Publications (24)0 Total impact
-
Article: Femto-lensing due to a Cosmic String
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We consider the femto-lensing due to a cosmic string. If a cosmic string with the deficit angle $\Delta\sim 100$ [femto-arcsec] $\sim10^{-18}$ [rad] exists around the line of sight to a gamma-ray burst, we may observe characteristic interference patterns caused by gravitational lensing in the energy spectrum of the gamma-ray burst. This "femto-lensing" event was first proposed as a tool to probe small mass primordial black holes. In this paper, we propose use of the femto-lensing to probe cosmic strings with extremely small tension. Observability conditions and the event rate are discussed. Differences between the cases of a point mass and a cosmic string are presented.09/2012; -
Article: Observable Spectra of Induced Gravitational Waves from Inflation
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Measuring the primordial power spectrum on small scales is a powerful tool in inflation model building, yet constraints from Cosmic Microwave Background measurements alone are insufficient to place bounds stringent enough to be appreciably effective. For the very small scale spectrum, those which subtend angles of less than 0.3 degrees on the sky, an upper bound can be extracted from the astrophysical constraints on the possible production of primordial black holes in the early universe. A recently discovered observational by-product of an enhanced power spectrum on small scales, induced gravitational waves, have been shown to be within the range of proposed space based gravitational wave detectors; such as NASA's LISA and BBO detectors, and the Japanese DECIGO detector. In this paper we explore the impact such a detection would have on models of inflation known to lead to an enhanced power spectrum on small scales, namely the Hilltop-type and running mass models. We find that the Hilltop-type model can produce observable induced gravitational waves within the range of BBO and DECIGO for integral and fractional powers of the potential within a reasonable number of e-folds. We also find that the running mass model can produce a spectrum within the range of these detectors, but require that inflation terminates after an unreasonably small number of e-folds. Finally, we argue that if the thermal history of the Universe were to accomodate such a small number of e-folds the Running Mass Model can produce Primordial Black Holes within a mass range compatible with Dark Matter, i.e. within a mass range 10^{20}g< M_{BH}<10^{27}g.03/2012; -
Article: Lorentz-violating vs ghost gravitons: the example of Weyl gravity
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We show that the ghost degrees of freedom of Einstein gravity with a Weyl term can be eliminated by a simple mechanism that invokes local Lorentz symmetry breaking. We demonstrate how the mechanism works in a cosmological setting. The presence of the Weyl term forces a redefinition of the quantum vacuum state of the tensor perturbations. As a consequence the amplitude of their spectrum blows up when the Lorentz-violating scale becomes comparable to the Hubble radius. Such a behaviour is in sharp contrast to what happens in standard Weyl gravity where the gravitational ghosts smoothly damp out the spectrum of primordial gravitational waves.02/2012; -
Article: Weak lensing of CMB by cosmic (super-)strings
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We study the effect of weak lensing by cosmic (super-)strings on the anisotropies of cosmic microwave background (CMB). In developing a method to calculate the lensing convergence field due to strings, and thereby temperature and polarization angular power spectra of CMB, we clarify how the nature of strings, characterized by the intercommuting probability, can influence these CMB anisotropies. Assuming that the power spectrum is dominated by Poisson-distributed string segments, we find that the convergence spectrum peaks at low multipoles and is mostly contributed from strings located at relatively low redshifts. As the intercommuting probability decreases, the spectra of the convergence and hence the lensed temperature and polarizations are gained because the number density of string segments becomes larger. An observationally important feature of the string-induced CMB polarizations is that the string-lensed spectra decay more slowly on small scales compared with primordial scalar perturbations from standard inflation.10/2011; -
Article: Inflation with a Weyl term, or ghosts at work
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In order to assess the role of ghosts in cosmology, we study the evolution of linear cosmological perturbations during inflation when a Weyl term is added to the action. Our main result is that vector perturbations can no longer be ignored and that scalar modes diverge in the newtonian gauge but remain bounded in the comoving slicing.12/2010; -
Article: Analytical model for CMB temperature angular power spectrum from cosmic (super-)strings
