Awaking the vacuum in relativistic stars

Void of any inherent structure in classical physics, the vacuum has revealed to be incredibly crowded with all sorts of processes in relativistic quantum physics. Yet, its direct effects are usually so subtle that its structure remains almost as evasive as in classical physics. Here, in contrast, we report on the discovery of a novel effect according to which the vacuum is compelled to play an unexpected central role in an astrophysical context. We show that the formation of relativistic stars may lead the vacuum energy density of a quantum field to an exponential growth. The vacuum-driven evolution which would then follow may lead to unexpected implications for astrophysics, while the observation of stable neutron-star configurations may teach us much on the field content of our Universe.     

Quantum Cosmology in CGBD Theory

We apply the theory developed in quantum cosmology to a model of charged generalized Brans–Dicke gravity. This is a quantum model of gravitation interacting with a charged Brans–Dicke type scalar field which is considered in the Pauli frame. The Wheeler–DeWitt equation describing the evolution of the quantum Universe is solved in the semiclassical approximation by applying the WKB approximation. The wave function of the Universe is also obtained by applying both the Vilenkin-like and the Hartle–Hawking-like boundary conditions. We then make predictions from the wave functions and infer that the Vilenkin's boundary condition is more reasonable in the Brans–Dicke gravity models leading a large vacuum energy density at the beginning of the inflation.     

Loop quantum cosmology with a non-commutative quantum deformed photon gas

The non-commutativity of the space-time had important implications for the very early Universe, when its size was of the order of the Planck length. An important implication of this effect is the deformation of the standard dispersion relation of special relativity. Moreover, in the Planck regime gravity itself must be described by a quantum theory. We consider the implications of the modified dispersion relations for a photon gas, filling the early Universe, in the framework of loop quantum cosmology, a theoretical approach to quantum gravity. We consider three types of deformations of the dispersion relations of the photon gas, from which we obtain the Planck scale corrections to the energy density and pressure. The cosmological implications of the modified equations of state are explored in detail for all radiation models in the framework of the modified Friedmann equation of loop quantum cosmology. By numerically integrating the evolution equations we investigate the evolution of the basic cosmological parameters (scale factor, Hubble function, radiation temperature, and deceleration parameter) for a deformed photon gas filled Universe. In all models the evolution of the Universe shows the presence of a (nonsingular) bounce, corresponding to the transition from a contracting to an expanding phase.     

Gravitational collapse of dark energy field configurations and supermassive black hole formation

Dark energy is the dominant component of the total energy density of our Universe. The primary interaction of dark energy with the rest of the Universe is gravitational. It is therefore important to understand the gravitational dynamics of dark energy. Since dark energy is a low-energy phenomenon from the perspective of particle physics and field theory, a fundamental approach based on fields in curved space should be sufficient to understand the current dynamics of dark energy. Here, we take a field theory approach to dark energy. We discuss the evolution equations for a generic dark energy field in curved space-time and then discuss the gravitational collapse for dark energy field configurations. We describe the 3 + 1 BSSN formalism to study the gravitational collapse of fields for any general potential for the fields and apply this formalism to models of dark energy motivated by particle physics considerations. We solve the resulting equations for the time evolution of field configurations and the dynamics of space-time. Our results show that gravitational collapse of dark energy field configurations occurs and must be considered in any complete picture of our Universe. We also demonstrate the black hole formation as a result of the gravitational collapse of the dark energy field configurations. The black holes produced by the collapse of dark energy fields are in the supermassive black hole category with the masses of these black holes being comparable to the masses of black holes at the centers of galaxies.     

Probing Physics at Extreme Energies with Cosmic Ultra-High Energy Radiation

The highest energy cosmic rays observed possess macroscopic energies and their origin is likely to be associated with the most energetic processes in the Universe. Their existence triggered a flurry of theoretical explanations ranging from conventional shock acceleration to particle physics beyond the Standard Model and processes taking place at the earliest moments of our Universe. Furthermore, many new experimental activities promise a strong increase of statistics at the highest energies and a combination with γ-ray and neutrino astrophysics will put strong constraints on these theoretical models. We give an overview over this quickly evolving research field with a focus on testing new particle physics.     

Universe as a representation of affine and conformal symmetries

The evolution of the Universe is considered by means of a nonlinear realization of affine and conformal symmetries via Maurer-Cartan forms. Conformal symmetry is realized by the geometry of similarity with the Dirac scalar dilaton. We provide preliminary quantitative evidence that the zeroth harmonic of the Dirac scalar dilaton may lead to observationally viable cosmology, where the type la supernova luminosity distances-redshift relation can be explained by vacuum dilaton dark energy. The diffeo-invariance of spin connection coefficients of the affine formulation leaves only one degree of freedom of strong gravitation waves. We discuss that the dark matter effect in spiral galaxies can be described by the gravitation waves expressed through the spin connection coefficients of the affine formulation. We show that, the evolution equations of the affine gravitons with respect to the dilaton zeroth mode coincide with the equations of “squeezed oscillator”. The list of theoretical and observational arguments is given in favor of that the origin of the Universe can be described by quantum vacuum creation of these squeezed oscillators.     

