Casimir energy in a small volume multiply connected static hyperbolic preinflationary universe

A few years ago, Cornish, Spergel and Starkman (CSS) suggested that a multiply connected small universe could allow for classical chaotic mixing as a preinflationary homogenization process. The smaller the volume, the more important the process. Also, a smaller universe has a greater probability of being spontaneously created. Previously DeWitt, Hart and Isham (DHI) calculated the Casimir energy for static multiply connected fat space-times. Because of the interest in small volume hyperbolic universes (e.g., CSS), we generalize the DHI calculation by making a numerical investigation of the Casimir energy for a conformally coupled, massive scalar field in a static universe, whose spatial sections are the Weeks manifold, the smallest universe of negative curvature known. In spite of being a numerical calculation, our result is in fact exact. It is shown that there is spontaneous vacuum excitation of low multipolar components.

Holographic dark energy and the universe expansion acceleration

By incorporating the holographic principle in a time-depending Lambda-term cosmology, new physical bounds on the arbitrary parameters of the model can be obtained. Considering then the dark energy as a purely geometric entity, for which no equation of state has to be introduced, it is shown that the resulting range of allowed values for the parameters may explain both the coincidence problem and the universe accelerated expansion, without resorting to any kind of additional structures. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the birth of a closed hyperbolic universe

We clarify and develop the results of a previous paper on the birth of a closed universe of negative spatial curvature and multiply connected topology. In particular we discuss the initial instanton and the second topology change in more detail, This is followed by a short discussion of the results.

Exploring the global topology of the universe

We review the work done by our group on cosmic topology. It ranges from early atempts to solve a famous controversy about quasars thought the multiplicity of images, to quantum cosmology in this context and an application to QED renormalization.

Realistic equations of state for the primeval universe

Equations of state for the early universe including realistic interactions between constituents are formulated. Under certain hypotheses, these equations are able to generate an inflationary regime prior to the period of the nucleosynthesis. The resulting accelerated expansion is intense enough to solve the flatness and horizon problems. In the cases of a curvature parameter. equal to 0 or + 1, the model is able to avoid the initial singularity and offers a natural explanation for why the universe is in expansion. All the results are valid only for a matter-antimatter symmetric universe.

Evolution of spherical non-uniform perturbations in the universe

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Accelerating solutions of perfect fluid hydrodynamics for initial energy density and life-time measurements in heavy ion collisions

A new class of accelerating, exact, explicit and simple solutions of relativistic hydrodynamics is presented. Since these new solutions yield a finite rapidity distribution, they lead to an advanced estimate of the initial energy density and life-time of high energy heavy ion collisions. Accelerating solutions are also given for spherical expansions in arbitrary number of spatial dimensions.

SMALLEST UNIVERSE OF NEGATIVE CURVATURE

The smallest known three-dimensional closed manifold of curvature k = -1 was discovered a few years ago by Weeks. This kind of manifold is constructed from a hyperbolic polyhedron with faces pair-wise identified. Here it is used as the comoving spatial section of a Friedmann cosmological model, in the spirit of Ellis and Schreiber's idea of small universes. Its nontrivial global topology has the effect of producing multiple images of single cosmic sources, and this is the basis of an attempt to solve a famous controversy about the redshifts of quasars.

ACCELERATING ITERATIVE ALGORITHMS FOR SYMMETRICAL LINEAR COMPLEMENTARITY-PROBLEMS

We propose a method for accelerating iterative algorithms for solving symmetric linear complementarity problems. The method consists in performing a one-dimensional optimization in the direction generated by a splitting method even for non-descent directions. We give strong convergence proofs and present numerical experiments that justify using this acceleration.

Birth of a closed universe of negative spatial curvature

We propose a modified form of the spontaneous birth of the universe by quantum tunneling. It proceeds through topology change and inflation, to eventually become a universe with closed spatial sections of negative spatial curvature and nontrivial global topology.

Effects of temperature and of the addition of accelerating and retarding agents on the kinetics of hydration of tricalcium silicate

The formation of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) during the hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S) in pure water and in water solutions containing 1% CaCl2 (accelerator) and 0.01% saccharose (retarder) was studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). SAXS measurements were performed under isothermal conditions within the temperature range 25 °C T < 52 °C. The experimental results indicate that the time variation of the mass fraction of the C-S-H product phase, α(f), can be fitted, under all conditions of paste setting, by Avrami equation, α(t) = 1 -exp(-(kt)′), k being a rate parameter and n an exponent depending on the characteristics of the transformation. The parameter n is approximately equal to 2 for hydration of C^S in pure water. Depending on temperature, n varies from 2 to 2.65 for hydration in the presence of CaC^ and saccharose. The value n = 2 is theoretically expected for lateral growth of thin C-S-H plates of constant thickness. The time dependence of SAXS intensity indicates that the transformed phase (C-S-H) consists of colloidal particles in early stages of hydration, evolving by two-dimensional growth toward a disordered lamellar structure composed of very thin plates. The activation energy ΔE for the growth of C-S-H phase was determined from the time dependence of X-ray scattering intensity. These data were obtained by in situ measurements at different temperatures of hydration. The values of ΔE are 37.7, 49.4, and 44.3 kJ/mol for hydration in pure water and in water solutions containing CaCl2 and saccharose, respectively. © 2000 American Chemical Society.

Final state and thermodynamics of a dark energy universe

As it follows from the classical analysis, the typical final state of a dark energy universe where a dominant energy condition is violated is a finite-time, sudden future singularity (a big rip). For a number of dark energy universes (including scalar phantom and effective phantom theories as well as specific quintessence models) we demonstrate that quantum effects play the dominant role near a big rip, driving the universe out of a future singularity (or, at least, moderating it). As a consequence, the entropy bounds with quantum corrections become well defined near a big rip. Similarly, black hole mass loss due to phantom accretion is not so dramatic as was expected: masses do not vanish to zero due to the transient character of the phantom evolution stage. Some examples of cosmological evolution for a negative, time-dependent equation of state are also considered with the same conclusions. The application of negative entropy (or negative temperature) occurrence in the phantom thermodynamics is briefly discussed.

Life, the universe, and everything: An education outreach proposal to build a traveling astrobiology exhibit

Astrobiology is a transdisciplinary field with extraordinary potential for the scientific community. As such, it is important to educate the community at large about the growing importance of this field to increase awareness and scientific content learning and expose potential future scientists. To this end, we propose the creation of a traveling museum exhibit that focuses exclusively on astrobiology and utilizes modern museum exhibit technology and design. This exhibit (the Astrobiology Road Show), organized and evaluated by an international group of astrobiology students and postdocs, is planned to tour throughout the Americas. Copyright © 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2013.

Energia escura acoplada

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