Lorentz violation at high energy: Concepts, phenomena, and astrophysical constraints

We consider here the possibility of quantum gravity induced violation of Lorentz symmetry (LV). Even if suppressed by the inverse Planck mass such LV can be tested by current experiments and astrophysical observations. We review the effective field theory approach to describing LV, the issue of naturalness, and many phenomena characteristic of LV. We discuss some of the current observational bounds on LV, focusing mostly on those from high energy astrophysics in the QED sector at order E/M_Planck. In this context, we present a number of new results which include the explicit computation of rates of the most relevant LV processes, the derivation of a new photon decay constraint, and modification of previous constraints taking proper account of the helicity dependence of the LV parameters implied by effective field theory.     

Promising lines of investigations in the realms of laboratory astrophysics with the aid of powerful lasers

The results of work on choosing and substantiating promising lines of research in the realms of laboratory astrophysics with the aid of powerful lasers are presented. These lines of research are determined by the possibility of simulating, under laboratory conditions, problematic processes of presentday astrophysics, such as (i) the generation and evolution of electromagnetic fields in cosmic space and the role of magnetic fields there at various spatial scales; (ii) the mechanisms of formation and evolution of cosmic gamma-ray bursts and relativistic jets; (iii) plasma instabilities in cosmic space and astrophysical objects, plasma jets, and shock waves; (iv) supernova explosions and mechanisms of the explosion of supernovae featuring a collapsing core; (v) nuclear processes in astrophysical objects; (vi) cosmic rays and mechanisms of their production and acceleration to high energies; and (vii) astrophysical sources of x-ray radiation. It is shown that the use of existing powerful lasers characterized by an intensity in the range of 10¹⁸–10²² W/cm² and a pulse duration of 0.1 to 1 ps and high-energy lasers characterized by an energy in excess of 1 kJ and a pulse duration of 1 to 10 ns makes it possible to perform investigations in laboratory astrophysics along all of the chosen promising lines. The results obtained by experimentally investigating laser plasma with the aid of the laser facility created at Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash) and characterized by a power level of 10 TW demonstrate the potential of such facilities for performing a number of experiments in the realms of laboratory astrophysics.     

Laser cosmology

Recent years have witnessed tremendous progress in our understanding of the cosmos, which in turn points to even deeper questions to be further addressed. Concurrently the laser technology has undergone dramatic revolutions, providing exciting opportunity for science applications. History has shown that the symbiosis between direct observations and laboratory investigation is instrumental in the progress of astrophysics. We believe that this remains true in cosmology. Current frontier phenomena related to particle astrophysics and cosmology typically involve one or more of the following conditions: (1) extremely high energy events;(2) very high density, high temperature processes; (3) super strong field environments. Laboratory experiments using high intensity lasers can calibrate astrophysical observations, investigate underlying dynamics of astrophysical phenomena, and probe fundamental physics in extreme limits. In this article we give an overview of the exciting prospect of laser cosmology. In particular, we showcase its unique capability of investigating frontier cosmology issues such as cosmic accelerator and quantum gravity.     

Study of the pd reaction at ultralow energies using hydrogen liner plasma

The pd reaction (pd → He + γ (5.5 MeV)) is studied in the astrophysical energy collision range of protons with deuterons using the hydrogen liner in the inverse Z-pinch configuration at the pulsed power generator MIG (HCEI, Tomsk). Fundamental characteristics of this and other light-nucleus reactions at ultralow energies are important for problems of basic physics and astrophysics. The knowledge of the energy distribution of the nuclei participating in these reactions is important due to their exponential type of dependence on the collision energy. Two experimental techniques were designed and tested for recovering the energy distribution of liner protons incident on the CD₂ target by using optical detectors and ion collectors. It is shown that the combined use of these two techniques could provide relevant information on the energy distribution of the accelerated protons in the liner. The estimates of the upper limits for the astrophysical S factor and effective cross section of the pd reaction in the proton-deuteron collision energy range of 2.7–16.7 keV are obtained: $\bar S_{pd} (E_{pd} = 10.2 keV) \leqslant 2.5 \times 10^{ - 7} MeV b;\overline \sigma _{pd} (2.7 \leqslant E_{pd} \leqslant 16.7 keV) \leqslant 4 \times 10^{ - 33} cm^2 $ .     