The dark components of the Universe are slowly clarified

The dark sector of the Universe is beginning to be clarified step by step. If the dark energy is vacuum energy, then 123 orders of this energy are reduced by ordinary physical processes. For many years, these unexplained orders were called a crisis of physics. There was indeed a “crisis” before the introduction of the holographic principle and entropic force in physics. The vacuum energy was spent on the generation of new quantum states during the entire life of the Universe, but in the initial period of its evolution the vacuum energy (78 orders) were reduced more effectively by the vacuum condensates produced by phase transitions, because the Universe lost the high symmetry during its expansion. Important problems of physical cosmology can be solved if the quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons are composite particles. The dark matter, partially or all consisting of familon-type pseudo-Goldstone bosons with a mass of 10^—5–10^–3 eV, can be explained in the composite model. Three generations of elementary particles are absolutely necessary in this model. In addition, this model realizes three relativistic phase transitions in a medium of familons at different redshifts, forming a large-scale structure of dark matter that was “repeated” by baryons. We predict the detection of dark energy dynamics, the detection of familons as dark matter particles, and the development of spectroscopy for the dark medium due to the probable presence of dark atoms in it. Other viewpoints on the dark components of the Universe are also discussed briefly.     

The myth of cosmic symmetry breaking

General considerations are presented concerning symmetry and reference frames. It is shown that the Universe as a whole cannot possess perfect symmetry and that there was no cosmic symmetry breaking at cosmic phase transitions between cosmological eras. Cosmological schemes that assume perfect symmetry for the Universe are meaningless, but that can be circumvented. Assuming discontinuous evolution, high-energy physics does not reconstruct earlier eras. Specifically, any symmetry emerging at high energies cannot be a feature of earlier eras and is not a restoration of symmetry (that never was). The quantum era is considered and can reasonably be assumed to have been nontemporal, nonspatial, and extremely quantal. The Beginning can reasonably be identified with the quantum era or with the cosmic transition to space-time.On leave from the School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel     

Exotic nuclei in astrophysics

Recently the academic community has marked several anniversaries connected with discoveries that played a significant role in the development of astrophysical investigations. The year 2009 was proclaimed by the United Nations the International Year of Astronomy. This was associated with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei??s discovery of the optical telescope, which marked the beginning of regular research in the field of astronomy. An important contribution to not only the development of physics of the microcosm, but also to the understanding of processes occurring in the Universe, was the discovery of the atomic nucleus made by E. Rutherford 100 years ago. Since then the investigations in the fields of physics of particles and atomic nuclei have helped to understand many processes in the microcosm. Exactly 80 years ago, K. Yanski used a radio-telescope in order to receive the radiation from cosmic objects for the first time, and at the present time this research area of physics is the most efficient method for studying the properties of the Universe. Finally, the April 12, 1961 (50 years ago) launching of the first sputnik into space with a human being onboard, the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, marked the beginning of exploration of the Universe with the direct participation of man. All these achievements considerably extended our ideas about the Universe. This work is an attempt to present some problems on the evolution of the Universe: the nucleosynthesis and cosmochronology from the standpoint of physics of particles and nuclei, in particular with the use of the latest results, obtained by means of radioactive nuclear beams. The comparison is made between the processes taking place in the Universe and the mechanisms of formation and decay of nuclei, as well as of their interaction at different energies. Examples are given to show the capabilities of nuclear-physics methods for studying cosmic objects and properties of the Universe. The results of investigations in nuclear reactions, induced by radioactive nuclear beams, make it possible to analyze the nucleosynthesis scenario in the region of light elements in a new manner.     

Properties of the quantum universe in quasistationary states and cosmological puzzles

Old and new puzzles of cosmology are reexamined from the point of view of the quantum theory of the universe developed here. It is shown that in the proposed approach the difficulties of the standard cosmology do not arise. The theory predicts the observed dimensions of the non-homogeneities of matter density and the amplitude of fluctuations of the cosmic background radiation temperature in the Universe and points to a new quantum mechanism of their origin. The large-scale structure in the Universe is explained by the growth of non-homogeneities which arise from primordial quantum fluctuations due to the finite width of the quasistationary states. The theory allows one to obtain the value of the deceleration parameter, which is in good agreement with the recent SNe Ia measurements. It explains the large value of the entropy of the Universe and describes other parameters. Received: 30 July 2001 / Published online: 8 February 2002     

SEWDarkM

A number of observed phenomena in high energy physics and cosmology lack their resolution within the Standard Model of particle physics. These puzzles include neutrino oscillations, baryon asymmetry of the Universe, existence of Dark Matter and inflation. We discuss the suggestion, based on the νMSM (an extension of the Standard Model by three light singlet fermions) that all these problems can be solved by new physics which exists only below the electroweak scale. We describe the formalism which allows to compute from first principles of quantum field theory and statistical physics the abundance of dark matter in this theory. Predictions of the νMSM are compared with results of different cosmological and astrophysical observations.     

