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T. Harko

Publications and source records attributed to T. Harko.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2022

Observational constraints on the interacting dark energy - dark matter (IDM) cosmological models

Particle creation (or annihilation) mechanisms, described by either quantum field theoretical models, or by the thermodynamics of irreversible processes, play an important role in the evolution of the early Universe, like, for example, in the warm inflationary scenario. Following a similar approach, based on the thermodynamics of open systems, in the present work we investigate the consequences of the interaction, decay, and particle generation in a many-component Universe, containing dark energy, dark matter, radiation, and ordinary matter, respectively. In this model, due to the interaction between these components, and of the corresponding thermodynamical properties, the conservation equations of different cosmological constituents are not satisfied individually. We introduce a thermodynamic description of the Universe, in which two novel physical aspects, the particle number balance equations, and the creation pressures, are considered, thus making the cosmological evolution equations thermodynamically consistent. To constrain the free parameters of the model several observational data sets are employed, including the Planck data sets, Riess 2020, BAO, as well as Pantheon data. By using a scaling ansatz for the dark matter to dark energy ratio, and by imposing constraints from Planck+Riess 2020 data, this model predicts an acceptable value for the Hubble parameter, and thus it may provide a solution to the so-called Hubble tension problem, much debated recently.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Cosmological evolution in Weyl conformal geometry

We discuss the cosmological evolution of the Weyl conformal geometry and its associated Weyl quadratic gravity. The Einstein gravity (with a positive cosmological constant) is recovered in the spontaneously broken phase of Weyl gravity; this happens after the Weyl gauge field ($ω_μ$) of scale symmetry, that is part of the Weyl geometry, becomes massive by Stueckelberg mechanism and then decouples. This breaking is a natural result of the cosmological evolution of Weyl geometry, in the absence of matter. Of particular interest in the analysis is the special limiting case of Weyl integrable geometry. Both this case and the general one provide an accelerated expansion of the Universe, controlled by the scalar mode of the $\tilde R^2$ term in the action and by $ω_0$. Their comparison to the $Λ$CDM model shows a very good agreement to this model for the (dimensionless) Hubble function $h(z)$ and the deceleration $q(z)$ for redshift $z\leq 3$. Therefore, the Weyl conformal geometry and its associated Weyl quadratic gravity provide an interesting alternative to the $Λ$CDM model and to the Einstein gravity.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2017

Approximate Analytical Solution for the Dynamic Model of Large Amplitude Non-Linear Oscillations Arising in Structural Engineering

In this work we obtain an approximate solution of the strongly nonlinear second order differential equation $\frac{d^{2}u}{dt^{2}}+ω^{2}u+αu^{2}\frac{d^{2}u}{dt^{2}}+αu\left( \frac{du}{dt}\right)^{2}+βω^{2}u^{3}=0$, describing the large amplitude free vibrations of a uniform cantilever beam, by using a method based on the Laplace transform, and the convolution theorem. By reformulating the initial differential equation as an integral equation, with the use of an iterative procedure, an approximate solution of the nonlinear vibration equation can be obtained in any order of approximation. The iterative approximate solutions are compared with the exact numerical solution of the vibration equation.

math.CA↗
arXiv2016

Exact Scalar-Tensor Cosmological Models

Scalar-tensor gravitational theories are important extensions of standard general relativity, which can explain both the initial inflationary evolution, as well as the late accelerating expansion of the Universe. In the present paper we investigate the cosmological solution of a scalar-tensor gravitational theory, in which the scalar field $ϕ$ couples to the geometry via an arbitrary function $F(ϕ$). The kinetic energy of the scalar field as well as its self-interaction potential $V(ϕ)$ are also included in the gravitational action. By using a standard mathematical procedure, the Lie group approach, and Noether symmetry techniques, we obtain several exact solutions of the gravitational field equations describing the time evolutions of a flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker Universe in the framework of the scalar-tensor gravity. The obtained solutions can describe both accelerating and decelerating phases during the cosmological expansion of the Universe.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Exact power series solutions of the structure equations of the general relativistic isotropic fluid stars with linear barotropic and polytropic equations of state