The current status of research in ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray physics: A brief review

The origin and nature of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs, E > 10¹⁸ eV) is one of the most intriguing unsolved problems of modern astrophysics. This review is dedicated to the current status of research in this field. We describe the largest ongoing experiments carried out at the Pierre Auger Observatory and Telescope Array, at the first orbital detector of UHECRs, that is, TUS, and for the KLPVE and JEM-EUSO orbital telescopes, which are currently being developed. We discuss the latest results on the energy spectrum and mass composition of UHECRs and the relationship between UHECRs on the one hand and ultrahigh-energy neutrinos and photons on the other. Finally, we review the latest results on the anisotropy of the arrival directions of UHECRs, which is a crucially important area of research in the search for astrophysical sources of cosmic rays in the highest energy range.     

我国核天体物理前沿研究进展

核天体物理是研究微观世界的核物理与研究宏观世界的天体物理融合形成的交叉学科,其主要研究目标是:宇宙中各种化学元素核合成的过程、时间、物理环境、天体场所及丰度分布;核反应（包括带电粒子、中子、光子及中微子引起的反应、β衰变及电子俘获）如何控制恒星的演化过程和结局。近十多年来获得的大量实验和理论研究使核天体物理研究进入了一个蓬勃发展的新阶段。文章总结了以兰州重离子加速器、北京串列加速器和国家天文台为基础,结合国际合作,在核天体物理研究领域对直接测量、间接测量、衰变测量、质量测量、理论计算、网络计算、天文观测等关键科学问题进行的研究进展。也展望了核天体物理的关键科学问题,这些关键问题包括:（1）在地面实验室、尤其是地下实验室开展天体物理能区重要热核反应截面的直接测量;（2）高能区带电粒子反应截面向天体物理能区的合理外推;（3）恒星平稳核燃烧阶段和爆发性天体事件中关键核反应截面的间接测量;（4）爆发性天体事件中所涉及的大量远离稳定线核素的质量、衰变特性和共振态性质的研究;（5）建立并不断完善核天体物理数据库,发展网络模拟程序,系统研究元素核合成的天体场所、丰度分布;（6）宇宙中铁以上元素的来源之谜。Nuclear astrophysics is an interdisciplinary research field. It composes of nuclear physics, which studies micro phenomena, and astrophysics which studies macroscopic phenomena in our world. The main research goals of nuclear astrophysics are:(1) how, when and where chemical elements are synthesized and what is their final abundance distribution in the universe; (2) how nuclear processes (reactions induced by charged particles, neutrons, photons and neutrinos, beta decays and electron capture processes) determine the evolution and the ultimate fate of stars. At present, nuclear astrophysics has been developed into a new prosperous stage with a huge number of experimental and theoretical progresses. This paper summarized the current progress of nuclear astrophysics in China, in the subfiels of direct and indirect measurement of key reactions, measurement of mass and decay, as well as the theoretical calculation and network simulation. In present paper, the prospects to solve the key scientific nuclear astrophysics problems are represented. These key problems include (1) direct measurement of important reactions at astrophysical energies in the laboratory on the earth surface and in the underground laboratory; (2)extrapolation of cross sections at higher energies for the reactions induced by charged particles; (3) indirect measurement of key reactions in the hydrostatic and explosive nuclear processes; (4) study of the mass, the properties of decay and resonant states for the nuclides far from the stability line in explosive astrophysical events; (5) establish and improve the database for nuclear astrophysics, and develop network simulation codes, and systematically study astrophysical sites and abundance distribution of nucleosynthesis; (6) origin of the elements heavier than iron in the universe.     

强激光产生的强磁场及其对弓激波的影响

强激光照射金属线圈后,会在打靶点附近的背景等离子体中诱发冷电子的回流,在金属丝内形成强电流源,从而产生强磁场.本文利用神光II高功率激光器产生的强激光照射金属丝靶,产生了围绕金属丝的环形强磁场.利用B-dot对局域磁感应强度进行了测量,根据测量结果,结合三维模拟程序,反演得到磁场的空间分布.再利用强激光与CH平面靶相互作用产生的超音速等离子体撞击该金属丝,产生了弓激波.通过光学成像手段研究了磁场对冲击波的影响,发现磁场使得弓激波的轮廓变得不明显并且张角变大.同时,通过实验室天体物理定标率,将金属丝表面等离子参数变换到相应的天体参数中,结果证明利用该实验方法可以在实验室中产生类似太阳风的磁化等离子体.     

