Chaotic inflation,radiative corrections and precision cosmology

We employ chaotic (?²${?}^2$ and ?⁴${?}^4$) inflation to illustrate the important role radiative corrections can play during the inflationary phase. Yukawa interactions of ?  , in particular, lead to corrections of the form −κ?⁴ln(?/μ)$-\kappa {?}^4\ln (?/\mu )$, where κ>0$\kappa >0$ and μ   is a renormalization scale. For instance, ?⁴${?}^4$ chaotic inflation with radiative corrections looks compatible with the most recent WMAP (5 year) analysis, in sharp contrast to the tree level case. We obtain the 95% confidence limits 2.4×¹⁰⁻¹⁴?κ?5.7×¹⁰⁻¹⁴$2.4\times {10}^{\mathrm{-14}}?\kappa ?5.7\times {10}^{\mathrm{-14}}$, 0.931?ns?0.958$0.931?n_s?0.958$ and 0.038?r?0.205$0.038?r?0.205$, where ns$n_s$ and r   respectively denote the scalar spectral index and scalar to tensor ratio. The limits for ?²${?}^2$ inflation are κ?7.7×¹⁰⁻¹⁵$\kappa ?7.7\times {10}^{\mathrm{-15}}$, 0.929?ns?0.966$0.929?n_s?0.966$ and 0.023?r?0.135$0.023?r?0.135$. The next round of precision experiments should provide a more stringent test of realistic chaotic ?²${?}^2$ and ?⁴${?}^4$ inflation.     

Generalized Chaplygin gas model: Constraints from Hubble parameter versus redshift data

We examine observational constraints on the generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) model for dark energy from the 9 Hubble parameter data points, the 115 SNLS Sne Ia data and the size of baryonic acoustic oscillation peak at redshift, z=0.35$z=0.35$. At a 95.4% confidence level, a combination of three data sets gives 0.67?As?0.83$0.67?A_s?0.83$ and −0.21?α?0.42$-0.21?\alpha ?0.42$, which is within the allowed parameters ranges of the GCG as a candidate of the unified dark matter and dark energy. It is found that the standard Chaplygin gas model (α=1$\alpha =1$) is ruled out by these data at the 99.7% confidence level.     

Pion radiative weak decays in nonlocal chiral quark models

We analyze the radiative pion decay π⁺→e⁺νeγ${\pi }^{+}\to e^{+}{\nu }_e\gamma$ within nonlocal chiral quark models that include wave function renormalization. In this framework we calculate the vector and axial-vector form factors FV$F_V$ and FA$F_A$ at q²=0$q^2=0$ — where q²$q^2$ is the e⁺νe$e^{+}{\nu }_e$ squared invariant mass — and the slope a   of FV(q²)$F_V(q^2)$ at q²→0$q^2\to 0$. The calculations are carried out considering different nonlocal form factors, in particular those taken from lattice QCD evaluations, showing a reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The comparison of our results with those obtained in the (local) NJL model and the relation of FV$F_V$ and a   with the form factor in π⁰→γ^?γ${\pi }^0\to {\gamma }^{?}\gamma$ decays are discussed.     

Inflationary predictions at small γ

This Letter explores single field inflation models with a constant, but arbitrary speed of sound cs$c_s$, obtained by deforming the kinetic energy terms to a Dirac–Born–Infeld form. Allowing cs<1$c_s<1$ provides a simple parametrization of non-Gaussianity. The dependence of inflationary observables on the parameter cs$c_s$ is considered in the leading order slow roll approximation. The results show that in most cases the dependence is actually rather weak for the range of cs$c_s$ allowed by existing bounds on non-Gaussianity.     

Coincidence problem in YM field dark energy model

The coincidence problem is studied in the effective Yang–Mills condensate dark energy model. As the effective YM Lagrangian is completely determined by quantum field theory, there is no adjustable parameter in this model except the energy scale, and the cosmic evolution only depends on the initial conditions. For generic initial conditions with the YM condensate subdominant to the radiation and matter, the model always has a tracking solution, the Universe transits from matter-dominated into the dark energy dominated stage only recently z∼0.3$z\sim 0.3$, and evolve to the present state with Ωy∼0.73${\Omega }_y\sim 0.73$ and Ωm∼0.27${\Omega }_m\sim 0.27$.     

Probing the reheating temperature at colliders and with primordial nucleosynthesis

Considering gravitino dark matter scenarios with a long-lived charged slepton, we show that collider measurements of the slepton mass and its lifetime can probe not only the gravitino mass but also the post-inflationary reheating temperature TR$T_{\mathrm{R}}$. In a model independent way, we derive upper limits on TR$T_{\mathrm{R}}$ and discuss them in light of the constraints from the primordial catalysis of ⁶Li through bound-state effects. In the collider-friendly region of slepton masses below 1 TeV, the obtained conservative estimate of the maximum reheating temperature is about TR=3×¹⁰⁹ GeV$T_{\mathrm{R}}=3\times {10}^9\text{GeV}$ for the limiting case of a small gluino–slepton mass splitting and about TR=¹⁰⁸ GeV$T_{\mathrm{R}}={10}^8\text{GeV}$ for the case that is typical for universal soft supersymmetry breaking parameters at the scale of grand unification. We find that a determination of the gluino–slepton mass ratio at the Large Hadron Collider will test the possibility of TR>¹⁰⁹ GeV$T_{\mathrm{R}}>{10}^9\text{GeV}$ and thereby the viability of thermal leptogenesis with hierarchical heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos.     

