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Zong-Hong Zhu

Publications and source records attributed to Zong-Hong Zhu.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Constraints on f(R) cosmologies from strong gravitational lensing systems

f(R) gravity is thought to be an alternative to dark energy which can explain the acceleration of the universe. It has been tested by different observations including type Ia supernovae (SNIa), the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and so on. In this Letter, we use the Hubble constant independent ratio between two angular diameter distances $D=D_{ls}/D_s$ to constrain f(R) model in Palatini approach $f(R)=R-αH^2_0(-\frac{R}{H^2_0})^β$. These data are from various large systematic lensing surveys and lensing by galaxy clusters combined with X-ray observations. We also combine the lensing data with CMB and BAO, which gives a stringent constraint. The best-fit results are $(α,β)=(-1.50,0.696)$ or $(Ω_m,β)=(0.0734,0.696)$ using lensing data only. When combined with CMB and BAO, the best-fit results are $(α,β)=(-3.75,0.0651)$ or $(Ω_m,β)=(0.286,0.0651)$. If we further fix $β=0$ (corresponding to $Λ$CDM), the best-fit value for $α$ is $α$=$-4.84_{-0.68}^{+0.91}(1σ)_{-0.98}^{+1.63}(2σ)$ for the lensing analysis and $α$=$-4.35_{-0.16}^{+0.18}(1σ)_{-0.25}^{+0.3}(2σ)$ for the combined data, respectively. Our results show that $Λ$CDM model is within 1$σ$ range.

astro-ph.CO↗

Testing the dark energy with gravitational lensing statistics

We study the redshift distribution of two samples of early-type gravitational lenses, extracted from a larger collection of 122 systems, to constrain the cosmological constant in the LCDM model and the parameters of a set of alternative dark energy models (XCDM, Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati and Ricci dark energy models), under a spatially flat universe. The likelihood is maximized for $Ω_Λ= 0.70 \pm 0.09$ when considering the sample excluding the SLACS systems (known to be biased towards large image-separation lenses) and no-evolution, and $Ω_Λ= 0.81\pm 0.05$ when limiting to gravitational lenses with image separation larger than 2" and no-evolution. In both cases, results accounting for galaxy evolution are consistent within 1$σ$. The present test supports the accelerated expansion, by excluding the null-hypothesis (i.e., $Ω_Λ= 0 $) at more than 4$σ$, regardless of the chosen sample and assumptions on the galaxy evolution. A comparison between competitive world models is performed by means of the Bayesian information criterion. This shows that the simplest cosmological constant model - that has only one free parameter - is still preferred by the available data on the redshift distribution of gravitational lenses. We perform an analysis of the possible systematic effects, finding that the systematic errors due to sample incompleteness, galaxy evolution and model uncertainties approximately equal the statistical errors, with present-day data. We find that the largest sources of systemic errors are the dynamical normalization and the high-velocity cut-off factor, followed by the faint-end slope of the velocity dispersion function.

astro-ph.CO↗

Observational constraints on unified dark matter including Hubble parameter data

We constrain a unified dark matter (UDM) model from the latest observational data. This model assumes that the dark sector is degenerate. Dark energy and dark matter are the same component. It can be described by an affine equation of state $P_X= p_0 +αρ_X$. Our data set contains the newly revised $H(z)$ data, type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from Union2 set, baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) observation from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 7 (DR7) galaxy sample, as well as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) observation from the 7-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP7) results. By using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, we obtain the results in a flat universe: $Ω_Λ$=$0.719_{-0.0305}^{+0.0264}(1σ)_{-0.0458}^{+0.0380}(2σ)$, $α$=$1.72_{-4.79}^{+3.92}(1σ)_{-7.30}^{+5.47}(2σ)(\times10^{-3})$, $Ω_bh^2$=$0.0226_{-0.0011}^{+0.0011}(1σ)_{-0.0015}^{+0.0016}(2σ)$. Moreover, when considering a non-flat universe, $Ω_Λ$=$0.722_{-0.0447}^{+0.0362}(1σ)_{-0.0634}^{+0.0479}(2σ)$, $α$=$0.242_{-0.775}^{+0.787}(1σ)_{-1.03}^{+1.10}(2σ)(\times10^{-2})$, $Ω_bh^2$=$0.0227_{-0.0014}^{+0.0015}(1σ)_{-0.0018}^{+0.0021}(2σ)$, $Ω_k$=$-0.194_{-1.85}^{+2.02}(1σ)_{-2.57}^{+2.75}(2σ)(\times10^{-2})$. These give a more stringent results than before. We also give the results from other combinations of these data for comparison. The observational Hubble parameter data can give a more stringent constraint than SNe Ia. From the constraint results, we can see the parameters $α$ and $Ω_k$ are very close to zero, which means a flat universe is strongly supported and the speed of sound of the dark sector seems to be zero.