Mass measurements for nuclear astrophysics with JYFLTRAP

Over 90 neutron-deficient nuclides between ¹⁰C and ¹¹¹I have been measured at the JYFLTRAP mass spectrometer with a precision of better than 10 keV. Masses of these nuclides are important for modeling astrophysical rp and ??p processes and nucleosynthesis occurring in novae. Here, a review of the mass measurement programme of the neutron-deficient nuclides performed at JYFLTRAP for nuclear astrophysics studies is given.     

A new approach to relativistic multi-configuration quantum mechanics in titanium

Multiply-ionized atoms in plasmas and astronomical systems are predominantly of intermediate atomic numbers with open electron shells. The spectra seen in laboratory plasmas and astrophysical plasmas are dominated by characteristic Kα1,2 photoemission lines. Modelling these transitions requires advanced relativistic frameworks to begin to formulate solutions. We present a new approach to relativistic multi-configuration determination of Kα1,2 diagram and satellite energies in titanium to a high level of convergence, allowing accurate fitting of satellite contributions and the first agreement with profile to negligible residuals. These developments also apply to exciting frontiers including temporal variation of fundamental constants, theoretical chemistry and laboratory astrophysics.     

Curvature oscillations in modified gravity and high energy cosmic rays

It is shown that F(R)-modified gravitational theories lead to curvature oscillations in astrophysical systems with rising energy density. The frequency and the amplitude of such oscillations could be very high and would lead to noticeable production of energetic cosmic ray particles.     

Theoretical Study of the Seven-Nucleon <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li + <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> System Using the Algebraic Version of the Resonating Group Model

The seven-nucleon ⁶Li + p system is considered. The ⁶Li(p, α)³He transfer reaction being of interest to nuclear astrophysics is studied using a multichannel algebraic version of the resonating group model. The astrophysical S-factor of this reaction is calculated at low sub-barrier energies. The result is compared with available experimental data and other theoretical calculations.     

Screened Coulomb potentials for astrophysical nuclear fusion reactions

The electron-screening acceleration of laboratory fusion reactions at astrophysical energies is an unsolved problem of great importance to astrophysics. That effect is modeled here by considering the fusion of hydrogen-like atoms whose electron probability density is used in Poisson's equation in order to derive the corresponding screened Coulomb potential energy. That way atomic excitations and deformations of the fusing atoms can be taken into account. Those potentials are then treated semiclassically in order to obtain the screening (accelerating) factor of the reaction. By means of the proposed model the effect of a superstrong magnetic field on laboratory hydrogen fusion reactions is investigated here for the first time showing that, despite the considerable increase in the cross-section of the dd reaction, the pp reaction is still too slow to justify experimentation. The proposed model is finally applied on the H² d, pH³ fusion reaction describing satisfactorily the experimental data although some ambiguity remains regarding the molecular nature of the deuteron target. Notably, the present method gives a sufficiently high screening energy for hydrogen fusion reactions so that the take-away energy of the spectator nucleus can also be taken into account. Received: 19 May 2000 / Accepted: 4 September 2000     

间接测量天体物理S因子的特洛伊木马方法

天体环境下的核反应速率是各种关于天体核合成理论模型所需的输入量,对于了解天体核合成过程,以及宇宙的演化很重要。但是在天体温度下,核反应是在很低的能量上发生的。由于库仑位垒的作用,反应截面非常低,直接测量很难进行。通过测量合适的三体反应截面,特洛伊木马方法提供了一种提取感兴趣的低能两体反应截面的方法;而且,采用一系列近似可得到便于计算的理论公式。本文介绍特洛伊木马方法的原理及其在天体核反应中的应用。     

Listening to the universe with gravitational-wave astronomy

The LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) detectors have just completed their first science run, following many years of planning, research, and development. LIGO is a member of what will be a worldwide network of gravitational-wave observatories, with other members in Europe, Japan, and—hopefully—Australia. Plans are rapidly maturing for a low frequency, space-based gravitational-wave observatory: LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, to be launched around 2011. The goal of these instruments is to inaugurate the field of gravitational-wave astronomy: using gravitational waves as a means of listening to highly relativistic dynamical processes in astrophysics. This review discusses the promise of this field, outlining why gravitational waves are worth pursuing, and what they are uniquely suited to teach us about astrophysical phenomena. We review the current state of the field, both theoretical and experimental, and then highlight some aspects of gravitational-wave science that are particularly exciting (at least to this author).     

