International Journal of Modern Physics D

Here we study some general properties of spherical shear-free collapse. Its general solution when imposing conformal flatness is re-obtained (Refs. 1 and 2) and matched to the outgoing Vaidya spacetime. We propose a simple model satisfying these conditions and study its physical consequences. Special attention deserve, the role played by relaxational processes and the conspicuous link betweeen dissipation and density inhomogeneity.

In the brane-world framework, we consider static, spherically symmetric configurations of a scalar field with the Lagrangian (∂ϕ)²/2-V(ϕ), confined on the brane. We use the 4D Einstein equations on the brane obtained by Shiromizu et al., containing the conventional stress tensor , the tensor which is quadratic in , and describing interaction with the bulk. For models under study, the tensor has zero divergence, allowing one to consider . Such a brane, whose 4D gravity is decoupled from the bulk geometry, may be called minimally coupled. Assuming , we try to extend to brane worlds some theorems valid for scalar fields in general relativity (GR). Thus, the list of possible global causal structures in all models under consideration is shown to be the same as is known for vacuum with a cosmological constant in GR: Minkowski, Schwarzschild, (anti-) de Sitter and Schwarzschild–(anti-)de Sitter. A no-hair theorem, saying that, given a potential V≥0, asymptotically flat black holes cannot have nontrivial external scalar fields, is proved under certain restrictions. Some objects, forbidden in GR, are allowed on the brane, e.g, traversable wormholes supported by a scalar field, but only at the expense of enormous matter densities in the strong field region.

We calculate the vacuum averages of the energy–momentum tensor associated with a massless left-handed spinor fields due to magnetic fluxes on idealized cosmic string spacetime. In this analysis three distinct configurations of magnetic fields are considered: (i) a homogeneous field inside the tube, (ii) a magnetic field proportional to 1/r, and (iii) a cylindrical shell with δ-function. In these three cases the axis of the infinitely long tubes of radius R coincides with the cosmic string. In order to proceed with these calculations we explicitly obtain the Euclidean Feynman propagators associated with these physical systems. As we shall see, these propagators possess two distinct parts. The first are the standard ones, i.e. corresponding to the spinor Green's functions associated with the massless fermionic fields on the idealized cosmic string spacetime with a magnetic flux running through the line singularity. The second parts are new, they are due to the finite thickness of the radius of the tubes. As we shall see these extra parts provide relevant contributions to the vacuum averages of the energy–momentum tensor.

Different theoretical estimates of the sensitivity of gravitational wave resonant bar detectors, which have been published in the last decades, are reviewed and discussed. The "classical" cross-section estimate is obtained considering the bar as a classical or quantum oscillator, whose initial thermal state is that of a single oscillator driven by a single external stochastic force. Other theoretical studies computed a much larger cross-section, using a variety of quantum-mechanical arguments. The review of the existing literature shows that there is no well established model for the response of a resonant detector to gravitational waves. The resonant, yet random, nature of the Brownian thermal motion may justify considering the bar response at the fundamental longitudinal eigenfrequency as that of a large number of effective quantum mechanical oscillators. Assuming this hypothesis, quantum coherence effects, as first suggested by Weber, lead to a much larger cross-section than that "classically" predicted. The reduction of this amplification due to thermal noise itself is also computed.

The Einstein–Gordon equations for Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) geometries in feedback reaction with the quartically self-interacting physical field, arisen from the spontaneous Z₂-symmetry breaking, are explicitly formulated. The fixed point exact solutions to the "inner parity" non-invariant Einstein–Gordon system (mandatory) describe (k=-1)-FRW manifolds which actually are either Milne or anti-de Sitter Universes. Setting the Z₂-invariance breaking scale at one of the electroweak symmetry, we speculate on the cosmological implications of the Higgs–anti-de Sitter bubbles and derive a set of closed-form solutions to the S²-cobordism with a spatially-flat FRW Universe.

In this paper, we have collected the available observation data of BL Lac S5 0716+714 in I-band from published literature during 1994 to 2000. The light curve shows S5 0716+714 is very active and very complicated non-sinusoidal variations. We studied its medium-timescale periodicity using the Jurkevich and power spectrum method to search for the possible medium-timescale periods and found that one possible medium-timescale periodic with a period of around 14±0.1 day is obtained for S5 0716+714. It is interesting to note that these results are in good agreement with the previous results by Impey et al. (2000) and Qian et al. (2002), and this work provides a new analysis and evidence of the medium-timescale periodicity in BL Lac S5 0716+714. The helical jet model seems to be more reasonable for explaining our results than other models.