Obtaining exact solutions of the spherically symmetric general relativistic gravitational field equations describing the interior structure of an isotropic fluid sphere is a long standing problem in theoretical and mathematical physics. The usual approach to this problem consists mainly in the numerical investigation of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff and of the mass continuity equations, which describes the hydrostatic stability of the dense stars. In the present paper we introduce an alternative approach for the study of the relativistic fluid sphere, based on the relativistic mass equation, obtained by eliminating the energy density in the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation. Despite its apparent complexity, the relativistic mass equation can be solved exactly by using a power series representation for the mass, and the Cauchy convolution for infinite power series. We obtain exact series solutions for general relativistic dense astrophysical objects described by the linear barotropic and the polytropic equations of state, respectively. For the polytropic case we obtain the exact power series solution corresponding to arbitrary values of the polytropic index $n$. The explicit form of the solution is presented for the polytropic index $n=1$, and for the indexes $n=1/2$ and $n=1/5$, respectively. The case of $n=3$ is also considered. In each case the exact power series solution is compared with the exact numerical solutions, which are reproduced by the power series solutions truncated to seven terms only. The power series representations of the geometric and physical properties of the linear barotropic and polytropic stars are also obtained.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Exact Scalar-Tensor Cosmological Solutions via Noether Symmetry

In this paper, we investigate the Noether symmetries of a generalized scalar-tensor, Brans-Dicke type cosmological model, in which we consider explicit scalar field dependent couplings to the Ricci scalar, and to the scalar field kinetic energy, respectively. We also include the scalar field self-interaction potential into the gravitational action. From the condition of the vanishing of the Lie derivative of the gravitational cosmological Lagrangian with respect to a given vector field we obtain three cosmological solutions describing the time evolution of a spatially flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker Universe filled with a scalar field. The cosmological properties of the solutions are investigated in detail, and it is shown that they can describe a large variety of cosmological evolutions, including models that experience a smooth transition from a decelerating to an accelerating phase.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Exact travelling wave solutions of non-linear reaction-convection-diffusion equations -- an Abel equation based approach

We consider quasi-stationary (travelling wave type) solutions to a general nonlinear reaction-convection-diffusion equation with arbitrary, autonomous coefficients. The second order nonlinear equation describing one dimensional travelling waves can be reduced to a first kind first order Abel type differential equation By using two integrability conditions for the Abel equation (the Chiellini lemma and the Lemke transformation), several classes of exact travelling wave solutions of the general reaction--convection-diffusion equation are obtained, corresponding to different functional relations imposed between the diffusion, convection and reaction functions. In particular, we obtain travelling wave solutions for two non-linear second order partial differential equations, representing generalizations of the standard diffusion equation and of the classical Fisher--Kolmogorov equation, to which they reduce for some limiting values of the model parameters. The models correspond to some specific, power law type choices of the reaction and convection functions, respectively. The travelling wave solutions of these two classes of differential equations are investigated in detail by using both numerical and semi-analytical methods.

math-ph↗
arXiv2014

New further integrability cases for the Riccati equation

New further integrability conditions of the Riccati equation $dy/dx=a(x)+b(x)y+c(x)y^{2}$ are presented. The first case corresponds to fixed functional forms of the coefficients $a(x)$ and $c(x)$ of the Riccati equation, and of the function $F(x)=a(x)+[f(x)-b^{2}(x)]/4c(x)$, where $f(x)$ is an arbitrary function. The second integrability case is obtained for the "reduced" Riccati equation with $b(x)\equiv 0$. If the coefficients $a(x)$ and $c(x)$ satisfy the condition $\pm d\sqrt{f(x)/c(x)}/dx=a(x)+f(x)$, where $f(x)$ is an arbitrary function, then the general solution of the "reduced" Riccati equation can be obtained by quadratures. The applications of the integrability condition of the "reduced" Riccati equation for the integration of the Schrödinger and Navier-Stokes equations are briefly discussed.

