arXiv subjects

Sukanta Panda

Publications and source records attributed to Sukanta Panda.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Curvature Singularity in f(R) Theories of Gravity

Although $f(R)$ modification of late time cosmology is successful in explaining present cosmic acceleration, it is difficult to satisfy the fifth-force constraint simultaneously. Even when the fifth-force constraint is satisfied, the effective scalar degree of freedom may move to a point (close to its potential minima) in the field space where the Ricci scalar diverges. We elucidate this point further with a specific example of $f(R)$ gravity that incorporates several viable $f(R)$ gravity models in the literature. In particular, we show that the nonlinear evolution of the scalar field in pressureless contracting dust can easily lead to the curvature singularity, making this theory unviable.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Anisotropic Bouncing Scenario in $F(X)-V(ϕ)$ model

We investigate the cosmology of a class of model with noncanonical scalar field and matter in an anisotropic time dependent background. Writing the Einstein Equations in terms of dimensionless dynamical variables appropriately defined for bouncing solutions, we find all the fixed points. From the bouncing conditions and stability of fixed points, solutions describing non singular bounce are obtained.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Direction dependence of the power spectrum and its effect on the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

We study several anisotropic inflationary models and their implications for the observed violation of statistical isotropy in the CMBR data. In two of these models the anisotropy decays very quickly during the inflationary phase of expansion. We explicitly show that these models lead to violation of isotropy only for low l CMBR modes. Our primary aim is to fit the observed alignment of l=2,3 multipoles to the theoretical models. We use two measures, based on the power tensor, which contains information about the alignment of each multipole, to quantify the anisotropy in data. One of the measures uses the dispersion in eigenvalues of the power tensor. We also define another measure which tests the overall correlation between two different multipoles. We perturbatively compute these measures of anisotropy and fix the theoretical parameters by making a best fit to l=2,3 multipoles. We show that some of the models studied are able to consistently explain the observed violation of statistical isotropy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Testing Unimodular Gravity

We consider models of gravitation that are based on unimodular general coordinate transformations (GCT). These transformations include only those which do not change the determinant of the metric. We treat the determinant as a separate field which transforms as a scalar under unimodular GCT. We consider a class of such theories. In general, these theories do not transform covariantly under the full GCT. We characterize the violation of general coordinate invariance by introducing a new parameter. We show that the theory is consistent with observations for a wide range of this parameter. This parameter may serve as a test for possible violations of general coordinate invariance. We also consider the cosmic evolution within the framework of these models. We show that in general we do not obtain consistent cosmological solutions if we assume the standard cosmological constant or the standard form of non-relativistic matter. We propose a suitable generalization which is consistent with cosmology. We fit the resulting model to the high redshift supernova data. We find that we can obtain a good fit to this data even if include only a single component, either cosmological constant or non-relativistic matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Cosmological Perturbation Analysis in a Scale Invariant Model of Gravity

We consider a model for gravity that is invariant under global scale transformations. It includes one extra real scalar field coupled non-minimally to the gravity fields. In this model all the dimensionful parameters like the gravitational constant and the cosmological constant etc. are generated by a solution of the classical equations of motion which breaks scale invariance. In this paper we demonstrate the stability of such a solution against small perturbations in a flat FRW background by making a perturbative expansion around this solution and solving the resulting equations linear in the perturbations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Treatment of the Weyl Vector Meson

The Weyl meson arises in theories with local scale invariance. It acts as a candidate for dark matter in a generalized Standard Model with local scale invariance. The Higgs particle is absent from the physical spectrum in this theory. We consider the quantization of this theory in detail, imposing suitable gauge fixing conditions. We also consider a further generalization of this model which includes an additional real scalar field. In this theory a Higgs like particle remains in the particle spectrum. Since this particle couples to the Weyl meson, it can lead to interesting phenomenology involving this vector field in particle colliders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Scale Invariance as a Solution to the Cosmological Constant Problem

