We consider two different toy cosmological models based on two fields (one normal scalar and one phantom) realizing the same evolution of the Bang-to-Rip type. One of the fields (pseudoscalar) interacts with the magnetic field breaking the conformal invariance of the latter. The effects of the amplification of cosmic magnetic fields are studied and it is shown that the presence of such effects can discriminate between different cosmological models realizing the same global evolution of the universe.
We introduce the notion of the cosmic numbers of a cosmological model, and discuss how they can be used to naturally classify models according to their ability to solve some of the problems of the standard cosmological model.
If general relativity (GR) describes the expansion of the Universe, the observed cosmic acceleration implies the existence of a `dark energy'. However, while the Universe is on average homogeneous on large scales, it is inhomogeneous on smaller scales. While GR governs the dynamics of the \emph{in}homogeneous Universe, the averaged \emph{homogeneous} Universe obeys modified Einstein equations. Can such modifications alone explain the acceleration? For a simple generic model with realistic initial conditions, we show the answer to be `no'. Averaging effects negligibly influence the cosmological…
The cosmic string theory for cosmological fluctuations is a good example of healthy scientific progress in cosmology. It is a well defined physically motivated model that has been tested by cosmological observations and has been ruled out as a primary source of primordial fluctuations. Until about fifteen years ago, the cosmic string theory of cosmological perturbations provided one of the two physically motivated candidate theories for the generation of primordial perturbations. The cosmological data that appeared during the last decade have been compared with the well defined predictions of …
We study cosmic Nielsen-Olesen strings in space-times with a positive cosmological constant. For the free cosmic string in a cylindrically symmetric space-time, we calculate the contribution of the cosmological constant to the angle deficit, and to the bending of null geodesics. For a cosmic string in a Schwarzschild-de Sitter space-time, we use Kruskal patches around the inner and outer horizons to show that a thin string can pierce them.
A nontrivial topology of the spatial section of the universe is an observable, which can be probed for all locally homogeneous and isotropic universes, without any assumption on the cosmological density parameters. We discuss how one can use this observable to set constraints on the density parameters of the Universe by using a specific spatial topology along with type Ia supenovae and X-ray gas mass fraction data sets.
We illustrate the constraints that a possible detection of a non-trivial spatial topology may place on the cosmological density parameters by considering the $Λ$CDM model Poincaré dodecahedal space (PDS) topology as a circles-in-the-sky detectable topology. To this end we reanalyze the type Ia supernovae constraints on the density parameter plane $Ω_k$--$Ω_Λ$ and show that a circles-in-the-sky detectable PDS topology gives rise to important constraints on this parameters plane.
The intensive cosmological creation of vector W, Z- bosons in the cosmological model with the relative units is considered. Field theoretical models are studied, which predict that the CMB radiation and the baryon matter in the universe can be products of decay and annihilation processes of these primordial bosons.
We propose that the origin of ultra-high energy cosmic rays beyond the GZK cutoff and the origin of small cosmological constant can both be explained by vacuum tunneling effects in a theory with degenerate vacua and fermionic doublets. By considering the possibility of tunneling from a particular winding number state, accompanied by violation of some global quantum number of fermions, the small value of the vacuum dark energy and the production of high energy cosmic rays are shown to be related. We predict that the energy of such cosmic rays should be at least $5\times 10^{14}$ GeV.
In theories with extra dimensions, the cosmological hierarchy problem can be thought of as the unnaturally large radius of the observable universe in Kaluza-Klein units. We sketch a dynamical mechanism that relaxes this. In the early universe scenario we propose, three large spatial dimensions arise through tunneling from a 'cosmic egg', an effectively one-dimensional configuration with all spatial dimensions compact and of comparable, small size. If the string landscape is dominated by low-dimensional compactifications, cosmic eggs would be natural initial conditions for cosmology. A quantum …
We discuss the relation between `bare' cosmological parameters as the true spatial average characteristics that determine the cosmological model, and the parameters interpreted by observers with a `Friedmannian bias', i.e., within a homogeneous space geometry. We may say that the latter are `dressed' by the smoothed-out geometrical inhomogeneities of the surveyed spatial region. We identify two effects that quantify the difference between `bare' and `dressed' parameters: `curvature backreaction' and `volume effect'. An estimate of the latter is given in terms of a simple geometrical example.
