Experimental determination of the rate constant for spin exchange in collisions of polarized metastable helium atoms with ground-state cesium atoms

The rate constant for spin exchange in a system consisting of a metastable helium atom and an alkali-metal atom is determined. An experiment on optical orientation of atoms established that the rate constant for spin exchange in a collision of a metastable 2³ S ₁ helium atom with a cesium atom in the 6² S _1/2 ground state equals (2.8±0.8)×10⁻⁹ cm³ s⁻¹. The rate constant for chemoionization of cesium atoms by metastable helium atoms was determined at the same time to be (1.0±0.3)×10⁹ cm³s⁻¹. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 3, 145–148 (10 August 1997)     

Magnetized String Cosmology in Anisotropic Bianchi-II Space-time with Variable Cosmological Term-Λ

The present study deals with a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi-II cosmological models representing massive strings by applying the variation law for generalized Hubble’s parameter that yields a constant value of deceleration parameter. We find that the constant value of deceleration parameter is reasonable for the present day universe. The variation law for Hubble’s parameter generates two types of solutions for the average scale factor, one is of power-law type and other is of the exponential form. Using these two forms, Einstein’s field equations are solved separately that correspond to expanding singular and non-singular models of the universe respectively. The energy-momentum tensor for such string as formulated by Letelier (Phys. Rev. D 28:2414, 1983) is used to construct massive string cosmological models for which we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the component s¹₁\sigma^{1}_{1} of the shear tensor s^j_i\sigma^{j}_{i}. This condition leads to A=(BC) ^m , where A, B and C are the metric coefficients and m is proportionality constant. Our models are in accelerating phase which is consistent to the recent observations. The cosmological constant Λ is found to be a decreasing function of time and it approaches a small positive value at present epoch which is in good agreement by the results from recent supernovae observations. Some physical and geometric behaviour of the models are also discussed.     

Measurement of the spin-exchange and chemical ionization rate constants in collisions of polarized metastable 23 S 1 helium atoms with 32 S 1/2 sodium atoms

Experimental data on the spin-exchange rate constants for the He(2³ S ₁)-Na(3² S _1/2) system are reported for the first time. Measurements show that the spin-exchange rate constant is C _se = (23 ± 11) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ and the chemical ionization rate constant is C _si = (29 ± 14) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ s⁻¹ at a temperature of 420 K. The results are compared with the data calculated from the rate constants.     

Systematic trends in the line strengths and radial matrix elements of E1 transitions in the Be isoelectronic sequence

Line strengthS and radial matrix elementσ for the dipole allowed transitions withinn=2 complex of ions in the Be isoelectronic sequence have been fitted in the formsZ ² S=A+B/(Z − C) andZσ=A′ + B′/(Z − C′). The constantsA, B, C andA′, B′, C′ have been calculated by employing a non-linear least square method. The relevant data forS andσ have been taken from calculations which includes correlation effects. It is shown that the fitted yalues ofA andA′ are in excellent accord with their hydrogenic values (Z →α) provided that we express the zeroth-order wavefunction of the ground state 1s²2s^{2 1} S as a quantum-mechanical admixture of the Hartree-Fock (HF) state 1s²2s^{2 1} S and the near-degenerate state 1s²2p^{2 1} S.     

Anisotropic Bianchi Type-I String Cosmological Models in Normal Gauge for Lyra’s Manifold with Constant Deceleration Parameter

The present study deals with a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-I (B-I) cosmological models representing massive strings in normal gauge for Lyra’s manifold by applying the variation law for generalized Hubble’s parameter that yields a constant value of deceleration parameter. The variation law for Hubble’s parameter generates two types of solutions for the average scale factor, one is of power-law type and other is of the exponential-law type. Using these two forms, Einstein’s modified field equations are solved separately that correspond to expanding singular and non-singular models of the universe respectively. The energy-momentum tensor for such string as formulated by Letelier, P.S.: Phys. Rev. D 28, 2414 (1983) is used to construct massive string cosmological models for which we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the component s¹ ₁\sigma^{1}_{~1} of the shear tensor s^j _i\sigma^{j}_{~i}. This condition leads to A=(BC) ^m , where A, B and C are the metric coefficients and m is proportionality constant. Our models are in accelerating phase which is consistent to the recent observations. It has been found that the displacement vector β behaves like cosmological term Λ in the normal gauge treatment and the solutions are consistent with recent observations of SNe Ia. It has been found that massive strings dominate in the both decelerating and accelerating universes. The strings dominate in the early universe and eventually disappear from the universe for sufficiently large times. This is in consistent with the current observations. Some physical and geometric behaviour of these models are also discussed.     