We show that scale invariance provides a solution to the fine tuning problem of the cosmological constant. We construct a generalization of the standard model of particle physics which displays exact quantum scale invariance. The matter action is invariant under global scale transformations in arbitrary dimensions. However the gravitational action breaks scale invariance explicitly. The scale symmetry is broken spontaneously in the matter sector of the theory. We show that the contribution to the vacuum energy and hence the cosmological constant is identically zero from the matter sector within the full quantum theory. However the gravitational sector may give non-zero contributions to the cosmological constant at loop orders. No fine tuning may be required at loop orders since the matter sector gives zero contribution to the cosmological constant. We also show that we do not require full scale invariance in order to constrain the vacuum energy from the matter sector. We only require invariance under pseudoscale transformations. Using this idea and motivated by the concept of unimodular gravity we propose an alternative model. In this case also we show that matter sector gives exactly zero contribution to the vacuum energy.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Constraints on the Cosmological Constant due to Scale Invariance

We consider the standard model with local scale invariance. The theory shows exact scale invariance of dimensionally regulated action. We show that massless gauge fields, which may be abelian or non-abelian, lead to vanishing contribution to the cosmological constant in this theory. This result follows in the quantum theory, to all orders in the gauge couplings. However we have not considered contributions higher orders in the gravitational coupling. Similarly we also find that massless fermion fields yield null contribution to the cosmological constant. The effective cosmological constant in this theory is non-zero due to the phenomenon of cosmological symmetry breaking, which also gives masses to all the massive fields, besides generating the Planck mass. We find a simple relationship between the curvature scalar and the vacuum value of the Higgs field in the limit when we ignore all other contributions to the energy density besides the vacuum energy.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Prospects for detection of the lunar Cerenkov emission by the UHE Cosmic Rays and Neutrinos using the GMRT and the Ooty Radio Telescope

Searching for the Ultra high energy Cosmic rays and Neutrinos of $> 10^{20} eV$ is of great cosmological importance. A powerful technique is to search for the Čerenkov radio emission caused by UHECR or UHE neutrinos impinging on the lunar regolith. We examine in this paper feasibility of detecting these events by observing with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) which has a large collecting area and operates over a wide frequency range with an orthogonal polarisation capability. We discuss here prospects of observations of the Čerenkov radio emission with the GMRT at 140 MHZ with 32 MHz bandwidth using the incoherent array and also forming 25 beams of the Central Array to cover the moon. We also consider using the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) which was specially designed in 1970 for tracking the Moon. With the ORT (530m long and 30m wide parabolic cylinder) it becomes possible to track the Moon for 9.5 hours on a given day by a simple rotation along the long axis of the parabolic cylinder. ORT operates at 325 MHz and has an effective collecting area of ~ 8000 $m^2.$ Recently a digital system has been installed by scientists of the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore and the Radio Astronomy Centre (RAC) of NCRA/TIFR, at Ooty allowing a bandwidth of 10 MHz with ~ 40 ns sampling. It is possible to form 6 beams covering the Moon and 7th beam far away for discrimination of any terrestrial RFI. Increasing the bandwidth of the existing 12 beam analogue system of the ORT from 4 MHz to 15 MHz to be sampled digitally is planned. It is shown that by observing the Moon for $\ge$ 1000 hrs using the ORT it will provide appreciably higher sensitivity than past searches made elsewhere. Using the GMRT and ORT, it may be possible to reach sensitivity to test the Waxman-Bachall limit on UHE neutrino flux.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

High-energy Atmospheric Muon Flux Expected at India-Based Neutrino Observatory

We calculate the zenith-angle dependence of conventional and prompt high-energy muon fluxes at India-Based Neutrino Observatory (INO) depth. This study demonstrates a possibility to discriminate models of the charm hadroproduction including the low-x QCD behaviour of hadronic cross-sections relevant at very high energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Prospects for GMRT to Observe Radio Waves from UHE Particles Interacting with the Moon

Ultra high energy (UHE) particles of cosmic origin impact the lunar regolith and produce radio signals through Askaryan effect, signals that can be detected by Earth based radio telescopes. We calculate the expected sensitivity for observation of such events at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), both for UHE cosmic rays (CR) and UHE neutrino interactions. We find that for 30 days of observation time a significant number of detectable events is expected above $10^{20}$ eV for UHECR or neutrino fluxes close to the current limits. Null detection over a period of 30 days will lower the experimental bounds on UHE particle fluxes by magnitudes competitive to both present and future experiments at the very highest energies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Probing Low-x QCD With Very High Energy Prompt Muons