math-ph↗
arXiv2013

Isotropic stars in general relativity

We present a general solution of the Einstein gravitational field equations for the static spherically symmetric gravitational interior spacetime of an isotropic fluid sphere. The solution is obtained by transforming the pressure isotropy condition, a second order ordinary differential equation, into a Riccati type first order differential equation, and using a general integrability condition for the Riccati equation. This allows us to obtain an exact non-singular solution of the interior field equations for a fluid sphere, expressed in the form of infinite power series. The physical features of the solution are studied in detail numerically by cutting the infinite series expansions, and restricting our numerical analysis by taking into account only $n=21$ terms in the power series representations of the relevant astrophysical parameters. In the present model all physical quantities (density, pressure, speed of sound etc.) are finite at the center of the sphere. The physical behavior of the solution essentially depends on the equation of state of the dense matter at the center of the star. The stability properties of the model are also analyzed in detail for a number of central equations of state, and it is shown that it is stable with respect to the radial adiabatic perturbations. The astrophysical analysis indicates that this solution can be used as a realistic model for static general relativistic high density objects, like neutron stars.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2013

Hybrid f(R) theories, local constraints, and cosmic speedup

We present an extension of general relativity in which an $f(R)$ term à la Palatini is added to the usual metric Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian. Expressing the theory in a dynamically equivalent scalar-tensor form, we show that it can pass the Solar System observational tests even if the scalar field is very light or massless. Applications to cosmology and astrophysics, and some exact solutions are discussed.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Testing General Relativity With Laser Accelerated Electron Beams

Electron accelerations of the order of $10^{21} g$ obtained by laser fields open up the possibility of experimentally testing one of the cornerstones of general relativity, the weak equivalence principle, which states that the local effects of a gravitational field are indistinguishable from those sensed by a properly accelerated observer in flat space-time. We illustrate how this can be done by solving the Einstein equations in vacuum and integrating the geodesic equations of motion for a uniformly accelerated particle.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Weyl fluid dark matter model tested on the galactic scale by weak gravitational lensing

The higher dimensional Weyl curvature induces on the brane a new source of gravity. This Weyl fluid of geometrical origin (reducing in the spherically symmetric, static configuration to a dark radiation and dark pressure) modifies space-time geometry around galaxies and has been shown to explain the flatness of galactic rotation curves. Independent observations for discerning between the Weyl fluid and other dark matter models are necessary. Gravitational lensing could provide such a test. Therefore we study null geodesics and weak gravitational lensing in the dark radiation dominated region of galaxies in a class of spherically symmetric brane-world metrics. We find that the lensing profile in the brane-world scenario is distinguishable from dark matter lensing, despite both the brane-world scenario and dark matter models fitting the rotation curve data. In particular, in the asymptotic regions light deflection is 18% enhanced as compared to dark matter halo predictions. For a linear equation of state of the Weyl fluid we further find a critical radius, below which brane-world effects reduce, while above it they amplify light deflection. This is in contrast to any dark matter model, the addition of which always increases the deflection angle.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Condensate dark matter stars

We investigate the structure and stability properties of compact astrophysical objects that may be formed from the Bose-Einstein condensation of dark matter. Once the critical temperature of a boson gas is less than the critical temperature, a Bose-Einstein Condensation process can always take place during the cosmic history of the universe. Therefore we model the dark matter inside the star as a Bose-Einstein condensate. In the condensate dark matter star model, the dark matter equation of state can be described by a polytropic equation of state, with polytropic index equal to one. We derive the basic general relativistic equations describing the equilibrium structure of the condensate dark matter star with spherically symmetric static geometry. The structure equations of the condensate dark matter stars are studied numerically. The critical mass and radius of the dark matter star are given by $M_{crit}\approx 2(l_a/1fm)^{1/2}(m_χ/1\;{\rm GeV})^{-3/2}M_{\odot}$ and $R_{crit}\approx 1.1 \times 10^6(l_a/1\;{\rm fm})^{1/2}(m_χ/1\;{\rm GeV})^{-3/2}$ cm respectively, where $l_a$ and $m_χ$ are the scattering length and the mass of dark matter particle, respectively.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

New integrability case for the Riccati equation

A new integrability condition of the Riccati equation $dy/dx=a(x)+b(x)y+c(x)y^{2}$ is presented. By introducing an auxiliary equation depending on a generating function $f(x)$, the general solution of the Riccati equation can be obtained if the coefficients $a(x)$, $b(x)$, $c(x)$, and the function $f(x)$ satisfy a particular constraint. The validity and reliability of the method are tested by obtaining the general solutions of some Riccati type differential equations. Some applications of the integrability conditions for the case of the damped harmonic oscillator with time dependent frequency, and for solitonic wave, are briefly discussed.

