arXiv subjects

Soumitra SenGupta

Publications and source records attributed to Soumitra SenGupta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Novel modulus stabilization mechanism in higher dimensional f(R) Gravity

In this work, we obtain a new warped solution for a 5-dimensional $f(R) $ gravity in an anti de-Sitter bulk. The higher curvature term in the gravity action is shown to modify the usual warped metric. The novel feature of this modification leads to a natural geometric stabilization of the modulus/radion field in the underlying effective theory on the visible 3-brane without the need for any external stabilizing field. It is further shown that the stabilized value of the modulus resolves the well-known gauge hierarchy problem without any unnatural fine-tuning of the model parameters. This new solution also opens up the possibilities of new signatures in various scenarios formulated in the backdrop of higher dimensional space-time.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Ekpyrotic bounce driven by Kalb-Ramond field

We propose an ekpyrotic bounce scenario driven by a second rank antisymmetric Kalb-Ramond field, where the universe initially contracts through an ekpyrotic stage having a non-singular bouncing like behaviour, and consequently, it smoothly transits to an expanding phase. In particular, the KR field has an interaction with a scalaron field (coming from higher curvature d.o.f) by a linear coupling. The interaction energy density between the KR and the scalaron grows faster than $a^{-6}$ during the contraction phase -- which has negligible effects at the distant past, however as the universe continues to contract, this interaction energy density gradually grows and plays a significant role to trigger a non-singular bounce at a minimum value of the scale factor. The bounce being symmetric and ekpyrotic, the energy density of the bouncing agent rapidly decreases after the bounce during the expanding phase of the universe, and consequently the standard Big-Bang cosmology gets recovered. In such ekpyrotic bounce scenario, we find that the curvature perturbation gets a blue tilted spectrum over the large scale modes -- not consistent with the Planck data. To circumvent this problem, we propose an extended scenario where the ekpyrotic phase is preceded by a quasi-matter dominated pre-ekpyrotic phase, and re-investigate the perturbation power spectrum. As a result, the primordial curvature perturbation, at scales that cross the horizon during the pre-ekpyrotic stage, turns out to be nearly scale invariant that is indeed consistent with the recent Planck data. The hallmark of the work is that although the Kalb-Ramond field has negligible footprints at present universe, it has considerable impacts during early stage of the universe, which in turn makes the universe's evolution non-singular.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Nested warped geometry in a non-flat braneworld scenario

We generalize nested multiply warped braneworld models by incorporating non-zero brane curvature caused by an effective cosmological constant Ω induced on the 3-branes. Starting with the doubly warped model, we first analyze the case where the maximally warped brane is identified as the visible brane. For Ω < 0, resolution of the gauge hierarchy problem imposes a small upper bound on |Ω|, and can possibly lead to positivity of all the 3-brane tensions. For Ω > 0, the latter is not possible but the tuning of the cosmological constant to its tiny observed value is linked to the tuning of the extra dimensional moduli close to the inverse Planck length, justifying the original flat brane approximation. In both regimes, we study the dependence of the scale-clustering of the pair of TeV-branes on the brane cosmological constant and hence its potential role in generating a fermion mass hierarchy between these branes. Identifying the near-maximally warped brane as the visible brane instead opens up regions in the parameter space that allow positive 3-brane tensions for both anti de Sitter and de Sitter branes, subject to non-trivial constraints on the warping parameters. We conclude by generalizing the key results to arbitrary n-fold nested warped braneworlds.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Hunting extra dimensions in the shadow of Sgr A*

We show that the observed angular diameter of the shadow of the ultra compact object Sgr A*, favours the existence of an extra spatial dimension. This holds irrespective of the nature of the ultra compact object, i.e., whether it is a wormhole or, a black hole mimicker, but with the common feature that both of them have an extra dimensional origin. This result holds true for the mass and the distance measurements of Sgr A* using both Keck and the Gravity collaborations and whether we use the observed image or, the observed shadow diameter. In particular, the central value of the observed shadow or, the observed image diameter predicts non-zero hairs inherited from the extra dimensions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Signatures of regular black holes from the shadow of Sgr A* and M87*

With the recent release of the black hole image of Sgr A* alongside the earlier image of M87*, one can now really hope to acquire a better understanding of the gravitational physics at the horizon scale. In this paper, we investigate the prospect of the regular black hole scenario with a Minkowski core in explaining the observed shadow of M87* and Sgr A*. Regular black holes generally appear in Einstein gravity coupled to non-linear electrodynamics and are interesting as they can evade the r = 0 curvature singularity arising in general relativity. Using the previously determined mass and distance we compute the observables associated with the black hole shadow. These when compared with the observed angular diameter reveal that the shadow of M87* and Sgr A* favor the regular black hole scenario with a small but non-zero charge. The implications are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Aspects of non-singular bounce in modified gravity theories

