International Journal of Modern Physics D

All cosmological observations to date are consistent with adiabatic, Gaussian and nearly scale invariant initial conditions. These findings provide strong evidence for a particular symmetry breaking pattern in the very early universe (with a close to vanishing order parameter, ϵ), widely accepted as conforming to the predictions of the simplest realizations of the inflationary paradigm. However, given that our observations are only privy to perturbations, in inferring something about the background that gave rise to them, it should be clear that many different underlying constructions project onto the same set of cosmological observables. Features in the primordial correlation functions, if present, would offer a unique and discriminating window onto the parent theory in which the mechanism that generated the initial conditions is embedded. In certain contexts, simple linear response theory allows us to infer new characteristic scales from the presence of features that can break the aforementioned degeneracies among different background models, and in some cases can even offer a limited spectroscopy of the heavier degrees of freedom that couple to the inflaton. In this review, we offer a pedagogical survey of the diverse, theoretically well-grounded mechanisms which can imprint features into primordial correlation functions in addition to reviewing the techniques one can employ to probe observations. These observations include cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies and spectral distortions as well as the matter two and three point functions as inferred from large-scale structure (LSS) and potentially, 21 cm surveys.

The genesis of special relativity is intimately related to the development of the theory of light propagation. When optical phenomena were described, there are typically two kinds of theories: (i) One based on light rays and light particles and (ii) one considering the light as waves. When diffraction and refraction were experimentally discovered, light propagation became more often described in terms of waves. Nevertheless, when attempts were made to explain how light was propagated, it was nearly always in terms of a corpuscular theory combined with an ether, a subtle medium supporting the waves. Consequently, most of the theories from Newton's to those developed in the 19th century were dual and required the existence of an ether. We therefore used the ether as our Ariadne thread for explaining how the principle of relativity became generalized to the so-called Maxwell equations around the 1900's. Our aim is more to describe how the successive ideas were developed and interconnected than framing the context in which these ideas arose.

The quantization of a curvature-squared model of gravity, in the affine form proposed by Yang, is reconsidered in the path integral formulation. Due to its inherent Weyl invariance, sharing this with internal Yang–Mills fields, it or some of its topological generalizations are still a possible route to quantum gravity. Instanton type solutions with double duality properties exhibit a "vacuum degeneracy", i.e. a bifurcation into distinct classical Einsteinian backgrounds. For linearized fields, this conclusively induces a mass gap in the graviton spectrum, a feature which is an open problem in the quantization of internal Yang–Mills fields.

We obtain the reduced CMB data {l_A, R, z_∗} from WMAP9, WMAP9+BKP, Planck+WP and Planck+WP+BKP for the ΛCDM and wCDM models with or without spatial curvature. We then use these reduced CMB data in combination with low-redshift observations to put constraints on cosmological parameters. We find that including BKP results in a higher value of the Hubble constant especially when the equation of state (EOS) of dark energy and curvature are allowed to vary. For the ΛCDM model with curvature, the estimate of the Hubble constant with Planck+WP+Lensing is inconsistent with the one derived from Planck+WP+BKP at about 1.2σ confidence level (CL).

The paper aims to consider the strength gradient force as the dynamic of astrophysical jets, explaining the movement phenomena of astrophysical jets. J. C. Maxwell applied the quaternion analysis to describe the electromagnetic theory. This encourages others to adopt the complex quaternion and octonion to depict the electromagnetic and gravitational theories. In the complex octonion space, it is capable of deducing the field potential, field strength, field source, angular momentum, torque, force and so forth. As one component of the force, the strength gradient force relates to the gradient of the norm of field strength only, and is independent of not only the direction of field strength but also the mass and electric charge for the test particle. When the strength gradient force is considered as the thrust of the astrophysical jets, one can deduce some movement features of astrophysical jets, including the bipolarity, matter ingredient, precession, symmetric distribution, emitting, collimation, stability, continuing acceleration and so forth. The above results reveal that the strength gradient force is able to be applied to explain the main mechanical features of astrophysical jets, and is the competitive candidate of the dynamic of astrophysical jets.

Alternative approaches to the study of the quantum gravity problem are handling the role of spacetime very differently. Some are focusing on the analysis of one or another novel formulation of "empty spacetime", postponing to later stages the introduction of particles and fields, while other approaches assume that spacetime should only be an emergent entity. We here argue that recent progress in the covariant formulation of quantum mechanics, suggests that empty spacetime is not physically meaningful. We illustrate our general thesis in the specific context of the noncommutative Snyder spacetime, which is also of some intrinsic interest, since hundreds of studies were devoted to its analysis. We show that empty Snyder spacetime, described in terms of a suitable kinematical Hilbert space, is discrete, but this is only a formal artifact: the discreteness leaves no trace on the observable properties of particles on the physical Hilbert space.

We have considered here the emergence of diffeomorphism symmetry in quantum gravity in the framework of the quantization of a fermion. It is pointed out that a closed loop having the holonomy associated with the SU(2) gauge group is realized from the rotation of the direction vector associated with the quantization of a fermion depicting spin degrees of freedom which appear as SU(2) gauge bundle. During the formation of a loop, a noncyclic path with open ends can be mapped onto a closed loop when the holonomy involves q-deformed gauge group SU_q(2). This gives rise to q-deformed diffeomorphism and helps to realize diffeomorphism invariance in quantum gravity through a sequence of q-deformed diffeomorphism in the limit q = 1. We can consider adiabatic iteration such that the quasispin associated with the quantum group SU_q(2) gradually evolves as the time dependent deformation parameter q changes and in the limit q = 1, we achieve the standard spin. This essentially depicts the evolution of spin network as the loop is being formed and links fermionic degrees of freedom with loop quantum gravity.