math-ph↗
arXiv2012

Quark-Hadron Phase Transitions in Viscous Early Universe

Based on hot big bang theory, the cosmological matter is conjectured to undergo QCD phase transition(s) to hadrons, when the universe was about $1-10 μ$s old. In the present work, we study the quark-hadron phase transition, by taking into account the effect of the bulk viscosity. We analyze the evolution of the quantities relevant for the physical description of the early universe, namely, the energy density $ρ$, temperature $T$, Hubble parameter $H$ and scale factor $a$ before, during and after the phase transition. To study the cosmological dynamics and the time evolution we use both analytical and numerical methods. By assuming that the phase transition may be described by an effective nucleation theory (prompt {\it first-order} phase transition), we also consider the case where the universe evolved through a mixed phase with a small initial supercooling and monotonically growing hadronic bubbles. The numerical estimation of the cosmological parameters, $a$ and $H$ for instance, makes it clear that the time evolution varies from phase to phase. As the QCD era turns to be fairly accessible in the high-energy experiments and the lattice QCD simulations, the QCD equation of state is very well defined. In light of this, we introduce a systematic study of the {\it cross-over} quark-hadron phase transition and an estimation for the time evolution of Hubble parameter.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2011

Bose-Einstein Condensate general relativistic stars

We analyze the possibility that due to their superfluid properties some compact astrophysical objects may contain a significant part of their matter in the form of a Bose-Einstein condensate. To study the condensate we use the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, with arbitrary non-linearity. By introducing the Madelung representation of the wave function, we formulate the dynamics of the system in terms of the continuity equation and of the hydrodynamic Euler equations. The non-relativistic and Newtonian Bose-Einstein gravitational condensate can be described as a gas, whose density and pressure are related by a barotropic equation of state. In the case of a condensate with quartic non-linearity, the equation of state is polytropic with index one. In the framework of the Thomas-Fermi approximation the structure of the Newtonian gravitational condensate is described by the Lane-Emden equation, which can be exactly solved. The case of the rotating condensate is also discussed. General relativistic configurations with quartic non-linearity are studied numerically with both non-relativistic and relativistic equations of state, and the maximum mass of the stable configuration is determined. Condensates with particle masses of the order of two neutron masses (Cooper pair) and scattering length of the order of 10-20 fm have maximum masses of the order of 2 M_sun, maximum central density of the order of 0.1-0.3 10^16 g/cm^3 and minimum radii in the range of 10-20 km. In this way we obtain a large class of stable astrophysical objects, whose basic astrophysical parameters (mass and radius) sensitively depend on the mass of the condensed particle, and on the scattering length. We also propose that the recently observed neutron stars with masses in the range of 2-2.4 M_sun are Bose-Einstein Condensate stars.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2011

Galactic rotation curves in brane world models

In the braneworld scenario the four dimensional effective Einstein equation has extra source terms, which arise from the embedding of the 3-brane in the bulk. These non-local effects, generated by the free gravitational field of the bulk, may provide an explanation for the dynamics of the neutral hydrogen clouds at large distances from the galactic center, which is usually explained by postulating the existence of the dark matter. In the present paper we consider the asymptotic behavior of the galactic rotation curves in the brane world models, and we compare the theoretical results with observations of both High Surface Brightness and Low Surface Brightness galaxies. For the chosen sample of galaxies we determine first the baryonic parameters by fitting the photometric data to the adopted galaxy model; then we test the hypothesis of the Weyl fluid acting as dark matter on the chosen sample of spiral galaxies by fitting the tangential velocity equation of the combined baryonic-Weyl model to the rotation curves. We give an analytical expression for the rotational velocity of a test particle on a stable circular orbit in the exterior region to a galaxy, with Weyl fluid contributions included. The model parameter ranges for which the $χ^2$ test provides agreement (within 1$σ$ confidence level) with observations on the velocity fields of the chosen galaxy sample are then determined. There is a good agreement between the theoretical predictions and observations, showing that extra-dimensional models can be effectively used as a viable alternative to the standard dark matter paradigm.

gr-qc↗