Scenario of a bouncing universe is one of the most active area of research to arrive at singularity free cosmological models. Different proposals have been suggested to avoid the so called 'big bang' singularity through the quantum aspect of gravity which is yet to have a proper understanding. In this work, on the contrary, we consider three different approaches, each of which goes beyond General Relativity but remain within the domain of classical cosmological scenario, to address this problem. The hallmark of all these approaches is that the origin of the bouncing mechanism is somewhat natural within the geometrical framework of the model without any need of incorporating external source by hand. In the context of these scenarios ,we also discuss various constraints that these viable cosmological models need to satisfy.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Do shadows of Sgr A* and M87* indicate black holes with a magnetic monopole charge?

We study the prospect of Bardeen black holes in explaining the observed shadow of Sgr A* and M87*. Bardeen black holes are regular black holes endowed with a magnetic monopole charge that arise in Einstein gravity coupled to non-linear electrodynamics. These black holes are interesting as they can evade the r = 0 curvature singularity arising in general relativity. It is therefore worthwhile to look for signatures of Bardeen black holes in astrophysical observations. With two successive release of black hole images by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, the scope to test the nature of strong gravity has substantially increased. We compare the theoretically computed shadow observables with the observed image of Sgr A* and M87*. Our analysis reveals that while the observed angular diameter of M87* favors the Kerr scenario, the shadow of Sgr A* can be better explained by the Bardeen background. This indicates that although rare, certain black holes exhibit a preference towards regular black holes like the Bardeen spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Quasar continuum spectrum disfavors black holes with a magnetic monopole charge

Black holes carrying a magnetic monopole charge are a subject of interest for a long time. In this work we explore the possibility of an observational evidence of such black holes carrying a magnetic monopole, namely the Bardeen rotating black holes. We derive the theoretical spectrum from the accretion disk surrounding a Bardeen black hole using the thin-disk approximation. We compare the theoretically derived spectrum in comparison to the optical data of eighty Palomar Green quasars to constrain the monopole charge parameter $g$ and the spin parameter $a$ of the quasars. From our analysis we note that the Kerr-scenario in \gr\ is observationally more favored than black holes with a monopole charge. We arrive at such a conclusion using error estimators like $χ^2$, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, the index of agreement and their modified forms. In particular, black holes with $g \geq 0.03$ are outside $99\%$ confidence interval. The implications are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Moduli stabilization with bulk scalar in nested doubly warped braneworld model

We examine the modulus stabilization mechanism of a warped geometry model with nested warping. Such a model with multiple moduli is known to offer a possible resolution of the fermion mass hierarchy problem in the standard model. A six dimensional doubly warped braneworld model under consideration admits two distinct moduli, with the associated warp factors dynamically generating different physical mass scales on four 3-branes. In order to address the hierarchy problem related to the Higgs mass, both moduli need to be stabilized around their desired values without any extreme fine tuning of parameters. We show that it is possible to stabilize them simultaneously due to the appearence of an effective 4D moduli potential, which is generated by a single bulk scalar field having non-zero VEVs frozen on the 3-branes. We also discuss how the entire mechanism can possibly be understood from a purely gravitational point of view, with higher curvature f(R) contributions in the bulk automatically providing a scalar degree of freedom that can serve as the stabilizing field in the Einstein frame.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Hilltop inflation and generation of helical magnetic field

Primordial magnetic field generated in the inflationary era can act as a viable source for the present day intergalactic magnetic field of sufficient strength. We present a fundamental origin for such a primordial generation of the magnetic field, namely through anomaly cancellation of $U(1)$ gauge field in quantum electrodynamics in the context of hilltop inflation. We have analysed at length the power spectrum of the magnetic field, thus generated, which turns out to be helical in nature. We have also found that magnetic power spectrum has significant scale-dependence giving rise to a non-trivial magnetic spectral index, a key feature of this model. Interestingly, there exists a large parameter space, where magnetic field of significant strength can be produced.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

A critical analysis of modulus stabilization in a higher dimensional F(R) gravity