astro-ph.CO↗

Constraints on cosmological models from strong gravitational lensing systems

Strong lensing has developed into an important astrophysical tool for probing both cosmology and galaxies (their structure, formation, and evolution). Using the gravitational lensing theory and cluster mass distribution model, we try to collect a relatively complete observational data concerning the Hubble constant independent ratio between two angular diameter distances $D_{ds}/D_s$ from various large systematic gravitational lens surveys and lensing by galaxy clusters combined with X-ray observations, and check the possibility to use it in the future as complementary to other cosmological probes. On one hand, strongly gravitationally lensed quasar-galaxy systems create such a new opportunity by combining stellar kinematics (central velocity dispersion measurements) with lensing geometry (Einstein radius determination from position of images). We apply such a method to a combined gravitational lens data set including 70 data points from Sloan Lens ACS (SLACS) and Lens Structure and Dynamics survey (LSD). On the other hand, a new sample of 10 lensing galaxy clusters with redshifts ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 carefully selected from strong gravitational lensing systems with both X-ray satellite observations and optical giant luminous arcs, is also used to constrain three dark energy models ($Λ$CDM, constant $w$ and CPL) under a flat universe assumption. For the full sample ($n=80$) and the restricted sample ($n=46$) including 36 two-image lenses and 10 strong lensing arcs, we obtain relatively good fitting values of basic cosmological parameters, which generally agree with the results already known in the literature. This results encourages further development of this method and its use on larger samples obtained in the future.

astro-ph.CO↗

Calibration of GRB Luminosity Relations with Cosmography

For the use of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) to probe cosmology in a cosmology-independent way, a new method has been proposed to obtain luminosity distances of GRBs by interpolating directly from the Hubble diagram of SNe Ia, and then calibrating GRB relations at high redshift. In this paper, following the basic assumption in the interpolation method that objects at the same redshift should have the same luminosity distance, we propose another approach to calibrate GRB luminosity relations with cosmographic fitting directly from SN Ia data. In cosmography, there is a well-known fitting formula which can reflect the Hubble relation between luminosity distance and redshift with cosmographic parameters which can be fitted from observation data. Using the Cosmographic fitting results from the Union set of SNe Ia, we calibrate five GRB relations using GRB sample at $z\leq1.4$ and deduce distance moduli of GRBs at $1.4< z \leq 6.6$ by generalizing above calibrated relations at high redshift. Finally, we constrain the dark energy parameterization models of the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder (CPL) model, the Jassal-Bagla-Padmanabhan (JBP) model and the Alam model with GRB data at high redshift, as well as with the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB) and the baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) observations, and we find the $Λ$CDM model is consistent with the current data in 1-$σ$ confidence region.

astro-ph.CO↗

The Unified First law in "Cosmic Triad" Vector Field Scenario

In this letter, we try to apply the unified first law to the "cosmic triad" vector field scenario both in the minimal coupling case and in the non-minimalcoupling case. After transferring the non-minimally coupling action in Jordan frame to Einstein frame, the correct dynamical equation (Friedmann equation) is gotten in a thermal equilibrium process by using the already existing entropy while the entropy in the non-minimal coupled "cosmic triad" scenario has not been derived. And after transferring the variables back to Jordan frame, the corresponding Friedmann equation is demonstrated to be correct. For complete arguments, we also calculate the related Misner-Sharp energy in Jordan and Einstein frames.