Photon propagation in torsion background

The existence of a torsion background in spacetime at cosmological scales can be tested from the timing of high-energy photons from AGN. The observations of anomalous photon dispersion from Markarian 501 by Magic gamma ray telescope can be explained by the presence of torsion background and it puts limits on the torsion background at κ S ₀ < 10⁻¹⁸ GeV⁻¹.     

Cosmological bootstrap

The extremely large value of the cosmological constant that is characteristic of particle physics and the inflation of the early universe are inherently interconnected. One can construct a superpotential that, after consideration for the leading effects due to supergravity, produces a flat potential of inflaton with a constant density of energy V = Λ⁴. The introduction of relatively small quantum loop corrections to the parameters of this superpotential naturally leads to a dynamical instability taking the form of an inflationary regime of relaxation of the cosmological constant. This pattern is phenomenologically consistent with observational data at Λ ∼ 10¹⁶ GeV.     

Magnetized Bianchi Type III String Universe with Time Decaying Vacuum Energy Density Λ

Exact solution of Einstein’s field equations is obtained for massive string cosmological model of Bianchi III space-time using the technique given by Letelier (Phys. Rev. D 28:2414, 1983) in presence of perfect fluid and decaying vacuum energy density Λ. To get the deterministic solution of the field equations the expansion θ in the model is considered as proportional to the eigen value s² ₂\sigma^{2}_{~2} of the shear tensor s^j _i\sigma^{j}_{~i} and also the fluid obeys the barotropic equation of state. It is observed that the particle density and the tension density of the string are comparable at the two ends and they fall off asymptotically at similar rate. But in early stage as well as at the late time of the evolution of the universe we have two types of scenario (i) universe is dominated by massive strings and (ii) universe is dominated by strings depending on the nature of the two constants L and ℓ. The value of cosmological constant Λ for the model is found to be small and positive which is supported by the results from recent supernovae Ia observations. Some physical and geometric properties of the model are also discussed.     

The case for the cosmological constant

I present a short overview of current observational results and theoretical models for a cosmological constant. The main motivation for invoking a small cosmological constant (or A-term) at the present epoch has to do with observations of high redshift Type Ia supernovae which suggest an accelerating universe. A flat accelerating universe is strongly favoured by combining supernovae observations with observations of CMB anisotropies on degree scales which give the ‘best-fit’ values Θ_A ⋍ 0.7 and Θ _m ⋍ 0.3. A time dependent cosmological A-term can be generated by scalar field models with exponential and power law potentials. Some of these models can alleviate the ‘fine tuning’ problem which faces the cosmological constant.     

Dark energy and gravity

I review the problem of dark energy focussing on cosmological constant as the candidate and discuss what it tells us regarding the nature of gravity. Section 1 briefly overviews the currently popular “concordance cosmology” and summarizes the evidence for dark energy. It also provides the observational and theoretical arguments in favour of the cosmological constant as a candidate and emphasizes why no other approach really solves the conceptual problems usually attributed to cosmological constant. Section 2 describes some of the approaches to understand the nature of the cosmological constant and attempts to extract certain key ingredients which must be present in any viable solution. In the conventional approach, the equations of motion for matter fields are invariant under the shift of the matter Lagrangian by a constant while gravity breaks this symmetry. I argue that until the gravity is made to respect this symmetry, one cannot obtain a satisfactory solution to the cosmological constant problem. Hence cosmological constant problem essentially has to do with our understanding of the nature of gravity. Section 3 discusses such an alternative perspective on gravity in which the gravitational interaction—described in terms of a metric on a smooth spacetime—is an emergent, long wavelength phenomenon, and can be described in terms of an effective theory using an action associated with normalized vectors in the spacetime. This action is explicitly invariant under the shift of the matter energy momentum tensor T _ab → T _ab + Λ _gab and any bulk cosmological constant can be gauged away. Extremizing this action leads to an equation determining the background geometry which gives Einstein’s theory at the lowest order with Lanczos–Lovelock type corrections. In this approach, the observed value of the cosmological constant has to arise from the energy fluctuations of degrees of freedom located in the boundary of a spacetime region.     

