119456126
The precision of slow-roll predictions for the CMBR anisotropies
Inflationary predictions for the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) are often based on the slow-roll approximation. We study the precision with which the multipole moments of the temperature two-point correlation function can be predicted by means of the slow-roll approximation. We ask whether this precision is good enough for the forthcoming high precision observations by means of the MAP and Planck satellites. The error in the multipole moments due to the slow-roll approximation is demonstrated to be bigger than the error in the power spectrum. For power-law inflation with $n_S=0.9$ the error from the leading order slow-roll approximation is $\approx 5%$ for the amplitudes and $\approx 20%$ for the quadrupoles. For the next-to-leading order the errors are within a few percent. The errors increase with $|n_S - 1|$. To obtain a precision of 1% it is necessary, but in general not sufficient, to use the next-to-leading order. In the case of power-law inflation this precision is obtained for the spectral indices if $|n_S - 1|<0.02$ and for the quadrupoles if $|n_S - 1|<0.15$ only. The errors in the higher multipoles are even larger than those for the quadrupole, e.g. $\approx 15%$ for l=100, with $n_S = 0.9$ at the next-to-leading order. We find that the accuracy of the slow-roll approximation may be improved by shifting the pivot scale of the primordial spectrum (the scale at which the slow-roll parameters are fixed) into the regime of acoustic oscillations. Nevertheless, the slow-roll approximation cannot be improved beyond the next-to-leading order in the slow-roll parameters.
31268700
Quintessence with two energy scales
We study quintessence models using low energy supergravity inspired from string theory. We consider effective supergravity with two scales m_S, the string scale, and m_PL, the Planck scale and show that quintessence naturally arises from a supersymmetry breaking hidden sector. As long as supersymmetry is broken by the $F$-term of a Polonyi-like field coupled to the quintessence field in the K\"ahler potential we find that the Ratra-Peebles potential and its supergravity version are generic predictions. This requires that the string scale decouples from the Planck scale, m_S << m_PL. In the context of supergravity, the potential possesses a minimum induced by the supergravity corrections to the Ratra-Peebles potential at low redshifts. We study the physical consequences of the presence of this minimum.
119240885
Constraints on moduli cosmology from the production of dark matter and baryon isocurvature fluctuations
We set constraints on moduli cosmology from the production of dark matter—radiation and baryon— radiation isocurvature fluctuations through modulus decay, assuming the modulus remains light during inflation. We find that the moduli problem becomes worse at the perturbative level as a significant part of the parameter space m σ (modulus mass)—σ inf (modulus vacuum expectation value at the end of inflation) is constrained by the nonobservation of significant isocurvature fluctuations. We discuss in detail the evolution of the modulus vacuum expectation value and perturbations, in particular, the consequences of Hubble scale corrections to the modulus potential, and the stochastic motion of the modulus during inflation. We show, in particular, that a high modulus mass scale m σ ≳ 100 TeV, which allows the modulus to evade big bang nucleosynthesis constraints is strongly constrained at the perturbative level. We find that generically, solving the moduli problem requires the inflationary scale to be much smaller than 10 13 GeV.
15021448
Amplitude of superhorizon cosmological perturbations
We study the influence of reheating on super-horizon density perturbations and gravitational waves. We correct wrong claims [L. P. Grishchuk Phys. Rev. D 50, 7154 (1994) and gr-qc/9801011] about the joining of perturbations at cosmological transitions and about the quantization of cosmological perturbations.
14965415
Best unbiased estimators for the three point correlators of the cosmic microwave background radiation
Measuring the three-point correlators of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies could help to get a handle on the level of non-Gaussianity present in the observational data sets and therefore would strongly constrain models of the early Universe. However, typically, the expected non-Gaussian signal is very small. Therefore, one has to face the problem of extracting it from the noise, in particular from the ``cosmic variance'' noise. For this purpose, one has to construct the best unbiased estimators for the three-point correlators that are needed for concrete detection of non-Gaussian features. In this article, we study this problem for both the CMB third moment and the CMB angular bispectrum. We emphasize that knowledge of the best estimator for the former does not permit one to infer the best estimator for the latter and vice versa. We present the corresponding best unbiased estimators in both cases and compute their corresponding cosmic variances.