Cosmological time crystals are created when a scalar field moves periodically through phase space in a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetime due to the presence of a limit cycle. All such cosmological time crystals in the literature suffer from gradient instabilities occurring at Null Energy Condition violating phases where the square sound speed for cosmological perturbations becomes negative. Here we present stable cosmological time crystals. Our analysis suggests this new form of scalar matter--cosmic time crystals--may be considered as a physically viable cosmological matter …
The existence of a scaling evolution for cosmic string loops in an expanding universe is demonstrated for the first time by means of numerical simulations. In contrast with what is usually assumed, this result does not rely on any gravitational back reaction effect and has been observed for loops as small as a few thousandths the size of the horizon. We give the energy and number densities of expected cosmic string loops in both the radiation and matter eras. Moreover, we quantify previous claims on the influence of the network initial conditions and the formation of numerically unresolved loo…
We study the evolution of the cosmic-mass-density contrast beyond the Robertson-Walker geometry including the small contribution of acceleration. We derive a second-order evolution equation for the density contrast within the spherical model for CDM collisionless fluid including the cosmological constant, the expansion and the non-vanishing vector of acceleration. While the mass-density is not seriously affected by acceleration, the mass-density contrast changes its shape at smaller redshifts even for a small amount of the acceleration parameter. This could help to resolve current controversia…
We present a model where a non-conventional scalar field may act like dark energy leading to cosmic acceleration. The latter is driven by an appropriate field configuration, which result in an effective cosmological constant. The potential role of such a scalar in the cosmological constant problem is also discussed.
A set of scaling laws, based on the stochastic motions of the granular components of astronomical systems, is applied to a cosmological model with a positive cosmological constant. It follows that the mass of the dominant particle in the observable universe must be proportional to the sixth root of the cosmological constant and of the order of the nucleon mass, which is consistent with the Zeldovich scaling law. The approach is a natural way to solve the cosmic coincidence problem. On the other hand, the observed value of the cosmological constant emerges as the result of a scaling law induced…
We study global vortices coupled to (2+1) dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant. We found nonsingular vortex solutions in $ϕ^4$-theory with a broken U(1) symmetry, of which the spacetimes do not involve physical curvature singularity. When the magnitude of negative cosmological constant is larger than a critical value at a given symmetry breaking scale, the spacetime structure is a regular hyperbola, however it becomes a charged black hole when the magnitude of cosmological constant is less than the critical value. We explain through duality transformation the reason why stat…
Increasing evidence suggests that most of the energy density of the universe consists of a dark energy component with negative pressure, a ``cosmological constant" that causes the cosmic expansion to accelerate. In this paper, we address the puzzle of why this component comes to dominate the universe only recently rather than at some much earlier epoch. We present a class of theories based on an evolving scalar field where the explanation is based entirely on internal dynamical properties of the solutions. In the theories we consider, the dynamics causes the scalar field to lock automatically …
In this paper we provide both a diagnosis and resolution of the cosmological constant problem, one in which a large (as opposed to a small) cosmological constant $Λ$ can be made compatible with observation. We trace the origin of the cosmological constant problem to the assumption that the local gravitational Newton constant $G$ (as measured in a Cavendish experiment) sets the scale for global cosmology. And then we show that once this assumption is relaxed, the very same cosmic acceleration which has served to make the cosmological constant problem so very severe can instead then serve to pro…
We review several cosmological backgrounds of gravitational waves accessible to direct-detection experiments, with a special emphasis on those backgrounds due to first-order phase transitions and networks of cosmic (super-)strings. For these two particular sources, we revisit in detail the computation of the gravitational wave background and improve the results of previous works in the literature. We apply our results to identify the scientific potential of the NGO/eLISA mission of ESA regarding the detectability of cosmological backgrounds.