Grafting and Poisson Structure in (2+1)-Gravity with Vanishing Cosmological Constant

We relate the geometrical construction of (2+1)-spacetimes via grafting to phase space and Poisson structure in the Chern-Simons formulation of (2+1)-dimensional gravity with vanishing cosmological constant on manifolds of topology , where S _g is an orientable two-surface of genus g>1. We show how grafting along simple closed geodesics λ is implemented in the Chern-Simons formalism and derive explicit expressions for its action on the holonomies of general closed curves on S _g .We prove that this action is generated via the Poisson bracket by a gauge invariant observable associated to the holonomy of λ. We deduce a symmetry relation between the Poisson brackets of observables associated to the Lorentz and translational components of the holonomies of general closed curves on S _g and discuss its physical interpretation. Finally, we relate the action of grafting on the phase space to the action of Dehn twists and show that grafting can be viewed as a Dehn twist with a formal parameter θ satisfying θ² = 0.     

New physics hints in B decays and collider outlook

There are currently two hints for new physics involving CP violation in b → s transitions: ΔS ≡ S _f − S _J ^ϕK ≠ 0, and difference in direct CP asymmetry ΔA _Kπ ≡ A _K+π ⁰ − A _K+π ⁻ ≠ 0. We explore the two scenarios with a large and unique new CP phase in b ↔ s transitions. Motivated by ΔS ≠ 0, we update on the right-handed strange-beauty squark sb _1R at TeV scale. Motivated by ΔA _Kπ ≠ 0, we explore sequential fourth generation t′ and b′ quarks. Both scenarios can survive constraints such as SM level b → sγ, sll and B _s mixing, and predict sizable CP violation in B _s mixing. The fourth generation picture predicts sizable K _L → π ⁰ vv. Direct search for sb _R, b′ and t′ at hadronic colliders, such as Tevatron Run II and LHC, can complement further CP violation studies at these machines, as well as at the future Super B factory.     

The Cosmological constant and the coincidence problem in a new cosmological interpretation of the universal constant “c”

In a recent paper (Vigoureux et al. in Int. J. Theor. Phys. 47:928, 2007) it has been suggested that the velocity of light and the expansion of the universe are two aspects of one single concept connecting space and time in the expanding universe. It has then be shown that solving Friedmann’s equations with that interpretation (and keeping c=constant) can explain number of unnatural features of the standard cosmology (for example: the flatness problem, the problem of the observed uniformity in term of temperature and density of the cosmological background radiation, the small-scale inhomogeneity problem…) and leads to reconsider the Hubble diagram of distance moduli and redshifts as obtained from recent observations of type Ia supernovae without having to need an accelerating universe. In the present work we examine the problem of the cosmological constant. We show that our model can exactly generate Λ (equation of state P _φ =−ρ _φ c ² with Λ∝ R ⁻²) contrarily to the standard model which cannot generate it exactly. We also show how it can solve the so-called cosmic coincidence problem.     

Hydrodynamic vacuum sources of dark matter self-generation in an accelerating universe without a Big Bang