hep-th↗

Notes on $f(T)$ Theories

The cosmological models based on teleparallel gravity with nonzero torsion are considered. To investigate the evolution of this theory, we consider the phase-space analysis of the $f(T)$ theory. It shows when the tension scalar can be written as an inverse function of $x$ where $x=ρ_{e}/(3m_{pl}^{2}H^{2})$ and $T=g(x)$, the system is an autonomous one. Furthermore,the $ω_{e}-ω'_{e}$ phase analysis is given out. We perform the dynamical analysis for the models $f(T)=βT\ln(T/T_{0})$ and $f(T)=αm_{pl}^{2}(-T/m_{pl}^{2})^{n}$ particularly. We find that the universe will settle into de-Sitter phase for both models. And we have examined the evolution behavior of the power law form in the $ω_{ep}-ω'_{ep}$ plane.

astro-ph.CO↗

Modified gravity emerging from thermodynamics and holographic principle

A new conception is proposed in Ref.\cite{Verlinde:2010hp,Padmanabhan:2009kr} that gravity is one kind of entropic force. In this letter, we try to discuss its applications to the modified gravities by using three different corrections to the area law of entropy which are derived from the quantum effects and extra dimensions. According to the assumption of holographic principle, the number of bits $N$ which is related to the equipartition law of energy is modified. Then, the modified law of Newton's gravity and the modified Friedmann equations are obtained by using the new notion. By choosing suitable parameters, the modified area law of entropy leads to de-Sitter solutions which can be used to explain the accelerating expansion of our universe. It suggests that the accelerating phase in our universe may be an emergent phenomenon based on holographic principle and thermodynamics.

hep-th↗

Current cosmological constraints on the curvature, dark energy and modified gravity

We apply the Union2 compilation of 557 supernova Ia data, the baryon acoustic oscillation measurement of distance, the cosmic microwave background radiation data from the seven year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, and the Hubble parameter data to study the geometry of the Universe and the property of dark energy by using models and parametrizations with different high redshift behaviours of $w(z)$. We find that $Λ$CDM model is consistent with current data, that the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati model is excluded by the data at more than $3σ$ level, that the Universe is almost flat, and that the current data is unable to distinguish models with different behaviours of $w(z)$ at high redshift. We also add the growth factor data to constrain the growth index of Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati model and find that it is more than $1σ$ away from its theoretical value.

astro-ph.CO↗

Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background from Coalescing Binary Black Holes

We estimate the stochastic gravitational wave (GW) background signal from the field population of coalescing binary stellar mass black holes (BHs) throughout the Universe. This study is motivated by recent observations of BH-Wolf-Rayet star systems and by new estimates in the metallicity abundances of star forming galaxies that imply BH-BH systems are more common than previously assumed. Using recent analytical results of the inspiral-merger-ringdown waveforms for coalescing binary BH systems, we estimate the resulting stochastic GW background signal. Assuming average quantities for the single source energy emissions, we explore the parameter space of chirp mass and local rate density required for detection by advanced and third generation interferometric GW detectors. For an average chirp mass of 8.7$M_{\odot}$, we find that detection through 3 years of cross-correlation by two advanced detectors will require a rate density, $r_0 \geq 0.5 \rm{Mpc}^{-3} \rm{Myr}^{-1}$. Combining data from multiple pairs of detectors can reduce this limit by up to 40%. Investigating the full parameter space we find that detection could be achieved at rates $r_0 \sim 0.1 \rm{Mpc}^{-3} \rm{Myr}^{-1}$ for populations of coalescing binary BH systems with average chirp masses of $\sim 15M_{\odot}$ which are predicted by recent studies of BH-Wolf-Rayet star systems. While this scenario is at the high end of theoretical estimates, cross-correlation of data by two Einstein Telescopes could detect this signal under the condition $r_0 \geq 10^{-3} \rm{Mpc}^{-3} \rm{Myr}^{-1}$. Such a signal could potentially mask a primordial GW background signal of dimensionless energy density, $Ω_{\rm{GW}}\sim 10^{-10}$, around the (1--500) Hz frequency range.

gr-qc↗

Constraints on the generalized Chaplygin gas model including gamma-ray bursts via a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach

