15595923
VACUUM POLARIZATION IN AN ANTI-DE SITTER SPACE AS AN ORIGIN FOR A COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT IN A BRANE WORLD
We show that the vacuum polarization of quantum fields in an anti-de Sitter space can naturally give rise to a small but nonzero cosmological constant in a brane world living in it. To explain the extremely small ratio of mass density in the cosmological constant to the Planck mass density in our universe (≈10-123) as suggested by cosmological observations, all we need is a four-dimensional brane world (our universe) living in a five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space with a curvature radius r0~10-3cm and a fundamental Planck energy MP~109GeV, and a scalar field with a mass $m\sim r^{-1}_0\sim 10^{-2} {\rm eV}$. Probing gravity down to a scale ~10-3 cm, which is attainable in the near future, will provide a test of the model.
11909154
The X‐ray transient 080109 in NGC 2770: an X‐ray flash associated with a normal core‐collapse supernova
Although it is generally thought that long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) are associated with core-collapse supernovae (SNe), so far only four pairs of GRBs and SNe with firmly established connection have been found. All the four GRB-SNe belong to special class of Type Ic – called the broad-lined SNe indicative of a large explosion energy, suggesting that only a small fraction of SNe Ibc have GRBs associated with them. This scheme has been refreshed by the discovery of a bright X-ray transient in NGC 2770 on 2008 January 9, which was followed by a rather normal Type Ib SN 2008D. In this paper, I argue that the transient 080109 is an X-ray flash (XRF, the soft version of a GRB) because of the following evidence. (1) The transient cannot be interpreted as a SN shock breakout event. (2) The GRB X-ray flare interpretation is not supported by the high-energy observation. I then show that XRF 080109 satisfies the well-known relation between the isotropic-equivalent energy and the peak spectral energy for LGRBs, which highly strengthens the XRF interpretation. Finally, I point out that the peak spectral energy of XRF 080109 and the maximum bolometric luminosity of SN 2008D agree with the E γ, peak–LSN,max relationship of Li, strengthening the validity of the relationship. I speculate that events like XRF 080109 may occur at a rate comparable to SNe Ibc, and a soft X-ray telescope devoted to surveying for nearby X-ray flares will be very fruitful in discovering them.
11692409
Electromagnetic energy for a charged Kerr black hole in a uniform magnetic field
With the Komar mass formula we calculate the electromagnetic energy for a charged Kerr black hole in a uniform magnetic field. We find that the total electromagnetic energy takes the minimum when the Kerr black hole possesses a nonzero net charge $Q=2\ensuremath{\xi}{B}_{0}{J}_{H}$ where ${B}_{0}$ is the strength of the magnetic field, ${J}_{H}$ is the angular momentum of the black hole, and $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is a dimensionless parameter determined by the spin of the black hole. However, the Wald state with ${Q=2B}_{0}{J}_{H}$ does not minimize the electromagnetic energy.
10326293
New light on time machines: Against the chronology protection conjecture.
I construct a spacetime with closed timelike curves and without closed causal geodesics. There is a noncompactly generated Cauchy horizon separating the region with closed timelike curves from that without closed causal curves. This spacetime might be stable against the vacuum fluctuation of matter fields. Whether such a spacetime is stable against the vacuum fluctuation of a gravitational field is an open question.
39373169
Can the universe create itself
The question of first-cause has troubled philosophers and cosmologists alike. Now that it is apparent that our universe began in a Big Bang explosion, the question of what happened before the Big Bang arises. Inflation seems like a very promising answer, but as Borde and Vilenkin have shown, the inflationary state preceding the Big Bang must have had a beginning also. Ultimately, the difficult question seems to be how to make something out of nothing. This paper explores the idea that this is the wrong question --- that that is not how the Universe got here. Instead, we explore the idea of whether there is anything in the laws of physics that would prevent the Universe from creating itself. Because spacetimes can be curved and multiply connected, general relativity allows for the possibility of closed timelike curves (CTCs). Thus, tracing backwards in time through the original inflationary state we may eventually encounter a region of CTCs giving no first-cause. This region of CTCs, may well be over by now (being bounded toward the future by a Cauchy horizon). We illustrate that such models --- with CTCs --- are not necessarily inconsistent by demonstrating self-consistent vacuums for Misner space and a multiply connected de Sitter space in which the renormalized energy-momentum tensor does not diverge as one approaches the Cauchy horizon and solves Einstein's equations. We show such a Universe can be classically stable and self-consistent if and only if the potentials are retarded, giving a natural explanation of the arrow of time. Some specific scenarios (out of many possible ones) for this type of model are described. For example: an inflationary universe gives rise to baby universes, one of which turns out to be itself. Interestingly, the laws of physics may allow the Universe to be its own mother.
