Cosmic Fluid Research Articles

The apparent (gravitational) horizon in cosmology

In general relativity, a gravitational horizon (more commonly known as the “apparent horizon”) is an imaginary surface beyond which all null geodesics recede from the observer. The Universe has an apparent (gravitational) horizon, but unlike its counterpart in the Schwarzschild and Kerr metrics, it is not static. It may eventually turn into an event horizon—an asymptotically defined membrane that forever separates causally connected events from those that are not—depending on the equation of state of the cosmic fluid. In this paper, we examine how and why an apparent (gravitational) horizon is manifested in the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker metric, and why it is becoming so pivotal to our correct interpretation of the cosmological data. We discuss its observational signature and demonstrate how it alone defines the proper size of our visible Universe. In so doing, we affirm its physical reality and its impact on cosmological models.

Model selection based on the angular-diameter distance to the compact structure in radio quasars

Of all the distance and temporal measures in cosmology, the angular-diameter distance, dA(z), uniquely reaches a maximum value at some finite redshift and then decreases to zero towards the Big Bang. This effect has been difficult to observe due to a lack of reliable, standard rulers, though refinements to the identification of the compact structure in radio quasars may have overcome this deficiency. In this letter, we assemble a catalog of 140 such sources with for model selection and the measurement of . In flat ΛCDM, we find that , fully consistent with the Planck optimized value, with . Both of these values are associated with a dA(z) indistinguishable from that predicted by the zero active mass condition, , in terms of the total pressure p and total energy density ρ of the cosmic fluid. An expansion driven by this constraint, known as the universe, has , which differs from the ΛCDM optimized value by less than . Indeed, the Bayes Information Criterion favours over flat ΛCDM with a likelihood of vs. , suggesting that the optimized parameters in Planck ΛCDM mimic the constraint .

Qualitative behavior of cosmological models combining various matter fields

The late time accelerated expansion of the universe can be realized using scalar fields with the given self-interacting potentials. Here, we consider a straightforward approach where a three cosmic fluid mixture is assumed. The fluids are standard matter perfect fluid, dark matter, and a scalar field with the role of dark energy. A dynamical system analysis is developed in this context. A central role is played by the equation of state [Formula: see text] which determines the acceleration phase of the models. Determining the domination of a particular fluid at certain stages of the universe history by stability analysis allows, in principle, to establish the succession of the various cosmological eras.

Thermodynamics of the dissipative cosmic fluid and stability criteria

The work deals with the thermodynamical aspects of the cosmic substratum which is dissipative in nature. For homogeneous and isotropic model of the Universe this dissipative phenomenon is effective bulk viscous pressure in nature and is related to the particle creation mechanism. Finally, the stability criteria for the thermal equilibrium has been analyzed and are presented in tabular form restricting the particle creation parameter or the variation of the equation of state parameter with the volume.

The role of energy conditions in f(R) cosmology

Energy conditions can play an important role in defining the cosmological evolution. Specifically acceleration/deceleration of cosmic fluid, as well as the emergence of Big Rip singularities, can be related to the constraints imposed by the energy conditions. Here we discuss this issue for f(R) gravity considering also conformal transformations. Cosmological solutions and equations of state can be classified according to energy conditions. The qualitative change of some energy conditions when transformation from the Jordan frame to the Einstein frame done is also observed.

Emergent universe with wormholes in massive gravity

An emergent universe (EU) scenario is proposed to obtain a universe free from big-bang singularity. In this framework the present universe emerged from a static Einstein universe phase in the infinite past. A flat EU scenario is found to exist in Einstein’s gravity with a non-linear equation of state (EoS). It has been shown subsequently that a physically realistic EU model can be obtained considering cosmic fluid composed of interacting fluids with a non-linear equation of state. It results a viable cosmological model accommodating both early inflation and present accelerating phases. In the present paper, the origin of an initial static Einstein universe needed in the EU model is explored in a massive gravity theory which subsequently emerged to be a dynamically evolving universe. A new gravitational instanton solution in a flat universe is obtained in the massive gravity theory which is a dynamical wormhole that might play an important role in realizing the origin of the initial state of the emergent universe. The emergence of a Lorentzian universe from a Euclidean gravity is understood by a Wick rotation . A universe with radiation at the beginning finally transits into the present observed universe with a non-linear EoS as the interactions among the fluids set in. Thus a viable flat EU scenario where the universe stretches back into time infinitely, with no big bang is permitted in a massive gravity.