The type Ia supernovae observational data are used to estimate the parameters of a cosmological model with cold dark matter and the Chaplygin gas. This exotic gas, which is characterized by a negative pressure varying with the inverse of density, represents in this model the dark energy responsible for the acceleration of the Universe. The Chaplygin gas model depends essentially on four parameters: the Hubble constant, the velocity of the sound of the Chaplygin gas, the curvature of the Universe and the fraction density of the Chaplygin gas and the cold dark matter. The Bayesian parameter estimation yields and . These and other results indicate that a Universe completely dominated by the Chaplygin gas is favoured, what reinforces the idea that the Chaplygin gas may unify the description for dark matter and dark energy, at least as the type Ia supernovae data are concerned. A closed and accelerating Universe is also favoured. The Bayesian statistics indicates that the Chaplygin gas model is more likely than the standard cosmological constant (ΛCDM) model at 55.3% confidence level when an integration on all free parameters is performed. Assuming the spatially flat curvature, this percentage mounts to 65.3%. On the other hand, if the density of dark matter is fixed at zero value, the Chaplygin gas model becomes more preferred than the ΛCDM model at 91.8% confidence level. Finally, the hypothesis of flat Universe and baryonic matter (Ω_b0=0.04) implies a Chaplygin gas model preferred over the ΛCDM at a confidence level of 99.4%.

In this paper we provide approximate analytical analysis of stability of nonsingular inflationary chaotic-type cosmological models. Initial conditions for nonsingular solutions at the bounce correspond to dominance of potential part of the energy density of the scalar field over its kinetic part both within general relativity and gauge theories of gravity. Moreover, scalar field at the bounce exceeds the Planckian value and on expansion stage these models correspond to chaotic inflation. Such solutions can be well approximated by explicitly solvable model with constant effective potential (cosmological term) and massless scalar field during the bounce and on stages of quasi-exponential contraction and expansion. Perturbative analysis shows that nonsingular inflationary solutions are exponentially unstable during contraction stage. This result is compared with numerical calculations.

The varying speed of light theories have been recently proposed to solve the standard model problems and anomalies in the ultra high energy cosmic rays. These theories try to formulate a new relativity with no assumptions about the constancy of the light speed. In this regard, we study two theories and want to show that these theories are not the new theories of relativity, but only re-descriptions of Einstein's special relativity.

Singularity free cosmologies, depending on the form of gravitational coupling and interaction potential, are derived in the framework of (n+1)-dimensional scalar-tensor theories of gravity. The results are matched with cosmological observations giving rise to realistic scenarios where the observed acceleration of cosmic fluid is recovered. Furthermore, being the solutions singularity free, the approach could work also at early epochs showing a general validity of the model.

We discuss in the framework of black hole thermodynamics some aspects relative to the third law in the case of black holes of the Kerr–Newman family. In the light of the standard proof of the equivalence between the unattainability of the zero temperature and the entropic version of the third law it is remarked that the unattainability has a special character in black hole thermodynamics. Also the zero temperature limit which obtained in the case of very massive black holes is discussed and it is shown that a violation of the entropic version in the charged case occurs. The violation of the Bekenstein–Hawking law in favour of zero entropy S_E=0 in the case of extremal black holes is suggested as a natural solution for a possible violation of the second law of thermodynamics. Thermostatic arguments in support of the unattainability are explored, and S_E=0 for extremal black holes is shown to be again a viable solution. The third law of black hole dynamics by W. Israel is then interpreted as a further strong corroboration to the picture of a discontinuity between extremal states and non-extremal ones.

The observation data in the B band for BL Lacerate object PKS 0735+178 during 1970–1998 from twenty two publications have been compiled into a light curve. The light curve shows that PKS 0735+178 is very active and exhibits very complicated non-sinusoidal variations. Using both Jurkevich's method and Power spectrum method to analyze these data we have found two periods of 5.26±0.98 years and 1.24±0.05 years for the outbursts in PKS 0735+178. It is of interest to note that the results of the two methods are the same (almost). In addition, these values are in good agreement with the results found by Smith et al.⁴⁷ and Webb et al.⁶¹ We also apply the binary black hole model to explain the central structure of this object and obtain the masses of the primary and secondary black holes are 1.7×10⁹M_⊙ and 2.88×10⁷M_⊙ respectively. It should be monitored in future to obtain more data for further analysis to test the hypothesis.