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We present a new analytical method to calculate the small angle CMB temperature angular power spectrum due to cosmic (super-)string segments. In particular, using our method, we clarify the dependence on the intercommuting probability $P$. We find that the power spectrum is dominated by Poisson-distributed string segments. The power spectrum for a general value of $P$ has a plateau on large angular scales and shows a power-law decrease on small angular scales. The resulting spectrum in the case of conventional cosmic strings is in very good agreement with the numerical result obtained by Fraisse et al.. Then we estimate the upper bound on the dimensionless tension of the string for various values of $P$ by assuming that the fraction of the CMB power spectrum due to cosmic (super-)strings is less than ten percents at various angular scales up to $\ell=2000$. We find that the amplitude of the spectrum increases as the intercommuting probability. As a consequence, strings with smaller intercommuting probabilities are found to be more tightly constrained. Comment: 7 pages,6 figures; references and comments added06/2010; -
Article: Skewness in CMB temperature fluctuations from curved cosmic (super-)strings
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We compute the one-point probability distribution function of small-angle cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations due to curved cosmic (super-)strings with a simple model of string network by performing Monte Carlo simulations. Taking into account of the correlation between the curvature and the velocity of string segments, there appear non-Gaussian features, specifically non-Gaussian tails and a skewness, in the one-point pdf. The obtained sample skewness for the conventional field-theoretic cosmic strings is $g_1\approx -0.14$, which is consistent with the result reported by Fraisse et al.. We also discuss the dependence of the pdf on the intercommuting probability. We find that the standard deviation of the Gaussian part increases and non-Gaussian features are suppressed as the intercommuting probability decreases. For sufficiently small intercommuting probability, the skewness is given by $\lesssim$ (a\ few) $\times 10^{-2}$. Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures; revised version of the manuscript, accepted for publication in JCAP04/2010; -
Article: New cosmological constraints on primordial black holes
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We update the constraints on the fraction of the Universe going into primordial black holes in the mass range 10^9--10^17 g associated with the effects of their evaporations on big bang nucleosynthesis and the extragalactic photon background. We include for the first time all the effects of quark and gluon emission by black holes on these constraints and account for the latest observational developments. We then discuss the other constraints in this mass range and show that these are weaker than the nucleosynthesis and photon background limits, apart from a small range 10^13--10^14 g, where the damping of cosmic microwave background anisotropies dominates. Finally we review the gravitational and astrophysical effects of nonevaporating primordial black holes, updating constraints over the broader mass range 1--10^50 g. Comment: 41 pages, 10 figures, REVTeX 4.112/2009; -
Article: Rapid Merger of Binary Primordial Black Holes
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We propose a new scenario for the evolution of a binary of primordial black holes (PBHs). We consider the dynamical friction by ambient dark matter and gravitational interaction between a binary and a circumbinary disk, assuming PBHs do not constitute the bulk of dark matter. After the turnaround, a PBH binary loses the energy and angular momentum by the two processes, which are very effective for a typical configuration. Finally the binary coalesces due to the emission of gravitational waves in a time scale much shorter than the age of the universe. We estimate the density parameter of the resultant gravitational wave background. Astrophysical implication concerning supermassive black holes is also discussed. Comment: 5pages,no figure09/2009; -
Article: Hamiltonian formulation of f(Riemann) theories of gravity
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We present a canonical formulation of gravity theories whose Lagrangian is an arbitrary function of the Riemann tensor. Our approach allows a unified treatment of various subcases and an easy identification of the degrees of freedom of the theory. Comment: 12 pages, REVTeX 408/2009; -
Article: Various Hamiltonian formulations of f(R) gravity and their canonical relationships
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Various Hamiltonian formulations of f(R) gravity can be found in the literature. Some authors follow the Ostrogradsky treatment of higher derivative theories and introduce as extra variables first order time derivatives of the metric (typically the extrinsic curvature). Some others take advantage of the conformal equivalence of f(R) theory with Einstein's gravity coupled to a scalar field and introduce as an extra variable the scalar curvature R itself, which includes second time derivatives of the metric. We show that, contrarily to some claims, these formulations are related by canonical transformations. Comment: 15 pages, REVTeX 406/2009; -