118612073
Generation of gravitational waves during early structure formation between cosmic inflation and reheating
In the pre-reheating era, following cosmic inflation and preceding radiation domination, the energy density may be dominated by an oscillating massive scalar condensate, such as is the case for V = m22/2 chaotic inflation. We have found in a previous paper that during this period, a wide range of sub-Hubble scale perturbations are subject to a preheating instability, leading to the growth of density perturbations ultimately collapsing to form non-linear structures. We compute here the gravitational wave signal due to these structures in the linear limit and present estimates for emission in the non-linear limit due to various effects: the collapse of halos, the tidal interactions, the evaporation during the conversion of the inflaton condensate into radiation and finally the ensuing turbulent cascades. The gravitational wave signal could be rather large and potentially testable by future detectors.
124286964
INNOVATIONS IN ISOCHRONOUS CYCLOTRONS.
Since the last International Conference on Isochronous Cyclotrons, three major projects have been approved: the 585 MeV proton cyclotron of the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN) to be built at Villigen near Zurich; the 500 MeV Hcyclotron of the Tri-University Meson Facility (TRIUMF) at Vancouver, British Columbia; and the 200 MeV variable energy cyclotron of the Indiana University. A much smaller but unique project has been successfully brought into operation, the cyclograaff at Duke University which combines a small cyclotron with a tandem accelerator in a way which enhances the desirable characteristics of both. Finally, the most important happening since the last conference has been the renewed interest in accelerators for very heavy ions. In the United States alone, there will be more than ten major proposals. This paper reviews the activities and progress of the past several years and discusses some of the important innovations accomplished or foreseen.
37428412
Coupled Operation of the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron and the 25 MV Tandem
Coupled operation of the 25 MV tandem and the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron (ORIC) was achieved on January 27, 1981. A beam of 38 MeV 16O2+ was injected into ORIC, stripped to 8+ and accelerated to 324 MeV. Shortly afterwards, the energy was increased to the maximum design value of 25 MeV/amu (400 MeV). A spectrum taken of the scattering of this beam from a thin 208Pb target in the broad range spectrograph exhibited a resolution of 115 keV (FWHM). Performance of the system was in close agreement with that predicted from calculations.
28212230
Superconducting Conversion of the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron
The superconducting conversion of the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron (ORIC) will replace the existing aluminum main magnet coils with a NbTi superconducting coil system to provide an increase in magnetic field from 1.9 to 3.3 T. The higher magnetic field will provide a three-fold increase in maximum energy capability of the cyclotron for high mass ions. The conversion will include a new beam extraction system, magnet yoke stiffening to counteract the increased magnetic forces, and minor modifications to the beam transport systems and shielding.
115550416
RECENT PROGRESS ON A SUPERCURRENT SEPARATED ORBIT CYCLOTRON.
6876413
Coupled Operation Experience at the Holifield Heavy Ion Research Facility
The 25URC Pelletron tandem electrostatic accelerator and the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron (ORIC) comprise the accelerators of the Holifield Heavy-Ion Research Facility (HHIRF). The two machines may be operated individually or coupled, with ORIC serving as an energy booster for the tandem. In the coupled dode, the ion beam enters the cyclotron through the dee stem and is directed by the inflection magnet so that it is tangent to an orbit suitable for acceleration at a higher charge state. A thin carbon foil, placed at the point of tangency, strips the ions so that a substantial fraction are in the desired higher charge state. This fraction of the beam is then accelerated and extracted in the normal fashion. Full energy performance (25 MeV/A oxygen) was demonstrated during first coupled operation in January 1981. Routine coupled operation for experiments commenced in July 1982.