We explore the possibility of utilizing the prompt muon fluxes at very high energies in order to discriminate various models/parametrizations of low-x QCD behaviour of hadronic cross-sections relevant at such energies. We find that the pair meter technique for measuring high energy prompt muons can be very efficient in such an endeavor. As a by product, it allows to cleanly probe the change in composition of the primary cosmic rays expected at high energies.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Probing Very High Energy Prompt Muon and Neutrino fluxes and the cosmic ray knee via Underground Muons

We calculate event rate and demonstrate the observational feasibility of very high energy muons (1-1000 TeV) in a large mass underground detector operating as a pair-meter. This energy range corresponds to surface muon energies of $\sim$(5 TeV - 5000 TeV) and primary cosmic ray energies of $\sim$ (50 TeV - 5 $\times 10^4$ TeV). Such measurements would significantly assist in an improved understanding of the prompt contribution to $ν_e, ν_μ$ and $μ$ fluxes in present and future ultra-high energy neutrino detectors. In addition, they would shed light on the origin of the observed 'knee' in the cosmic ray spectrum.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Finite Temperature Effects and Axion Cosmology

We investigate the impact of finite temperature effects on axions in the context of cosmology. The temperature dependence of the decay constant is modeled analogous to pions. For the two interesting cases considered here, we find that the temperature effects do lead to changes relevant for detailed and precise abundance and rate calculations. We also find that the axion decoupling temperature starts showing large deviations for larger values of the axion decay constant.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Godel Type Metrics in Randall Sundrum Model

Anisotropic cosmological models such as the Gödel universe and its extensions - Gödel type solutions, are embedded on a visible 3-brane in the Randall-Sundrum 1 model. The size of the extra dimension is stabilized by tuning the rotation parameter to a very small value so that hierarchy problem can be solved. A limiting case also yields the Randall-Sundrum 2 model. The rotation parameter on the visible brane turns out to be of order $10^{-32}$, which implies that visible brane essentially lacks rotation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays from Early Decaying Primordial Black Holes

Origin of ultra high energy cosmic rays is an unsolved problem. Several proposals such as Z-burst, decay of super massive matter, susy particles as a primary, neutrino as a primary in extra dimension models exist in the literature which try to address this issue. Many of these proposals solve the problem of propagation of cosmic rays over cosmological distances by introducing new physics. However these do not explain the origin of such high energy cosmic rays. The possible astrophysics sites, such as active galactic nuclei, are highly constrained. Here we determine whether these cosmic rays originated from the decay of some exotic objects, such as primordial black holes (PBHs), present in the early universe. In contrast to the usual Top Down scenario we do not assume that this exotic object necessarily has to decay in our astrophysical neighbourhood since we assume a beyond the standard model scenario, where the propagation problem is absent. We consider the standard 4-dimension PBHs as well as the brane world PBHs. We find that in both cases it is unable to produce the observed ultra high energy cosmic ray flux.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Two Graviton Production at $e^+e^-$ and Hadron Hadron Colliders in the Randall-Sundrum Model

We compute the pair production cross section of two Kaluza Klein modes in the Randall-Sundrum model at $e^+e^-$ and hadron hadron colliders. These processes are interesting because they get dominant contribution from the graviton interaction at next to leading order. Hence they provide a nontrivial test of the low scale gravity models. All the Feynman rules at next to leading order are also presented. These rules may be useful for many phenomenological applications including the computation of higher order loop corrections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Brane-Production and the Neutrino-Nucleon cross section at Ultra High Energies in Low Scale Gravity Models

The origin of the ultra high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) showers has remained as a mystery among particle physicists and astrophysicists. In low scale gravity models, where the neutrino-nucleon cross section rises to typical hadronic values at energies above $10^{20}$ eV, the neutrino becomes a candidate for the primary that initiates these showers. We calculate the neutrino-nucleon cross section at ultra high energies by assuming that it is dominated by the production of p-branes. We show, using a generalized Randall-Sundrum model, that the neutrino-nucleon cross-section at neutrino energies of $10^{11}$ GeV is of the order of 100 mb, which is required for explaining UHECR events. Similar result also follows in other models such as the Lykken-Randall model.

hep-ph↗