A separation property for magnetic Schrödinger operators on Riemannian manifolds

We consider a Schrödinger differential expression L=_ΔA+q$L={\Delta }_A+q$ on a complete Riemannian manifold (M,g)$(M,g)$ with metric g$g$, where _ΔA${\Delta }_A$ is the magnetic Laplacian on M$M$ and q≥0$q\ge 0$ is a locally square integrable function on M$M$. In the terminology of W.N. Everitt and M. Giertz, the differential expression L$L$ is said to be separated in L²(M)$L^2\left(M\right)$ if for all u∈L²(M)$u\in L^2\left(M\right)$ such that Lu∈L²(M)$Lu\in L^2\left(M\right)$, we have qu∈L²(M)$qu\in L^2\left(M\right)$. We give sufficient conditions for L$L$ to be separated in L²(M)$L^2\left(M\right)$.     

Primordial perturbation in Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology

Recently, Ho?ava has proposed a renormalizable theory of gravity with critical exponent z=3$z=3$ in the UV. This proposal might imply that the scale invariant primordial perturbation can be generated in any expansion of early universe with a∼tn$a\sim t^n$ and n>1/3$n>1/3$, which, in this Letter, will be confirmed by solving the motion equation of perturbation mode on super sound horizon scale for any background evolution of early universe. It is found that if enough efolding number of primordial perturbation suitable for observable universe is required, then n?1$n?1$ needs to be satisfied, unless the scale of UV regime is quite low. However, the possible UV completeness of HL gravity helps to relax this bound.     

Is space-time symmetry a suitable generalization of parity-time symmetry?

We discuss space-time symmetric Hamiltonian operators of the form H=H₀+igH^′$H=H_0+ig{H}^{\prime }$, where H₀$H_0$ is Hermitian and g$g$ real. H₀$H_0$ is invariant under the unitary operations of a point group G$G$ while H^′$H^{\prime }$ is invariant under transformation by elements of a subgroup G^′$G^{\prime }$ of G$G$. If G$G$ exhibits irreducible representations of dimension greater than unity, then it is possible that H$H$ has complex eigenvalues for sufficiently small nonzero values of g$g$. In the particular case that H$H$ is parity-time symmetric then it appears to exhibit real eigenvalues for all 0<g<g_c$0<g<g_c$, where g_c$g_c$ is the exceptional point closest to the origin. Point-group symmetry and perturbation theory enable one to predict whether H$H$ may exhibit real or complex eigenvalues for g>0$g>0$. We illustrate the main theoretical results and conclusions of this paper by means of two- and three-dimensional Hamiltonians exhibiting a variety of different point-group symmetries.     

Three PT-symmetric Hamiltonians with completely different spectra

We discuss three Hamiltonians, each with a central-field part H₀$H_0$ and a PT-symmetric perturbation igz$igz$. When H₀$H_0$ is the isotropic Harmonic oscillator the spectrum is real for all g$g$ because H$H$ is isospectral to H₀+g²/2$H_0+g^2/2$. When H₀$H_0$ is the Hydrogen atom then infinitely many eigenvalues are complex for all g$g$. If the potential in H₀$H_0$ is linear in the radial variable r$r$ then the spectrum of H$H$ exhibits real eigenvalues for 0<g<g_c$0<g<g_c$ and a PT phase transition at g_c$g_c$.     

A light scalar in low-scale technicolor

In addition to the narrow spin-one resonances ρT${\rho }_T$, ωT${\omega }_T$ and aT$a_T$ occurring in low-scale technicolor, there will be relatively narrow scalars in the mass range 200 to 600–700 GeV. We study the lightest isoscalar state, σT${\sigma }_T$. In several important respects it is like a heavy Higgs boson with a small vev. It may be discoverable with high luminosity at the LHC where it is produced via weak boson fusion and likely has substantial W⁺W⁻$W^{+}{W}^{-}$ and Z⁰Z⁰$Z^0{Z}^0$ decay modes.     

Properties of reachable sets in the sub-Lorentzian geometry

The aim of this paper is to develop local theory of future timelike, nonspacelike and null reachable sets from a given point _q0$q_0$ in the sub-Lorentzian geometry. In particular, we prove that if U$U$ is a normal neighbourhood of _q0$q_0$ then the three reachable sets, computed relative to U$U$, have identical interiors and boundaries with respect to U$U$. Further, among other things, we show that for Lorentzian metrics on contact distributions on R²ⁿ⁺¹${\mathbb{R}}^{2n+1}$, n≥1$n\ge 1$, the boundary of reachable sets from _q0$q_0$ is, in a neighbourhood of _q0$q_0$, made up of null future directed curves starting from _q0$q_0$. Every such curve has only a finite number of non-smooth points; smooth pieces of every such curve are Hamiltonian geodesics. For general sub-Lorentzian structures, contrary to the Lorentzian case, timelike curves may appear on the boundary. It turns out that such curves are always Goh curves. We also generalize a classical result on null Lorentzian geodesics: every null future directed Hamiltonian sub-Lorentzian geodesic initiating at _q0$q_0$ is contained, at least to a certain moment of time, in the boundary of the reachable set from _q0$q_0$.