We have obtained a generalization of the hydrodynamic theory of vacuum in the context of general relativity. While retaining the Lagrangian character of general relativity, the new theory provides a natural alternative to the view that the singularity is inevitable in general relativity and the theory of a hot Universe. We show that the macroscopic source-sink motion as a whole of ordinary (dark) matter that emerges during the production of particles out of the vacuum can be a new source of gravitational vacuum polarization (determining the variability of the cosmological term in general relativity). We have removed the well-known problems of the cosmological constant by refining the physical nature of dark energy associated precisely with this hydrodynamically initiated variability of the vacuum energy density. A new exact solution of the modified general relativity equations that contains no free (fitting) parameter additional to those available in general relativity has been obtained. It corresponds to the continuous and metric-affecting production of ultralight dark matter particles (with mass m ₀ = (ħ/c ²) $ \sqrt {12\rho _0 k} $ \sqrt {12\rho _0 k} ≈ 3 × 10⁻⁶⁶ g, k is the gravitational constant) out of the vacuum, with its density ρ₀, constant during the exponential expansion of a spatially flat Universe, being retained. This solution is shown to be stable in the regime of cosmological expansion in the time interval −∞ < t < t _max, when t = 0 corresponds to the present epoch and t _max= 2/3H ₀ cΩ_0m ≈ 38 × 10⁹ yr at Ω_0m = ρ₀/ρ_c ≈ 0.28 (H ₀ is the Hubble constant, ρ_c is the critical density). For t > t _max, the solution becomes exponentially unstable and characterizes the inverse process of dark matter particle absorption by the vacuum in the regime of contraction of the Universe. We consider the admissibility of the fact that scalar massive photon pairs can be these dark matter particles. Good quantitative agreement of this exact solution with the cosmological observations of SnIa, SDSS-BAO, and the decrease in the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe has been obtained.     

Bianchi Type-IX viscous fluid cosmological model in general relativity

Bianchi Type-IX viscous fluid cosmological model is investigated. To get a deterministic model, we have assumed the conditiona = b ^m(m is a constant) between metric potentials andη ∞θ whereη is the coefficient of shear viscosity andθ the scalar of expansion in the model. The coefficient of bulk viscosity (ς) is taken as constant. The physical and geometrical aspects of the model are also discussed.     

Effects of the quantization ambiguities on the Big Bounce dynamics

In this paper, we investigate dynamics of the modified loop quantum cosmology models using dynamical systems methods. Modifications considered come from the choice of the different field strength operator F̂ and result in different forms of the effective Hamiltonian. Such an ambiguity of the choice of this expression from some class of functions is allowed in the framework of loop quantization. Our main goal is to show how such modifications can influence the bouncing universe scenario in the loop quantum cosmology. In effective models considered we classify all evolutional paths for all admissible initial conditions. The dynamics is reduced to the form of a dynamical system of the Newtonian type on a two-dimensional phase plane. These models are equivalent dynamically to the FRW models with the decaying effective cosmological term parameterized by the canonical variable p (or by the scale factor a). We demonstrate that the evolutional scenario depends on the geometrical constant parameter Λ as well as the model parameter n. We find that for the positive cosmological constant there is a class of oscillating models without the initial and final singularities. The new phenomenon is the appearance of curvature singularities for the finite values of the scale factor, but we find that for the positive cosmological constant these singularities can be avoided. The values of the parameter n and the cosmological constant differentiate asymptotic states of the evolution. For the positive cosmological constant the evolution begins at the asymptotic state in the past represented by the de Sitter contracting (deS₋) spacetime or the static Einstein universe H = 0 or H =  − ∞ state and reaches the de Sitter expanding state (deS₊), the state H = 0 or H =  + ∞ state. In the case of the negative cosmological constant we obtain the past and future asymptotic states as the Einstein static universes.     

B-decay CP-asymmetries in SUSY with a U(2)3 flavour symmetry

We study CP asymmetries in rare B decays within supersymmetry with a U(2)³ flavour symmetry, motivated by the SUSY flavour and CP problems, the hierarchies in the Yukawa couplings and the absence so far of any direct evidence for SUSY. Even in the absence of flavour-blind phases, we find potentially sizable CP violating contributions to b→s decay amplitudes. The effects in the mixing-induced CP asymmetries in B→ϕK _S and B→η′K _S , angular CP asymmetries in B→K ^∗ μ ⁺ μ ⁻ and the direct CP asymmetry in B→X _s γ can be in the region to be probed by LHCb and next generation B factories. At the same time, these effects in B decays are compatible with CP violating contributions to meson mixing, including a non-standard B _s mixing phase hinted by current tensions in the CKM fit mostly between S_yKS, e_KS_{\psi K_{S}}, \epsilon_{K} and DM_Bs/DM_Bd\Delta M_{B_{s}}/\Delta M_{B_{d}}.