Exotic relics from the big bang

New, exotic (very heavy and/or very weakly interacting) particles would have been produced in the hot, dense environment of the early Universe. If sufficiently long-lived, some exotic relics would have survived to influence the subsequent evolution of the Universe; some may be present today. The laboratory and astrophysical information which can constrain the properties of such new particles is outlined and guidelines are presented for testing models of elementary particle physics.     

$$\Lambda $$CDM: Much More Than We Expected,but Now Less Than What We Want

The \(\Lambda \)CDM cosmological model is remarkable: with just six parameters it describes the evolution of the Universe from a very early time when all structures were quantum fluctuations on subatomic scales to the present, and it is consistent with a wealth of high-precision data, both laboratory measurements and astronomical observations. However, the foundation of \(\Lambda \)CDM involves physics beyond the standard model of particle physics: particle dark matter, dark energy and cosmic inflation. Until this ‘new physics’ is clarified, \(\Lambda \)CDM is at best incomplete and at worst a phenomenological construct that accommodates the data. I discuss the path forward, which involves both discovery and disruption, some grand challenges and finally the limits of scientific cosmology.     

Precision cosmology and the density of baryons in the universe

Big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy measurements give independent, accurate measurements of the baryon density and can test the framework of the standard cosmology. Early CMB data are consistent with the long-standing conclusion from BBN that baryons constitute a small fraction of matter in the Universe, but may indicate a slightly higher value for the baryon density. We clarify precisely what the two methods determine and point out that differing values for the baryon density can indicate either an inconsistency or physics beyond the standard models of cosmology and particle physics. We discuss other signatures of the new physics in CMB anisotropy.     

Influence of structural and doping parameter variations on Si and $$\hbox {Si}_{1-x}$$$$\hbox {Ge}_{x}$$Gex double gate tunnel FETs: An analysis for RF performance enhancement

In this paper, we propose a stochastic evolution of the early Universe which can lead to a fractal correlation in galactic distribution in the Universe. The stochastic equation of state, due to fluctuating creation rates of various components in a many-component fluid, leads to a fluctuating expansion rate for the Universe in the early epochs. It provides persistent fluctuations in the number count vs. apparent magnitude relation, as expected from the observation of a fractal distribution of the galaxies. We also present a stochastic evolution of density perturbations in the early Universe.     

Graphene-like physics in optical lattices

Graphene has attracted enormous attention over the past years in condensed matter physics. The most interesting feature of graphene is that its low-energy excitations are relativistic Dirac fermions. Such feature is the origin of many topological properties in graphene-like physics. On the other hand, ultracold quantum gas trapped in an optical lattice has become a unique setting for quantum simulation of condensed matter physics. Here, we mainly review our recent work on quantum simulation of graphene-like physics with ultracold atoms trapped in a honeycomb or square optical lattice, including the simulation of Dirac fermions and quantum Hall effect with and without Landau levels. We also present the related experimental advances.     

Symmetry and Evolution in Quantum Gravity

We propose an operator constraint equation for the wavefunction of the Universe that admits genuine evolution. While the corresponding classical theory is equivalent to the canonical decomposition of General Relativity, the quantum theory contains an evolution equation distinct from standard Wheeler–DeWitt cosmology. Furthermore, the local symmetry principle—and corresponding observables—of the theory have a direct interpretation in terms of a conventional gauge theory, where the gauge symmetry group is that of spatial conformal diffeomorphisms (that preserve the spatial volume of the Universe). The global evolution is in terms of an arbitrary parameter that serves only as an unobservable label for successive states of the Universe. Our proposal follows unambiguously from a suggestion of York whereby the independently specifiable initial data in the action principle of General Relativity is given by a conformal geometry and the spatial average of the York time on the spacelike hypersurfaces that bound the variation. Remarkably, such a variational principle uniquely selects the form of the constraints of the theory so that we can establish a precise notion of both symmetry and evolution in quantum gravity.     

Connecting the reentrant insulating phase and the zero-field metal-insulator transition in a 2D hole system

We present the transport and capacitance measurements of 10 nm wide GaAs quantum wells with hole densities around the critical point of the 2D metal-insulator transition (critical density p(c) down to 0.8 × 10(10)/cm2, r(s) ～ 36). For metallic hole density p(c) < p < p(c) + 0.15 × 10(10)/cm2, a reentrant insulating phase (RIP) is observed between the ν = 1 quantum Hall state and the zero-field metallic state and it is attributed to the formation of pinned Wigner crystal. Through studying the evolution of the RIP versus 2D hole density, we show that the RIP is incompressible and continuously connected to the zero-field insulator, suggesting a similar origin for these two phases.