Search results for " Cosmology"
showing 10 items of 1486 documents
Locating ergostar models in parameter space
2020
Recently, we have shown that dynamically stable ergostar solutions (equilibrium neutron stars that contain an ergoregion) with a compressible and causal equation of state exist [A. Tsokaros, M. Ruiz, L. Sun, S. L. Shapiro, and K. Ury\=u, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 231103 (2019)]. These stars are hypermassive, differentially rotating, and highly compact. In this work, we make a systematic study of equilibrium models in order to locate the position of ergostars in parameter space. We adopt four equations of state that differ in the matching density of a maximally stiff core. By constructing a large number of models both with uniform and differential rotation of different degrees, we identify the p…
VLBA observations of a rare multiple quasar imaging event caused by refraction in the interstellar medium
2013
We report on the first detection of the theoretically-predicted rare phenomenon of multiple parsec-scale imaging of an active galactic nucleus induced by refractive effects due to localized foreground electron density enhancements, e.g., in an AU-scale plasma lens(es) in the ionized component of the Galactic interstellar medium. We detected multiple imaging in the low galactic latitude (b=-2 deg) quasar 2023+335 from the 15.4 GHz MOJAVE observations when the source was undergoing an ESE. While the parsec-scale jet of the source normally extends along PA -20 deg, in the 28 May 2009 and 23 July 2009 images a highly significant multi-component pattern of secondary images is stretched out nearl…
Solutions of the Einstein field equations for a bounded and finite discontinuous source, and its generalization: Metric matching conditions and jumpi…
2019
We consider the metrics of the General Relativity, whose energy-momentum tensor has a bounded support where it is continuous except for a finite step across the corresponding boundary surface. As a consequence, the first derivative of the metric across this boundary could perhaps present a finite step too. However, we can assume that the metric is ${\cal C}^1$ class everywhere. In such a case, although the partial second derivatives of the metric exhibit finite (no Dirac $\delta$ functions) discontinuities, the Dirac $\delta$ functions will still appear in the conservation equation of the energy-momentum tensor. As a consequence, strictly speaking, the corresponding metric solutions of the …
Magnetorotational Collapse of Supermassive Stars: Black Hole Formation, Gravitational Waves and Jets
2017
We perform MHD simulations in full GR of uniformly rotating stars that are marginally unstable to collapse. Our simulations model the direct collapse of supermassive stars (SMSs) to seed black holes (BHs) that can grow to become the supermassive BHs at the centers of quasars and AGNs. They also crudely model the collapse of massive Pop III stars to BHs, which could power a fraction of distant, long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The initial stellar models we adopt are $\Gamma = 4/3$ polytropes seeded with a dynamically unimportant dipole magnetic field (B field). We treat initial B-field configurations either confined to the stellar interior or extending out from the interior into the stellar ext…
GW170817, General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations, and the Neutron Star Maximum Mass
2017
Recent numerical simulations in general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) provide useful constraints for the interpretation of the GW170817 discovery. Combining the observed data with these simulations leads to a bound on the maximum mass of a cold, spherical neutron star (the TOV limit): ${M_{\rm max}^{\rm sph}}\lesssim 2.74/\beta$, where $\beta$ is the ratio of the maximum mass of a uniformly rotating neutron star (the supramassive limit) over the maximum mass of a nonrotating star. Causality arguments allow $\beta$ to be as high as $1.27$, while most realistic candidate equations of state predict $\beta$ to be closer to $1.2$, yielding ${M_{\rm max}^{\rm sph}}$ in the range $2.16…
Magnetic Ergostars, Jet Formation and Gamma-Ray Bursts: Ergoregions versus Horizons
2020
We perform the first fully general relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic simulations of dynamically stable hypermassive neutron stars with and without ergoregions to assess the impact of ergoregions on launching magnetically--driven outflows. The hypermassive neutron stars are modeled by a compressible and causal equation of state and are initially endowed with a dipolar magnetic field extending from the stellar interior into its exterior. We find that, after a few Alfv\'en times, magnetic field lines in the ergostar (star that contains ergoregions) and the normal star have been tightly wound in both cases into a helical funnel within which matter begins to flow outward. The maximum Lorentz fac…
Simulating the magnetorotational collapse of supermassive stars: Incorporating gas pressure perturbations and different rotation profiles
2018
Collapsing supermassive stars (SMSs) with masses $M \gtrsim 10^{4-6}M_\odot$ have long been speculated to be the seeds that can grow and become supermassive black holes (SMBHs). We previously performed GRMHD simulations of marginally stable magnetized $\Gamma = 4/3$ polytropes uniformly rotating at the mass-shedding limit to model the direct collapse of SMSs. These configurations are supported entirely by thermal radiation pressure and model SMSs with $M \gtrsim 10^{6}M_\odot$. We found that around $90\%$ of the initial stellar mass forms a spinning black hole (BH) surrounded by a massive, hot, magnetized torus, which eventually launches an incipient jet. Here we perform GRMHD simulations o…
A White Paper on keV sterile neutrino Dark Matter
2017
We present a comprehensive review of keV-scale sterile neutrino Dark Matter, collecting views and insights from all disciplines involved - cosmology, astrophysics, nuclear, and particle physics - in each case viewed from both theoretical and experimental/observational perspectives. After reviewing the role of active neutrinos in particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, we focus on sterile neutrinos in the context of the Dark Matter puzzle. Here, we first review the physics motivation for sterile neutrino Dark Matter, based on challenges and tensions in purely cold Dark Matter scenarios. We then round out the discussion by critically summarizing all known constraints on sterile neutrin…
Testing LTB void models without the cosmic microwave background or large scale structure: new constraints from galaxy ages
2012
We present new observational constraints on inhomogenous models based on observables independent of the CMB and large-scale structure. Using Bayesian evidence we find very strong evidence for homogeneous LCDM model, thus disfavouring inhomogeneous models. Our new constraints are based on quantities independent of the growth of perturbations and rely on cosmic clocks based on atomic physics and on the local density of matter.
Outer boundary conditions for Einstein's field equations in harmonic coordinates
2007
We analyze Einstein's vacuum field equations in generalized harmonic coordinates on a compact spatial domain with boundaries. We specify a class of boundary conditions which is constraint-preserving and sufficiently general to include recent proposals for reducing the amount of spurious reflections of gravitational radiation. In particular, our class comprises the boundary conditions recently proposed by Kreiss and Winicour, a geometric modification thereof, the freezing-Psi0 boundary condition and the hierarchy of absorbing boundary conditions introduced by Buchman and Sarbach. Using the recent technique developed by Kreiss and Winicour based on an appropriate reduction to a pseudo-differe…