An exact solution for the bulk 5-dimensional geometry is derived for F(R) gravity with non-flat de-Sitter 3-branes located at the $M_4 \times Z_2$ orbifold boundaries. The corresponding form of F(R) that leads to such an exact solution of the bulk metric is derived which turns out to have all positive integer powers of R.In such a scenario the stability issue of the modulus (radion field) is analyzed critically for different curvature epochs in both Einstein and Jordan frames. The radion in the effective 4-d theory exhibits a phantom epoch making this model viable for a non-singular bounce. Simultaneous resolution of the gauge hierarchy problem is exhibited through the resulting stable vaue of the radion field in the effective $3+1$ dimensional theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Looking for extra dimensions in the observed quasi-periodic oscillations of black holes

Quasi-periodic oscillations, often present in the power density spectrum of accretion disk around black holes, are useful probes for the understanding of gravitational interaction in the near-horizon regime of black holes. Since the presence of an extra spatial dimension modifies the near horizon geometry of black holes, it is expected that the study of these quasi-periodic oscillations may shed some light on the possible existence of these extra dimensions. Intriguingly, most of the extra dimensional models, which are of significant interest to the scientific community, predicts the existence of a tidal charge parameter in black hole spacetimes. This tidal charge parameter can have an overall negative sign and is a distinctive signature of the extra dimensions. Motivated by this, we have studied the quasi-periodic oscillations for a rotating braneworld black hole using the available theoretical models. Subsequently, we have used the observations of the quasi-periodic oscillations from available black hole sources, e.g., GRO J1655 -- 40, XTE J1550 -- 564, GRS 1915 + 105, H 1743 + 322 and Sgr A* and have compared them with the predictions from the relevant theoretical models, in order to estimate the tidal charge parameter. It turns out that among the 11 theoretical models considered here, 8 of them predict a negative value for the tidal charge parameter, while for the others negative values of the tidal charge parameter are also well within the 1-$σ$ confidence interval.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Unifying an asymmetric bounce to the dark energy in Chern-Simons F(R) gravity

We propose a cosmological scenario in which the universe undergoes through a non-singular bounce, and after the bounce, it decelerates having a matter-like dominated evolution during some regime of the deceleration era, and finally at the present epoch it evolves through an accelerating stage. Our aim is to study such evolution in the context of Chern-Simons corrected F(R) gravity theory and confront the model with various observational data. Using the reconstruction technique, and in addition by employing suitable boundary conditions, we determine the form of F(R) for the entire possible range of the cosmic time. The form of F(R) seems to unify a non-singular bounce with a dark energy epoch, in particular, from a non-singular bounce to a deceleration epoch and from a deceleration epoch to a late time acceleration era. It is important to mention that the bouncing scenario in the present context is an asymmetric bounce, in particular, the Hubble radius monotonically increases and asymptotically diverges at the late contracting era, while it seems to decrease with time at the present epoch. Such evolution of the Hubble radius leads to the primordial perturbation modes generate at the deep contracting era when all the perturbation modes lie within the horizon. We calculate the scalar and tensor power spectra, and as a result, the primordial observables are found to be in agreement with the latest Planck 2018 constraints. In this regard, the Chern-Simons term seems to have considerable effects on the tensor perturbation evolution, however keeping intact the scalar part of the perturbation with that of in the case of a vacuum F(R) model, and as a result, the Chern-Simons term proves to play an important role in making the observable quantities consistent with the Planck results. Furthermore the theoretical expectation of the dark energy observables are confronted with the Planck+SNe+BAO data.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Signatures of Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion gravity from the observed jet power and the radiative efficiency

The Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion (EMDA) gravity arises in the low energy effective action of the heterotic string theory and provides a simple framework to explore the signatures of the same. The dilaton and the axion fields inherited in the action from string compactifications have interesting consequences in inflationary cosmology and in explaining the present accelerated expansion of the universe. It is therefore worthwhile to search for the footprints of these fields in the available astrophysical observations. Since Einstein gravity is expected to receive quantum corrections in the high curvature domain, the near horizon regime of black holes seems to be the ideal astrophysical laboratory to test these deviations from general relativity. Exact, stationary and axisymmetric black hole solution in EMDA gravity corresponds to the Kerr-Sen spacetime which carries dilaton charge, while the angular momentum is sourced by the axion field. The ballistic jets and the peak emission of the continuum spectrum from the accretion disk are believed to be launched very close to the event horizon and hence should bear the imprints of the background spacetime. We compute the jet power and the radiative efficiency derived from the continuum spectrum in the Kerr-Sen background and compare them with the corresponding observations of microquasars. Our analysis reveals that Kerr black holes are more favored compared to Kerr-Sen black holes with dilaton charges.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Bouncing cosmology in a curved braneworld