We investigate observational constraints on the generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) model including the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at high redshift obtained directly from the Union2 type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) set. By using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we constrain the GCG model with the cosmology-independent GRBs, as well as the Union2 set, the cosmic microwave background (CMB) observation from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP7) result, and the baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) observation from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 7 (DR7) galaxy sample. The best-fit values of the GCG model parameters are $A_S$=$0.7475_{-0.0539}^{+0.0556}(1σ)_{-0.0816}^{+0.0794}(2σ)$, $α$=$-0.0256_{-0.1326}^{+0.1760}(1σ)_{-0.1907}^{+0.2730}(2σ)$, and the effective matter density $Ω_{m}=0.2629_{-0.0153}^{+0.0155}(1σ)_{-0.0223}^{+0.0236}(2σ)$, which are more stringent than the previous results for constraining on GCG model parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

Cosmological Constraints on the DGP braneworld model with Gamma-ray bursts

We investigate observational constraints on the Dvali, Gabadadze and Porrati (DGP) model with Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at high redshift obtained directly from the Union2 Type Ia supernovae data (SNe Ia) set. With the cosmology-independent GRBs, the Union2 set, as well as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations from the WMAP7 result, the baryon acoustic oscillation, the baryon mass fraction in clusters and the observed $H(z)$ data, we obtain that the best-fit values of the DGP model are ${Ω_{M0}, Ω_{rc}} =\{0.235_{-0.014}^{+0.015},0.138_{-0.048}^{+0.051}\}$, which favor a flat universe; and the transition redshift of the DGP model is $z_T=0.67_{-0.04}^{+0.03}$. These results lead to more stringent constraints than the previous results for the DGP model.

astro-ph.CO↗

Latest Cosmological Constraints on Cardassian expansion models including the updated Gamma-ray bursts

In this paper, we constrain the Cardassian expansion models from the latest observations including the updated Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which calibrated cosmology-independently from the Union2 compilation of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). By combining the GRB data to the joint observations with the Union2 SNe Ia set, along with the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation observation from the seven-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe result, the baryonic acoustic oscillation observation from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release galaxy sample, we find significant constraints on model parameters of the original Cardassian model $Ω_{\rm M0}=0.282_{-0.014}^{+0.015}$, $n= 0.03_{-0.05}^{+0.05}$; and $n= -0.16_{-3.26}^{+0.25}$, $β=0.76_{-0.58}^{+0.34}$ of the modified polytropic Cardassian model, which are consistent with the $Λ$CDM model in 1-$σ$ confidence region. From the reconstruction of the deceleration parameter $q(z)$ in Cardassian models, we obtain the transition redshift $z_{\rm T}=0.73\pm{0.04}$ for the original Cardassian model, and $z_{\rm\rm T}=0.68\pm{0.04}$ for the modified polytropic Cardassian model.

astro-ph.CO↗

Testing the phenomenological interacting dark energy with observational $H(z)$ data

In order to test the possible interaction between dark energy and dark matter, we investigate observational constraints on a phenomenological scenario, in which the ratio between the dark energy and matter densities is proportional to the power law case of the scale factor, $r\equiv (ρ_X/ρ_m)\propto a^ξ$. By using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, we constrain the phenomenological interacting dark energy model with the newly revised $H(z)$ data, as well as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) observation from the 7-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP7) results, the baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) observation from the spectroscopic Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 7 (DR7) galaxy sample and the type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from Union2 set. The best-fit values of the model parameters are $Ω_{m0}=0.27_{-0.02}^{+0.02}(1σ)_{-0.03}^{+0.04}(2σ)$, $ξ=3.15_{-0.50}^{+0.48}(1σ)_{-0.71}^{+0.72}(2σ)$, and $w_X=-1.05_{-0.14}^{+0.15}(1σ)_{-0.21}^{+0.21}(2σ)$, which are more stringent than previous results. These results show that the standard $Λ$CDM model without any interaction remains a good fit to the recent observational data; however, the interaction that the energy transferring from dark matter to dark energy is slightly favored over the interaction from dark energy to dark matter. It is also shown that the $H(z)$ data can give more stringent constraints on the phenomenological interacting scenario when combined to CMB and BAO observations, and the confidence regions of $H(z)$+BAO+CMB, SNe+BAO+CMB, and $H(z)$+SNe+BAO+CMB combinations are consistent with each other.