We investigate the effects of cosmological expansion on the spectrum of small-scale structure on a cosmic string. We simulate the evolution of a string with two modes that differ in wavelength by one order of magnitude. Once the short mode is inside the horizon, we find that its physical amplitude remains unchanged, in spite of the fact that its comoving wavelength decreases as the longer mode enters the horizon. Thus the ratio of amplitude to wavelength for the short mode becomes larger than it would be in the absence of the long mode.
It is known that the unregularized expressions for the stress-energy tensor components corresponding to subhorizon and superhorizon vacuum fluctuations of a massless scalar field in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background are characterized by the equation of state parameters w=1/3 and w=-1/3, which are not sufficient to produce cosmological acceleration. However, the form of the adiabatically regularized finite stress-energy tensor turns out to be completely different. By using the fact that vacuum subhorizon modes evolve nearly adiabatically and superhorizon modes have w=-1/3, we approximatel…
We study gravitational theories with a cosmological constant and the Gauss-Bonnet curvature squared term and analyze the possibility of de Sitter expanding spacetime with a constant internal space. We find that there are two branches of the de Sitter solutions: Both the curvature of the internal space and the cosmological constant are (1) positive and (2) negative. From the stability analysis, we show that the de Sitter solution of the case (1) is unstable, while that in the case (2) is stable. Namely de Sitter solution in the present system is stable if the cosmological constant is negative. …
We find a new class of cosmic string solutions with non-vanishing magnetic flux of $\mathcal{N}=1$, D=4 supergravity with a cosmological constant and coupled to any number of Maxwell and scalar multiplets. We show that these magnetic cosmic string solutions preserve 1/2 of supersymmetry. We give an explicit example of such a solution for which the complex scalars are constant and the spacetime is smooth with topology $R^{1,1}\times S^2$. Two more examples are explored for which a complex scalar field takes values in $\mathbb{C} P^1$ and in $SL(2,\mathbb{R})/U(1)$.
We investigate cosmological perturbations for nonlinear $f(R)$ models within the cosmic screening approach. Matter is considered both in the form of a set of discrete point-like massive bodies and in the form of a continuous pressureless perfect fluid. We perform full relativistic analysis of the first-order theory of scalar perturbations for arbitrary nonlinear $f(R)$ models and demonstrate that scalar potentials $Φ(t,\mathbf{r})$ and $Ψ(t,\mathbf{r})$ are determined by a system of only two master equations. Our equations are applicable at all spatial scales as long as the approximation $δR/\…
We consider cosmological constraints arising from the background expansion history on the ef- fective field theory of cosmic acceleration, a theoretical framework that allows for a unified way to classify both models of dark energy and modified gravity within the linear regime. In the Einstein frame, the most general action for the background can be written in terms of a canonical scalar field which is non-minimally coupled to matter. The leading corrections to the action are expressible through a quartic kinetic term, and scalar couplings to a Gauss-Bonnet curvature term and the Einstein tens…
The early reionization (ERE) is supposed to be a physical process which happens after recombination, but before the instantaneous reionization caused by the first generation of stars. We investigate the effect of the ERE on the temperature and polarization power spectra of cosmic microwave background (CMB), and adopt principal components analysis (PCA) to model-independently reconstruct the ionization history during the ERE. In addition, we also discuss how the ERE affects the cosmological parameter estimates, and find that the ERE does not impose any significant influences on the tensor-to-sc…
We study some of the cosmological imprints of pre-inflationary particles. We show that each such particle provides a seed for a spherically symmetric cosmic defect. The profile of this cosmic defect is fixed and its magnitude is linear in a single parameter that is determined by the mass of the pre-inflationary particle. We study the CMB and peculiar velocity imprints of this cosmic defect and suggest that it could explain some of the large scale cosmological anomalies.