Unification of dark matter-dark energy in generalized Galileon theories

We present a unified description of the dark matter and the dark energy sectors, in the framework of shift-symmetric generalized Galileon theories. Considering a particular combination of terms in the Horndeski Lagrangian in which we have not introduced a cosmological constant or a matter sector, we obtain an effective unified cosmic fluid whose equation of state wU is zero during the whole matter era, namely from redshifts z ∼ 3000 up to z ∼ 2–3. Then at smaller redshifts it starts decreasing, passing the bound wU = −1/3, which marks the onset of acceleration, at around z ∼ 0.5. At present times it acquires the value wU = −0.7. Finally, it tends toward a de-Sitter phase in the far future. This behaviour is in excellent agreement with observations. Additionally, confrontation with Supernovae type Ia data leads to a very efficient fit. Examining the model at the perturbative level, we show that it is free from pathologies such as ghosts and Laplacian instabilities, at both scalar and tensor sectors, at all times.

Ideal Gas with a Varying (Negative Absolute) Temperature: an Alternative to Dark Energy?

The present work is an attempt to investigate whether the evolutionary history of the Universe from the offset of inflation can be described by assuming the cosmic fluid to be an ideal gas with a specific gas constant but a varying negative absolute temperature (NAT). The motivation of this work is to search for an alternative to the "exotic" and "supernatural" dark energy (DE). In fact, the NAT works as an "effective quintessence" and there is need to deal neither with exotic matter like DE nor with modified gravity theories. For the sake of completeness, we release some clarifications on NATs in Section 3 of the paper.

Flat Space Cosmology as a Model of Light Speed Cosmic Expansion—Implications for the Vacuum Energy Density

Cosmologists have long ignored a stipulation by quantum field theorists that the vacuum pressure p corresponding to the zero-state vacuum energy must always be equal in magnitude to the vacuum energy density ρ (i.e., p=ρ). Although general relativity stipulates the additional condition of proportionality between the vacuum gravitational field and (ρ+3p), the equation of state for the cosmic vacuum must fulfill both relativistic and quantum stipulations. This paper fully integrates Flat Space Cosmology (FSC) into the Friedmann equations containing a cosmological term, with interesting implications for the nature of dark energy, cosmic entropy and the entropic arrow of time. The FSC vacuum energy density is shown to be equal to the cosmic fluid bulk modulus at all times, thus meeting the quantum theory stipulation of (p=ρ). To date, FSC is the only viable dark energy cosmological model which has fully-integrated general relativity and quantum features.

A dark energy model alternative to generalized Chaplygin gas

By proposing a new cosmic fluid model of [Formula: see text] as an alternative to the generalized Chaplygin gas, we reexamine the role of Chaplygin gaslike fluid models in understanding dark energy and dark matter. Instead of as a unified dark matter, the fluid is suggested to be a mixture of unclustered dark energy and pressureless dark matter. Within such a scenario, the sub-horizon fluctuations of matter are stable and scale invariant, similar to those in standard [Formula: see text] model.

Viscous cosmology for early- and late-time universe

From a hydrodynamicist’s point of view the inclusion of viscosity concepts in the macroscopic theory of the cosmic fluid would appear most natural, as an ideal fluid is after all an abstraction (exluding special cases such as superconductivity). Making use of modern observational results for the Hubble parameter plus standard Friedmann formalism, we may extrapolate the description of the universe back in time up to the inflationary era, or we may go to the opposite extreme and analyze the probable ultimate fate of the universe. In this review, we discuss a variety of topics in cosmology when it is enlarged in order to contain a bulk viscosity. Various forms of this viscosity, when expressed in terms of the fluid density or the Hubble parameter, are discussed. Furthermore, we consider homogeneous as well as inhomogeneous equations of state. We investigate viscous cosmology in the early universe, examining the viscosity effects on the various inflationary observables. Additionally, we study viscous cosmology in the late universe, containing current acceleration and the possible future singularities, and we investigate how one may even unify inflationary and late-time acceleration. Finally, we analyze the viscosity-induced crossing through the quintessence-phantom divide, we examine the realization of viscosity-driven cosmological bounces, and we briefly discuss how the Cardy–Verlinde formula is affected by viscosity.

Inflationary universe in terms of a van der Waals viscous fluid

The inflationary expansion of our early-time universe is considered in terms of the van der Waals equation, as equation of state for the cosmic fluid, where a bulk viscosity contribution is assumed to be present. The corresponding gravitational equations for the energy density in a homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker universe are solved, and an analytic expression for the scale factor is obtained. Attention is paid, specifically, to the role of the viscosity term in the accelerated expansion; the values of the slow-roll parameters, the spectral index, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio for the van der Waals model are calculated and compared with the most recent astronomical data from the Planck satellite. By imposing reasonable restrictions on the parameters of the van der Waals equation, in the presence of viscosity, it is shown to be possible for this model to comply quite precisely with the observational data. One can therefore conclude that the inclusion of viscosity in the theory of the inflationary epoch may definitely improve the cosmological models.