astro-ph.CO↗

Constraints on cosmological models from lens redshift data

Strong lensing has developed into an important astrophysical tool for probing both cosmology and galaxies (their structures, formations, and evolutions). Now several hundreds of strong lens systems produced by massive galaxies have been discovered, which may form well-defined samples useful for statistical analyses. To collect a relatively complete lens redshift data from various large systematic surveys of gravitationally lensed quasars and check the possibility to use it as a future complementarity to other cosmological probes. We use the distribution of gravitationally-lensed image separations observed in the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS), the PMN-NVSS Extragalactic Lens Survey (PANELS), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and other surveys, considering a singular isothermal ellipsoid (SIE) model for galactic potentials as well as improved new measurements of the velocity dispersion function of galaxies based on the SDSS DR5 data and recent semi-analytical modeling of galaxy formation, to constrain two dark energy models ($Λ$CDM and constant $w$) under a flat universe assumption. We find that the current lens redshift data give a relatively weak constraint on the model parameters. However, by combing the redshift data with the baryonic acoustic oscillation peak and the comic macrowave background data, we obtain more stringent results, which show that the flat $Λ$ CDM model is still included at 1$σ$.

astro-ph.CO↗

Interactions in Dark Energy Models

We perform a full dynamical analysis by considering the interactions between dark energy and radiation, and dark energy and dark matter. We find that the interaction helps alleviate the coincidence problem for the quintessence model.

astro-ph.CO↗

Observational Constraints on Interacting Dark Matter Model Without Dark Energy

The interacting dark matter (IDM) scenario allows for the acceleration of the Universe without Dark Energy. We constrain the IDM model by using the newly revised observational data including $H(z)$ data and Union2 SNe Ia via the Markov chain Monte Carlo method. When mimicking the $Λ$CDM model, we obtain a more stringent upper limit to the effective annihilation term at $κC_1\approx 10^{-3.4}\rm{Gyr}^{-1}$, and a tighter lower limit to the relevant mass of Dark Matter particles at $M_x\approx 10^{-8.6}\rm{Gev}$. When mimicking the $w$CDM model, we find that the effective equation of state of IDM is consistent with the concordance $Λ$CDM model and appears to be most consistent with the effective phantom model with a constant EoS for which $w<-1$.

astro-ph.CO↗

Measuring redshift through X-ray spectroscopy of galaxy clusters: results from Chandra data and future prospects

The ubiquitous presence of the Fe line complex in the X-ray spectra of galaxy clusters offers the possibility of measuring their redshift without resorting to spectroscopic follow-up observations. In this paper we assess the accuracy with which the redshift of galaxy clusters can be recovered from an X-ray spectral analysis of Chandra archival data. This study indicates a strategy to build large surveys of clusters whose identification and redshift measurement are both based on X-ray data alone. We apply a blind search for K--shell and L--shell Fe line complex in X-ray cluster spectra using Chandra archival observations of galaxy clusters. The Fe line in the ICM spectra can be detected by simply analyzing the C-statistics variation $ΔC_{stat}$ as a function of the redshift parameter. We repeat the measurement under different conditions, and compare the X-ray derived redshift $z_X$ with the one obtained by means of optical spectroscopy $z_o$. We explore how a number of priors on metallicity and luminosity can be effectively used to reduce catastrophic errors. The $ΔC_{stat}$ provides the most efficient means for discarding wrong redshift measures and to estimate the actual error on $z_X$. We identify a simple and efficient procedure for optimally measuring the redshifts from the X-ray spectral analysis of clusters of galaxies. When this procedure is applied to mock catalogs extracted from high sensitivity, wide-area cluster surveys, such as those proposed with Wide Field X-ray Telescope (WFXT) mission, it is possible to obtain a complete samples of X-ray clusters with reliable redshift measurements, thus avoiding time-consuming optical spectroscopic observations. This methodology will make it possible to trace cosmic growth by studying the evolution of the cluster mass function directly using X-ray data.

astro-ph.CO↗