We explore the possibility of a non-singular bounce in our universe from a warped braneworld scenario with dynamical branes and a non-zero brane cosmological constant. Such models naturally incorporate a scalar sector known as the radion originating from the modulus of the theory. The presence of brane cosmological constant renders the branes to be non-flat and gives rise to a potential and a non-canonical kinetic term for the radion field in the four dimensional effective action. The kinetic term exhibits a phantom-like behavior within the domain of evolution of the modulus which leads to a violation of the null-energy condition often observed in a bouncing universe. The interplay of the radion potential and kinetic term enables the evolution of the radion field from a normal to a phantom regime where the universe transits from a contracting era to an expanding epoch through a non-singular bounce. Analysis of the scalar and tensor perturbations over such background evolution reveal that the primordial observables e.g., the amplitude of scalar perturbations $\mathcal{A}_s$, tensor to scalar ratio $r$ and the scalar spectral index $n_s$ are in agreement with the current constraints reported by the Planck satellite. The implications are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Implications of Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion gravity from the black hole continuum spectrum

String inspired models can serve as potential candidates to replace GR in the high energy regime where quantum gravity is expected to play a vital role. Such models not only subsume the ultraviolet nature of gravity but also exhibit promising prospects in resolving issues like dark matter and dark energy, which cannot be adequately addressed within the framework of GR. The Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion (EMDA) theory, which is central to this work is one such string inspired model arising in the low energy effective action of the heterotic string theory with interesting implications in inflationary cosmology and in the late time acceleration of the universe. It is therefore important to survey the role of such a theory in explaining astrophysical observations, e.g. the continuum spectrum of black holes which is expected to hold a wealth of information regarding the background metric. The Kerr-Sen spacetime corresponds to the exact, stationary, and axisymmetric black hole solution in EMDA gravity, possessing dilatonic charge and angular momentum originating from the axionic field. In this work, we compute the theoretical spectrum from the accretion disk around quasars in the Kerr-Sen background assuming the thin accretion disk model due to Novikov \& Thorne. This is then used to evaluate the theoretical estimates of optical luminosity for a sample of eighty Palomar-Green quasars which are subsequently compared with the available observations. Our results based on $χ^2$ analysis indicate that the dilaton parameter $r_2\sim 0.2$ is favored by optical observations of quasars which is further corroborated by other error estimators e.g., the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, the index of agreement, and their modified versions. We further report that strong dilaton charges ($r_2>1.6$) are disfavored by quasar optical data and the spins associated with the quasars are also estimated.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Dynamical modelling of disc vertical structure in superthin galaxy `UGC 7321' in braneworld gravity: An MCMC study

Low surface brightness (LSBs) superthins constitute classic examples of very late-type galaxies, with their disc dynamics strongly regulated by their dark matter halos. In this work we consider a gravitational origin of dark matter in the brane world scenario, where the higher dimensional Weyl stress term projected onto the 3-brane acts as the source of dark matter. In the context of the braneworld model, this dark matter is referred to as the \emph{`dark mass'}.This model has been successful in reproducing the rotation curves of several low surface brightness and high surface brightness galaxies. Therefore it is interesting to study the prospect of this model in explaining the vertical structure of galaxies which has not been explored in the literature so far. Using our 2-component model of gravitationally-coupled stars and gas in the external force field of this \emph{dark mass}, we fit the observed scale heights of stellar and atomic hydrogen (HI) gas of superthin galaxy `UGC7321' using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. We find that the observed scaleheights of `UGC7321' can be successfully modelled in the context of the braneworld scenario. In addition, the model predicted rotation curve also matches the observed one. The implications on the model parameters are discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Scalaron tunneling and the fate of antisymmetric tensor fields in $F(R)$ gravity

The work provides a possible explanation of a well motivated question - why the present universe is practically free from any noticeable footmarks of higher rank antisymmetric tensor fields, despite having the signatures of scalar, vector, fermion as well as symmetric rank 2 tensor field in the form of gravity ? The explanation proposed here originates from the higher curvature degrees of freedom present in a $F(R)$ gravity model. In such a model, we show that the scalar degree of freedom (also known as scalaron) associated with the higher curvature term may undergo a quantum tunneling which in turn suppresses the couplings of antisymmetric massless tensor fields with various Standard Model fields.

gr-qc↗