Article: Non-Gaussianity in Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature Fluctuations from Cosmic (Super-)Strings
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We compute analytically the small-scale temperature fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background from cosmic (super-)strings and study the dependence on the string intercommuting probability $P$. We develop an analytical model which describes the evolution of a string network and calculate the numbers of string segments and kinks in a horizon volume. Then we derive the probability distribution function (pdf) which takes account of finite angular resolution of observation. The resultant pdf consists of a Gaussian part due to frequent scatterings by long string segments and a non-Gaussian tail due to close encounters with kinks. The dispersion of the Gaussian part is reasonably consistent with that obtained by numerical simulations by Fraisse et al.. On the other hand, the non-Gaussian tail contains two phenomenological parameters which are determined by comparison with the numerical results for P=1. Extrapolating the pdf to the cases with $P<1$, we predict that the non-Gaussian feature is suppressed for small $P$. Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure, version accepted by JCAP11/2008; -
Article: "Detuned" f(R) gravity and dark energy
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In gravity theories derived from a f(R) Lagrangian, matter is usually supposed to be minimally coupled to the metric, which hence defines a ``Jordan frame.'' However, since the field equations are fourth order, gravity possesses an extra degree of freedom on top of the standard graviton, as is manifest from its equivalent description in the conformally related, Einstein, frame. We introduce explicitly this extra scalar degree of freedom in the action and couple it to matter, so that the original metric no longer defines a Jordan frame. This ``detuning'' puts f(R) gravity into a wider class of scalar--tensor theories. We argue that a ``chameleon-like'' detuning tracing the background matter density may provide purely gravitational models which account for the present acceleration of the universe and evade local gravity constraints.04/2008; -
Article: Junction Conditions in f(R) Theories of Gravity
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Taking advantage of the conformal equivalence of f(R) theories of gravity with General Relativity coupled to a scalar field we generalize the Israel junction conditions for this class of theories by direct integration of the field equations. We suggest a specific non-minimal coupling of matter to gravity which opens the possibility of a new class of braneworld scenarios.12/2007; -
Article: Instability of de Sitter brane and horizon entropy in a 6D braneworld
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We investigate thermodynamic and dynamical stability of a family of six-dimensional braneworld solutions with de Sitter branes. First, we investigate thermodynamic stability in terms of de Sitter entropy. We see that the family of solutions is divided into two distinct branches: the high-entropy branch and the low-entropy branch. By analogy with ordinary thermodynamics, the high-entropy branch is expected to be stable and the low-entropy branch to be unstable. Next, we investigate dynamical stability by analyzing linear perturbations around the solutions. Perturbations are decomposed into scalar, vector and tensor sectors according to the representation of the 4D de Sitter symmetry, and each sector is analyzed separately. It is found that when the Hubble expansion rates on the branes are too large, there appears a tachyonic mode in the scalar sector and the background solution becomes dynamically unstable. We show analytically that the onset of the thermodynamic instability and that of the dynamical instability exactly coincide. Therefore, the braneworld model provides a new example illustrating close relations between thermodynamic and dynamical instability. Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, REVTeX4; version accepted for publication in JCAP03/2007; -
Article: A doubly covariant formula of deficit angle and its application to six-dimensional braneworld
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We reformulate boundary conditions for axisymmetric codimension-2 braneworlds in a way which is applicable to linear perturbation with various gauge conditions. Our interest is in the thin brane limit and thus this scheme assumes that the perturbations are also axisymmetric and that the surface energy-momentum tensor of the brane is proportional to its induced metric. An advantage of our scheme is that it allows much more freedom for convenient coordinate choices than the other methods. This is because in our scheme, the coordinate system in the bulk and that on the brane are completely disentangled. Therefore, the latter does not need to be a subset of the former and the brane does not need to stay at a fixed bulk coordinate position. The boundary condition is manifestly doubly covariant: it is invariant under gauge transformations in the bulk and at the same time covariant under those on the brane. We take advantage of the double covariance when we analyze the linear perturbation of a particular model of six-dimensional braneworld with warped flux compactification.08/2006; -