Finsler–Randers cosmology: dynamical analysis and growth of matter perturbations

We study for the first time the dynamical properties and the growth index of linear matter perturbations of the Finsler–Randers (FR) cosmological model, for which we consider that the cosmic fluid contains matter, radiation and a scalar field. Initially, for various FR scenarios we implement a critical point analysis and we find solutions which provide cosmic acceleration and under certain circumstances we can have de Sitter points as stable late-time attractors. Then we derive the growth index of matter fluctuations in various Finsler–Randers cosmologies. Considering cold dark matter and neglecting the scalar field component from the perturbation analysis we find that the asymptotic value of the growth index is , which is close to that of the concordance Λ cosmology, . In this context, we show that the current FR model provides the same Hubble expansion with that of the Dvali, Gabadadze and Porrati (DGP) gravity model. However, the two models can be distinguished at the perturbation level since the growth index of the FR model is ∼18.2% lower than that of the the DPG gravity . If we allow pressure in the matter fluid then we obtain , where is the matter equation of state parameter. Finally, we extend the growth index analysis by using the scalar field and we find that the evolution of the growth index in FR cosmologies is affected by the presence of scalar field.

Testing theories of gravity and supergravity with inflation and observations of the cosmic microwave background

Cosmological and astrophysical observations lead to the emerging picture of a universe that is spatially flat and presently undertaking an accelerated expansion. The observations supporting this picture come from a range of measurements encompassing estimates of galaxy cluster masses, the Hubble diagram derived from type-Ia supernovae observations, the measurements of Cosmic Microwave Background radiation anisotropies, etc. The present accelerated expansion of the universe can be explained by admitting the existence of a cosmic fluid, with negative pressure. In the simplest scenario, this unknown component of the universe, the Dark Energy, is represented by the cosmological constant ([Formula: see text]), and accounts for about 70% of the global energy budget of the universe. The remaining 30% consist of a small fraction of baryons (4%) with the rest being Cold Dark Matter (CDM). The Lambda Cold Dark Matter ([Formula: see text]CDM) model, i.e. General Relativity with cosmological constant, is in good agreement with observations. It can be assumed as the first step towards a new standard cosmological model. However, despite the satisfying agreement with observations, the [Formula: see text]CDM model presents lack of congruence and shortcomings and therefore theories beyond Einstein’s General Relativity are called for. Many extensions of Einstein’s theory of gravity have been studied and proposed with various motivations like the quest for a quantum theory of gravity to extensions of anomalies in observations at the solar system, galactic and cosmological scales. These extensions include adding higher powers of Ricci curvature [Formula: see text], coupling the Ricci curvature with scalar fields and generalized functions of [Formula: see text]. In addition, when viewed from the perspective of Supergravity (SUGRA), many of these theories may originate from the same SUGRA theory, but interpreted in different frames. SUGRA therefore serves as a good framework for organizing and generalizing theories of gravity beyond General Relativity. All these theories when applied to inflation (a rapid expansion of early universe in which primordial gravitational waves might be generated and might still be detectable by the imprint they left or by the ripples that persist today) can have distinct signatures in the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation temperature and polarization anisotropies. We give a review of [Formula: see text]CDM cosmology and survey the theories of gravity beyond Einstein’s General Relativity, specially which arise from SUGRA, and study the consequences of these theories in the context of inflation and put bounds on the theories and the parameters therein from the observational experiments like PLANCK, Keck/BICEP, etc. The possibility of testing these theories in the near future in CMB observations and new data coming from colliders like the LHC, provides an unique opportunity for constructing verifiable models of particle physics and General Relativity.

Dynamics of viscous cosmologies in the full Israel-Stewart formalism

A detailed dynamical analysis for a bulk viscosity model in the full Israel-Stewart formalism for a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe is performed. In our study we have considered the total cosmic fluid constituted by radiation, dark matter, and dark energy. The dark matter fluid is treated as an imperfect fluid which has a bulk viscosity that depends on its energy density in the usual form $\ensuremath{\xi}({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{m})={\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{m}^{1/2}$, whereas the other components are assumed to behave as perfect fluids with constant equation of state parameter. We show that the thermal history of the Universe is reproduced provided that the viscous coefficient satisfies the condition ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}\ensuremath{\ll}1$, either for a zero or a suitable nonzero coupling between dark energy and viscous dark matter. In this case, the final attractor is a dark-energy-dominated, accelerating universe, with an effective equation of state parameter in the quintessence-like, cosmological constant-like, or phantom-like regime, in agreement with observations. As our main result, we show that in order to obtain a viable cosmological evolution and at the same time alleviating the cosmological coincidence problem via the mechanism of scaling solution, an explicit interaction between dark energy and viscous dark matter seems inevitable. This result is consistent with the well-known fact that models where dark matter and dark energy interact with each other have been proposed to solve the coincidence problem. Furthermore, by insisting on above, we show that in the present context a phantom nature of this interacting dark energy fluid is also favored.