Amplitudes for astrophysicists: known knowns

The use of quantum field theory to understand astrophysical phenomena is not new. However, for the most part, the methods used are those that have been developed decades ago. The intervening years have seen some remarkable developments in computational quantum field theoretic tools. In particle physics, this technology has facilitated calculations that, even ten years ago would have seemed laughably difficult. It is remarkable, then, that most of these new techniques have remained firmly within the domain of high energy physics. We would like to change this. As alluded to in the title, this paper is aimed at showcasing the use of modern on-shell methods in the context of astrophysics and cosmology. In this article, we use the old problem of the bending of light by a compact object as an anchor to pedagogically develop these new computational tools. Once developed, we then illustrate their power and utility with an application to the scattering of gravitational waves.     

强激光实验室天体物理介绍

实验室天体物理是交叉于高能量密度等离子体物理学与天体物理学之间的一个新的学科生长点。利用强激光装置可以在实验室创造与某些天体或天体周围相似的极端物理环境,这样的实验条件前所未有,且与天体物理中诸多重要的物理现象直接对应。通过近距、主动、参数可控的研究,实验室天体物理有助于解决目前天体物理和等离子体物理中的一些关键的、共性的问题,并有望取得突破性成果。针对近年来国内外在该领域取得的最新研究进展进行介绍,并就将来可能开展的研究方向进行展望。     

Gas-cell-based setup for the production and study of neutron rich heavy nuclei

The present limits of the upper part of the nuclear map are very close to stability while the unexplored area of heavy neutron-rich nuclides along the neutron closed shell N = 126 is extremely important for nuclear astrophysics investigations and, in particular, for the understanding of the r-process of astrophysical nucleosynthesis. This area of the nuclear map can be reached neither in fusion–fission reactions nor in fragmentation processes widely used nowadays for the production of exotic nuclei. A new way was recently proposed for the production of these nuclei via low-energy multi-nucleon transfer reactions. The estimated yields of neutron-rich nuclei are found to be significantly high in such reactions and several tens of new nuclides can be produced, for example, in the near-barrier collision of ¹³⁶Xe with ²⁰⁸Pb. A new setup is proposed to produce and study heavy neutron-rich nuclei located along the neutron closed shell N = 126.     

Universe Filled with Dark Energy (DE) from a Wet Dark Fluid (WDF) in f(R,T) Gravity

We studied the Bianchi type-V universe filled with dark energy (DE) from a wet dark fluid (WDF) in the framework of f(R,T) gravity (Harko in Phys. Rev. D 84:024020, 2011). A new equation of state for the dark energy (DE) component of the universe has been used. It is modeled on the equation of state p=w(ρ?ρ ^?) which can be describing a liquid, for example water. The exact solutions to the corresponding field equations are obtained for exponential and power-law volumetric expansion. It is observed that the universe can approach to isotropy monotonically even in the presence of wet dark fluid. Also we have discussed the well-known astrophysical phenomena, namely the look-back time, proper distance, the luminosity distance and angular diameter distance with redshift.     

Two-Fluid Dark Energy Models in Bianchi Type-III Universe with Variable Deceleration Parameter

Some new exact solutions of Einstein’s field equations have come forth within the scope of a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-III space-time filled with barotropic fluid and dark energy by considering a variable deceleration parameter. We consider the case when the dark energy is minimally coupled to the perfect fluid as well as direct interaction with it. Under the suitable condition, the anisotropic models approach to isotropic scenario. We also find that during the evolution of the universe, the equation of state (EoS) for dark energy ω ^(de), in both cases, tends to ?1 (cosmological constant, ω ^(de)=?1), by displaying various patterns as time increases, which is consistent with recent observations. The cosmic jerk parameter in our derived models are in good agreement with the recent data of astrophysical observations under appropriate condition. It is observed that the universe starts from an asymptotic Einstein static era and reaches to the ΛCDM model. So from recently developed Statefinder parameters, the behaviour of different stages of the universe has been studied. The physical and geometric properties of cosmological models are also discussed.