In this paper, the electromagnetic bremsstrahlung spectrum of the dipole which falls along a spiral orbit into the Schwarzschild black hole was found. The characteristic features of this electromagnetic spectrum can be used for determination of the black hole mass. This new way (if implemented) provides higher accuracy of the determination of the black hole mass. Also these features in the spectrum can be used for the determination of the some physical processes in the black hole magnetosphere and in the accretion disk. It is also shown that the asymptotic behavior of this spectrum (at high frequencies) is practically independent from the impact parameter of the falling dipole.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the meaning of the entropy bounds of the holographic sector once tested for statistical ensembles of particles, in order to deeply investigate the nature of these constraints and their mutual links. From the universal entropy bound (UEB) simple time constraints can be argued, which are manifestations of the discrete nature of the spacetime and of the presence of ultimate spacetime scales. From the combined effort of the UEB and of the Holographic bound by 't Hooft and Susskind, an entropy density bound as a function of temperature is achieved.

Time evolution of a thick disc with finite conductivity around a nonrotating compact object is presented. Along with the Maxwell equations and the Ohm's law, the Newtonian limit of the relativistic fluid equations governing the motion of a finitely conducting plasma is derived. The magnetofluid is considered to possess only the poloidal components of the electromagnetic field. Moreover, the shear viscous stress is neglected, as well as the self-gravity of the disc. In order to solve the equations, we have used a self-similar solution. The main features of this solution are as follows. The azimuthal velocity is somewhat increased from the Keplerian value in the equator plane to the super-Keplerian values at the surface of disc. Moreover, the radial velocity is obtained proportional to the meridional velocity. Magnetofluid does not have any nonzero component of the current density. Subsequently, the electromagnetic force is vanished and does not play any role in the force balance. While the pressure gradient maintains the disc structure in latitudinal direction, magnetofluid has no accretion on the central compact object. Analogously to the parameter α in the standard model, our calculations contain one parameter η₀ which specifies the size of the electrical resistivity.

In this paper, we present a new cosmological event, which we named the little sibling of the big rip. This event is much smoother than the big rip singularity. When the little sibling of the big rip is reached, the Hubble rate and the scale factor blow up, but the cosmic derivative of the Hubble rate does not. This abrupt event takes place at an infinite cosmic time where the scalar curvature explodes. We show that a doomsday à la little sibling of the big rip is compatible with an accelerating universe, indeed at present it would mimic perfectly a ΛCDM scenario. It turns out that, even though the event seems to be harmless as it takes place in the infinite future, the bound structures in the universe would be unavoidably destroyed on a finite cosmic time from now. The model can be motivated by considering that the weak energy condition should not be strongly violated in our universe, and it could give us some hints about the status of recently formulated nonlinear energy conditions.

Analogies between gravitation and electromagnetism have been known since the 1950s. Here, we examine a fairly general type D solution — the exact seven parameter solution of Plebański–Demiański (PD) — to demonstrate these analogies for a physically meaningful spacetime.

The two quadratic curvature invariants B² - E² and E⋅B are evaluated analytically. In the asymptotically flat case, the leading terms of E and B can be interpreted as gravitoelectric mass and gravitoelectric current of the PD solution, respectively, if there are no gravitomagnetic monopoles present.

Furthermore, the square of the Bel–Robinson tensor reads (B² + E²)² for the PD solution, reminiscent of the square of the energy density in electrodynamics. By analogy to the energy–momentum 3-form of the electromagnetic field, we provide an alternative way to derive the recently introduced Bel–Robinson 3-form, from which the Bel–Robinson tensor can be calculated.

We also determine the Kummer tensor, a tensor cubic in curvature, for a general type D solution for the first time, and calculate the pieces of its irreducible decomposition.

The calculations are carried out in two coordinate systems: In the original polynomial PD coordinates and in a modified Boyer–Lindquist-like version introduced by Griffiths and Podolský (GP) allowing for a more straightforward physical interpretation of the free parameters.

In the present work, the shower depth of maximum (X_maxe) and (X_maxμ) (the depth at which the number of muons of shower get their maximum) has been calculated from the particles densities at the observation level. It is noteworthy that these are both mass sensitive parameters. Based on CORSIKA simulations a relationship between slope of the lateral distribution functions (η) of electrons and muons (at the observation level) and their X_max have been investigated. An accurate linear relationship between them is found. The higher the energy, the deeper the X_max and the steeper the distribution function is. Simulations have been done for heavy and light primaries in the energy range of 10¹⁴–10¹⁵ eV. Better ability for mass discrimination of η of the muons, due to less deflection of muons with the atmosphere is demonstrated. This method has got better results for low energies. Therefore a mass sensitive parameter, with good potential for mass discriminating between light and heavy primaries is presented.

In the middle of last century, Bondi and his coworkers proposed an outgoing boundary condition for the Einstein equations. Recently, more and more observations imply that the Einstein equations should include a nonzero cosmological constant. A spacetime with a positive cosmological constant approaches to a de Sitter space asymptotically. Bondi's original boundary condition is not valid for these asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes. But the traditional conformally flat boundary condition excludes the gravitational radiation for the asymptotically de Sitter spacetimes. In this work, a new Bondi-type outgoing boundary condition based on Bondi–Sachs coordinates is considered. With this new boundary condition, the gravitational wave behavior for the asymptotically de Sitter spacetime is similar to the one for the asymptotically Minkowski spacetime. The traditional conformally flat boundary condition falls into a special subclass of the new boundary condition.