve some of these questions. The vacuum energy density induced by free fields in an early de Sitter phase has earlier been estimated to be proportional to $H^4$, while more recently it has been suggested that the QCD condensate induces a term proportional to H at late times. These results have been employed in models which are non-singular and inflationary at early times and accelerating at late times. Here we cast these models in terms of scalar fields and study the corresponding spectrum of primordial perturbations. At early times the spectrum is found to be not scale-invariant, thus implying that slow-roll inflation is still required after the phase transition induced by the vacuum. At late times the corresponding scalar-field potential is harmonic, with a mass of the order of the Hubble scale, a result that may be understood in the light of the holographic conjecture.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2007

Non-singular inflation with vacuum decay

On the basis of a semi-classical analysis of vacuum energy in an expanding spacetime, we describe a non-singular cosmological model in which the vacuum density decays with time, with a concomitant production of matter. During an infinitely long period we have an empty, inflationary universe, with H \approx 1. This primordial era ends in a fast phase transition, during which H and Λdecrease to nearly zero in a few Planck times, with release of a huge amount of radiation. The late-time scenario is similar to the standard model, with the radiation phase followed by a long dust era, which tends asymptotically to a de Sitter universe, with vacuum dominating again. An analysis of the redshift-distance relation for supernovas Ia leads to cosmological parameters in agreement with other current estimations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

From de Sitter to de Sitter: A non-singular inflationary universe driven by vacuum

A semi-classical analysis of vacuum energy in the expanding spacetime suggests that the cosmological term decays with time, with a concomitant matter production. For early times we find, in Planck units, $Λ\approx H^4$, where H is the Hubble parameter. The corresponding cosmological solution has no initial singularity, existing since an infinite past. During an infinitely long period we have a quasi-de Sitter, inflationary universe, with $H \approx 1$. However, at a given time, the expansion undertakes a phase transition, with H and $Λ$ decreasing to nearly zero in a few Planck times, producing a huge amount of radiation. On the other hand, the late-time scenario is similar to the standard model, with the radiation phase followed by a dust era, which tends asymptotically to a de Sitter universe, with vacuum dominating again.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

The cosmic coincidence in Brans-Dicke cosmologies

Among the suggested solutions to the cosmological constant problem, we find the idea of a dynamic vacuum, with an energy density decaying with the universe expansion. We investigate the possibility of a variation in the gravitational constant as well, induced, at the cosmological scale, by the vacuum decay. We consider an effective Brans-Dicke theory in the spatially flat FLRW spacetime, finding late time solutions characterized by a constant ratio between the matter and vacuum energy densities. By using the observed limits for the universe age, we fix the only free parameter of our solutions, obtaining a relative matter density in the range 0.25-0.4. In particular, for Ht = 1 we obtain a relative matter density equals to 1/3. This constitutes a possible explanation for another problem related to the cosmological term, the cosmic coincidence problem.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Decaying Lambda cosmology with varying G

We study a uniform and isotropic cosmology with a decaying vacuum energy density, in the realm of a model with a time varying gravitational "constant". We show that, for late times, such a cosmology is in accordance with the observed values of the cosmological parameters. In particular, we can obtain the observed ratio between the matter density and the total energy density, with no necessity of any fine tuning.

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