Observational constraints on extended Chaplygin gas cosmologies

We investigate cosmological models with extended Chaplygin gas (ECG) as a candidate for dark energy and determine the equation of state parameters using observed data namely, observed Hubble data, baryon acoustic oscillation data and cosmic microwave background shift data. Cosmological models are investigated considering cosmic fluid which is an extension of Chaplygin gas, however, it reduces to modified Chaplygin gas (MCG) and also to generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) in special cases. It is found that in the case of MCG and GCG, the best-fit values of all the parameters are positive. The distance modulus agrees quite well with the experimental Union2 data. The speed of sound obtained in the model is small, necessary for structure formation. We also determine the observational constraints on the constants of the ECG equation.

Dark energy or local acceleration?

We find that an observer with a suitable acceleration relative to the frame comoving whit the cosmic fluid, in the context of the FRW decelerating universe, measures the same cosmological redshift as the LambdaCDM model. The estimated value of this acceleration is beta = 1.4x10^-9m/s^2. The problem of a too high peculiar velocity can be solved assuming, for the observer, a sort of helical motion.

A note on the relations between thermodynamics, energy definitions and Friedmann equations

We investigate the relation between the Friedmann and thermodynamic pressure equations, through solving the Friedmann and thermodynamic pressure equations simultaneously. Our investigation shows that a perfect fluid, as a suitable solution for the Friedmann equations leading to the standard modeling of the universe expansion history, cannot simultaneously satisfy the thermodynamic pressure equation and those of Friedmann. Moreover, we consider various energy definitions, such as the Komar mass, and solve the Friedmann and thermodynamic pressure equations simultaneously to get some models for dark energy fluids. The cosmological consequences of obtained solutions are also addressed. Our results indicate that some of obtained solutions may unify the dominated fluid in both the primary inflationary and current accelerating eras into one model. In addition, by taking into account a cosmic fluid of a known equation of state (EoS), and combining it with the Friedmann and thermodynamic pressure equations, we obtain the corresponding energy of these cosmic fluids and face their limitations. Finally, we point out the cosmological features of this cosmic fluid and also study its observational constraints.

Viability of variable generalised Chaplygin gas: a thermodynamical approach

The viability of the variable generalised Chaplygin gas (VGCG) model is analysed from the standpoint of its thermodynamical stability criteria with the help of an equation of state, $P = - \frac{B}{\rho^{\alpha}}$, where $B = B_{0}V^{-\frac{n}{3}}$. Here $B_{0}$ is assumed to be a positive universal constant, $n$ is a constant parameter and $V$ is the volume of the cosmic fluid. We get the interesting result that if the well-known stability conditions of a fluid is adhered to, the values of $n$ are constrained to be negative definite to make $ \left(\frac{\partial P}{\partial V}\right)_{S} <0$ \& $ \left(\frac{\partial P}{\partial V}\right)_{T} <0$ throughout the evolution. Moreover the positivity of thermal capacity at constant volume $c_{V}$ as also the validity of the third law of thermodynamics are ensured in this case. For the particular case $n = 0$ the effective equation of state reduces to $\Lambda$CDM model in the late stage of the universe while for $n <0$ it mimics a phantom-like cosmology which is in broad agreement with the present SNe Ia constraints like VGCG model. The thermal equation of state is discussed and the EoS parameter is found to be an explicit function of temperature only. Further for large volume the thermal equation of state parameter is identical with the caloric equation of state parameter when $ T \rightarrow 0$. It may also be mentioned that like Santos et al our model does not admit of any critical points. We also observe that although the earlier model of Lu explains many of the current observational findings of different probes it fails to explain the crucial tests of thermodynamical stability.

Alcock–Paczyński test with model-independent BAO data

Cosmological tests based on the statistical analysis of galaxy distributions usually depend on source evolution. An exception is the Alcock–Paczyński (AP) test, which is based on the changing ratio of angular to spatial/redshift size of (presumed) spherically-symmetric source distributions with distance. Intrinsic redshift distortions due to gravitational effects may also have an influence, but they can now be overcome with the inclusion of a sharp feature, such as the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) peak. Redshift distortions affect the amplitude of the peak, but impact its position only negligibly. As we shall show here, the use of this diagnostic, with new BAO peaks from SDSS-III/BOSS at average redshifts [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], disfavors the current concordance ([Formula: see text]CDM) model at [Formula: see text]. Within the context of expanding Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) cosmologies, these data instead favor the zero active mass equation-of-state, [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are, respectively, the total density and pressure of the cosmic fluid, the basis for the [Formula: see text] universe.