We have recently constructed a manifestly local formulation of a nonlocal approach to the cosmological constant problem which can treat with quantum effects from both matter and gravitational fields. In this formulation, it has been explicitly shown that the effective cosmological constant is radiatively stable even in the presence of the gravitational loop effects. Since we are naturally led to add the $R^2$ term and the corresponding topological action to an original action, we make use of this formulation to account for the late-time acceleration of expansion of the universe in case of the …
We investigate the cosmological and astrophysical constraints on superconducting cosmic strings (SCSs). SCS loops emit strong bursts of electromagnetic waves, which might affect various cosmological and astrophysical observations. We take into account the effect on the CMB anisotropy, CMB blackbody spectrum, BBN, observational implications on radio wave burst and X-ray or gamma-ray events, and stochastic gravitational wave background measured by pulsar timing experiments. We then derive constraints on the parameters of SCS from current observations and estimate prospects for detecting SCS sign…
Galactic Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are copious sources of gamma-rays that can pose a threat to complex life. Using recent determinations of their rate and the probability of GRBs causing massive extinction, we explore what type of universes are most likely to harbour advanced forms of life. For this purpose we use cosmological N-body simulations to determine at what time and for what value of the cosmological constant ($Λ$) the chances of life being unaffected by cosmic explosions are maximised. We find that $Λ-$dominated universes favour the survival of life against GRBs. Within a $Λ$CDM cosmol…
We study the cosmological constant problem in a three-dimensional N=2 supergravity theory with gauge group SU[2]_{global}xU[1]_{local}. The model we consider is known to admit string-like configurations, the so-called semi-local cosmic strings. We show that the stability of these solutions is provided by supersymmetry through the existence of a lower bound for the energy, even though the manifold of the Higgs vacuum does not contain non-contractible loops. Charged Killing spinors do exist over configurations that saturate the Bogomolnyi bound, as a consequence of an Aharonov-Bohm-like effect. …
The collisions of cosmic strings loops and the dynamics of junctions formations in expanding backgrounds are studied. The key parameter controlling the dynamics of junctions formation, the cosmic strings zipping and unzipping is the relative size of the loops compared to the Hubble expansion rate at the time of collision. We study analytically and numerically these processes for large super-horizon size loops, for small sub-horizon size loops as well as for loops with the radii comparable to the Hubble expansion rate at the time of collision.
A unique feature of gravity is its ability to control the information accessible to any specific observer. We quantify the notion of cosmic information ('CosmIn') for an eternal observer in the universe. Demanding the finiteness of CosmIn requires the universe to have a late-time accelerated expansion. Combining the introduction of CosmIn with generic features of the quantum structure of spacetime (e.g., the holographic principle), we present a holistic model for cosmology. We show that (i) the numerical value of the cosmological constant, as well as (ii) the amplitude of the primordial, scale…
In a recent work, it has been proposed that the recent cosmic passage to a cosmic acceleration era is the result of the existence of small anti-gravity sources in each galaxy and clusters of galaxies. In particular, a swiss-cheese cosmology model which relativistically integrates the contribution of all these anti-gravity sources on galactic scale has been constructed assuming the presence of an infrared fixed point for a scale dependent cosmological constant. The derived cosmological expansion provides explanation for both the fine tuning and the coincidence problem. The present work relaxes …
We study Abelian strings in a fixed de Sitter background. We find that the gauge and Higgs fields extend smoothly across the cosmological horizon and that the string solutions have oscillating scalar fields outside the cosmological horizon for all currently accepted values of the cosmological constant. If the gauge to Higgs boson mass ratio is small enough, the gauge field function has a power-like behaviour, while it is oscillating outside the cosmological horizon if Higgs and gauge boson mass are comparable. Moreover, we observe that Abelian strings exist only up to a maximal value of the co…
We provide a detailed description for power--law scaling Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological scenarios dominated by two interacting perfect fluid components during the expansion. As a consequence of the mutual interaction between the two fluids, neither component is conserved separately and the energy densities are proportional to $1/t^{2}$. It is shown that in flat FRW cosmological models there can exist interacting superpositions of two perfect fluids (each of them having a positive energy density) which accelerate the expansion of the universe. In this family there also exist flat power…
Fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) contain information which has been pivotal in establishing the current cosmological model. These data can also be used to test well-motivated additions to this model, such as cosmic textures. Textures are a type of topological defect that can be produced during a cosmological phase transition in the early universe, and which leave characteristic hot and cold spots in the CMB. We apply Bayesian methods to carry out a rigorous test of the texture hypothesis, using full-sky data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. We conclude that c…