118518653
Constraining fast radio burst progenitors with gravitational lensing
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are new transient radio sources discovered recently. Because of the angular resolution restriction in radio surveys, no optical counter part has been identified yet so it is hard to determine the progenitor of FRBs. In this paper we propose to use radio lensing survey to constrain FRB progenitors. We show that, different types of progenitors lead to different probabilities for a FRB to be gravitationally lensed by dark matter halos in foreground galaxies, since different type progenitors result in different redshift distributions of FRBs. For example, the redshift distribution of FRBs arising from double stars shifts toward lower redshift than of the FRBs arising from single stars, because double stars and single stars have different evolution timescales. With detailed calculations, we predict that the FRB sample size for producing one lensing event varies significantly for different FRB progenitor models. We argue that this fact can be used to distinguish different FRB models and also discuss the practical possibility of using lensing observation in radio surveys to constrain FRB progenitors.
118371809
The Laser Beacon: A survey system for the torsion-free alignment and monitoring of the L3 Muon Spectrometer octants
Given the small sagitta of a few millimeters of high energetic muons in the L3 Muon Spectrometer at LEP (CERN) and the enormous dimensions (75 m2 × 14 m) of this instrument, it is evident that alignment is the most critical task for its proper evaluation. In the chambers of each of the sixteen modules (“octants”), which form the spectrometer, wire planes are precisely positioned with respect to the front side and the rear side centerlines. A novel system - the Laser Beacon System - allows to make these centerlines coplanar within 25 μ rad by the aid of a reference plane defined by a sweeping laser beam. This restricts a possible torsion induced systematic momentum error for a 50 GeV/c muon to 0.25%. The main design and production features of the Laser Beacon System are described. Results of measurements in test assemblies and in the octants are given.
16866447
Interpreting Helioseismic Structure Inversion Results of Solar Active Regions
Helioseismic techniques such as ring-diagram analysis have often been used to determine the subsurface structural differences between solar active and quiet regions. Results obtained by inverting the frequency differences between the regions are usually interpreted as the sound-speed differences between them. These in turn are used as a measure of temperature and magnetic-field strength differences between the two regions. In this paper we first show that the “sound-speed” difference obtained from inversions is actually a combination of sound-speed difference and a magnetic component. Hence, the inversion result is not directly related to the thermal structure. Next, using solar models that include magnetic fields, we develop a formulation to use the inversion results to infer the differences in the magnetic and thermal structures between active and quiet regions. We then apply our technique to existing structure inversion results for different pairs of active and quiet regions. We find that the effect of magnetic fields is strongest in a shallow region above 0.985R⊙ and that the strengths of magnetic-field effects at the surface and in the deeper (r<0.98R⊙) layers are inversely related (i.e., the stronger the surface magnetic field the smaller the magnetic effects in the deeper layers, and vice versa). We also find that the magnetic effects in the deeper layers are the strongest in the quiet regions, consistent with the fact that these are basically regions with weakest magnetic fields at the surface. Because the quiet regions were selected to precede or follow their companion active regions, the results could have implications about the evolution of magnetic fields under active regions.
118401964
Stochastic resonance with matched filtering
Along with the development of interferometric gravitational wave detector, we enter into an epoch of gravitational wave astronomy, which will open a brand new window for astrophysics to observe our universe. Almost all of the data analysis methods in gravitational wave detection are based on matched filtering. Gravitational wave detection is a typical example of weak signal detection, and this weak signal is buried in strong instrument noise. So it seems attractable if we can take advantage of stochastic resonance. But unfortunately, almost all of the stochastic resonance theory is based on Fourier transformation and has no relation to matched filtering. In this paper we try to relate stochastic resonance to matched filtering. Our results show that stochastic resonance can indeed be combined with matched filtering for both periodic and non-periodic input signal. This encouraging result will be the first step to apply stochastic resonance to matched filtering in gravitational wave detection. In addition, based on matched filtering, we firstly proposed a novel measurement method for stochastic resonance which is valid for both periodic and non-periodic driven signal.
118706095
Non-relativistic fluid dual to asymptotically AdS gravity at finite cutoff surface
Using the non-relativistic hydrodynamic limit, we solve equations of motion for Einstein gravity and Gauss-Bonnet gravity with a negative cosmological constant within the region between a finite cutoff surface and a black brane horizon, up to second order of the non-relativistic hydrodynamic expansion parameter. Through the Brown-York tensor, we calculate the stress energy tensor of dual fluids living on the cutoff surface. With the black brane solutions, we show that for both Einstein gravity and Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density of dual fluid does not run with the cutoff surface. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are also obtained in both cases.
119108763
Magnetic field effect on the phase transition in AdS soliton spacetime
We investigate the scalar perturbations in an anti-de Sitter soliton background coupled to a Maxwell field via marginally stable modes. In the probe limit, we study the magnetic field effect on the holographic insulator/superconductor phase transition numerically and analytically. The condensate will be localized in a finite circular region for any finite constant magnetic field. Near the critical point, we find that there exists a simple relation among the critical chemical potential, magnetic field, the charge, and mass of the scalar field. This relation indicates that the presence of the magnetic field causes the transition from insulator to superconductor to be difficult.