Article: Mass spectrum of primordial black holes from inflationary perturbation in the Randall-Sundrum braneworld: a limit on blue spectra
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The mass spectrum of the primordial black holes formed by density perturbation in the radiation-dominated era of the Randall-Sundrum type-2 cosmology is given. The spectrum coincides with standard four-dimensional one on large scales but the deviation is apparent on smaller scales. The mass spectrum is initially softer than standard four-dimensional one, while after accretion during the earliest era it becomes harder than that. We also show expected extragalactic diffuse photon background spectra varying the initial perturbation power-law power spectrum and give constraints on the blue spectra and/or the reheating temperature. The most recent observations on the small scale density perturbation from WMAP, SDSS and Lyman-\alpha Forest are used. What we get are interpreted as constraints on the smaller scale inflation on the brane connected to the larger one at the scale of Lyman-\alpha Forest. If we set the bulk curvature radius to be 0.1 mm and assume the reheating temperature is higher than 10^6 GeV, the scalar spectral index from the smaller scale inflation is constrained to be n \lesssim 1.3. Typically, the constraints are tighter than standard four-dimensional one, which is also revised by us using the most recent observations. Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures; typos corrected, references added, published in JCAP03/2006; -
Article: Dynamical Stability of Six-dimensional Warped Flux Compactification
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We show the dynamical stability of a six-dimensional braneworld solution with warped flux compactification recently found by the authors. We consider linear perturbations around this background spacetime, assuming the axisymmetry in the extra dimensions. The perturbations are expanded by scalar-, vector- and tensor-type harmonics of the four-dimensional Minkoswki spacetime and we analyze each type separately. It is found that there is no unstable mode in each sector and that there are zero modes only in the tensor sector, corresponding to the four-dimensional gravitons. We also obtain the first few Kaluza-Klein modes in each sector. Comment: 46 pages, 8 figures. Version to appear in JCAP12/2005; -
Article: Warped Flux Compactification and Brane Gravity
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We find a simple exact solution of 6-dimensional braneworld which captures some essential features of warped flux compactification, including a warped geometry, compactification, a magnetic flux, and one or two 3-brane(s). In this setup we analyze how the Hubble expansion rate on each brane changes when the brane tension changes. It is shown that effective Newton's constant resulting from this analysis agrees with that inferred by simply integrating extra dimensions out. Based on the result, a general formula for effective Newton's constant is conjectured and its application to cosmology with type IIB warped string compactification is discussed. Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX 2e; Version accepted for publication in JCAP, references added06/2005; -
Article: Quadrupole formula for Kaluza-Klein modes in the braneworld
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The quadrupole formula in four-dimensional Einstein gravity is a useful tool to describe gravitational wave radiation. We derive the quadrupole formula for the Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes in the Randall-Sundrum braneworld model. The quadrupole formula provides transparent representation of the exterior weak gravitational field induced by localized sources. We find that a general isolated dynamical source gives rise to the 1/r^2 correction to the leading 1/r gravitational field. We apply the formula to an evaluation of the effective energy carried by the KK modes from the viewpoint of an observer on the brane. Contrary to the ordinary gravitational waves (zero mode), the flux of the induced KK modes by the non-spherical part of the quadrupole moment vanishes at infinity and only the spherical part contributes to the flux. Since the effect of the KK modes appears in the linear order of the metric perturbations, the effective energy flux observed on the brane is not always positive, but can become negative depending on the motion of the localized sources. Comment: 9 pages, no figures, REVTeX 4; version accepted for publication in CQG05/2005;
Institutions
-
2011
-
Hirosaki University
- Department of Science Radiological Technology
Hirosaki, Aomori-ken, Japan
-
-
2010
-
Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
-
-
2008–2010
-
Kyoto University
- Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics
Kyoto, Kyoto-fu, Japan
-
-
2003–2004
-
The University of Tokyo
- Department of Physics
Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
-