Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics: Some Links with Astronomical Phenomena

A variety of astronomical phenomena appear to not satisfy the ergodic hypothesis in the relevant stationary state, if any. As such, there is no reason for expecting the applicability of Boltzmann–Gibbs (BG) statistical mechanics. Some of these phenomena appear to follow, instead, nonextensive statistical mechanics. In the same manner that the BG formalism is based on the entropy S _BG=?k∑ _i p _i ln p _i, the nonextensive one is based on the form S _q=k(1 ?∑ _i p _i ^q)/(q? 1) (with S ₁=S _BG). The stationary states of the former are characterized by an exponential dependence on the energy, whereas those of the latter are characterized by an (asymptotic) power law. A brief review of this theory is given here, as well as of some of its applications, such as the solar neutrino problem, polytropic self-gravitating systems, galactic peculiar velocities, cosmic rays and some cosmological aspects. In addition to these, an analogy with the Keplerian elliptic orbits versus the Ptolemaic epicycles is developed, where we show that optimizing S _q with a few constraints is equivalent to optimizing S _BG with an infinite number of constraints.     

Scalar field as dark energy accelerating expansion of the Universe

The features of a homogeneous scalar field ϕ with classical Lagrangian L = ϕ_;i ϕ^;i /2 − V(ϕ) and tachyon field Lagrangian L = −V(ϕ)√1 − ϕ_;i ϕ^;i causing the observable accelerated expansion of the Universe are analyzed. The models with constant equation-of-state parameter w _de = p _de/ρ_de < −1/3 are studied. For both cases the fields ϕ(a) and potentials V(a) are reconstructed for the parameters of cosmological model of the Universe derived from the observations. The effect of rolling down of the potential V(ϕ) to minimum is shown. Published in Ukrainian in Kinematika i Fizika Nebesnykh Tel, 2008, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 345–359. The article was translated by the authors.     

Etude variationnelle des decalages spectraux

In a static gravitational field the paths of light are curved, as noticed by H. Weyl. This property can bea priori stated for aV ₃ Riemannian manifold: through any two points ofV ₃ it is possible to draw two families of curves, the straight lines of Euclidean geometry and the photon trajectoriesz. We can perform a fibration of the Galilean space-time in an original way, by taking thez-trajectories of the photons as the base, the isochronic surfaces as fibres, and ‘the equal length time on az trajectory to reach a given point’ as the equivalence relation. The straight lines of Euclidean geometry can then carry the classical mechanics timet, and thez trajectories can carry the optics time t. These times are related by dt=F(x,t) dt. If we class the Universe as a pseudo-Riemannian manifold of normal hyperbolic typeC ^∞, the time t determined above can be taken as the time coordinate inV ₄. Under these conditions we have \(d\overline s ^2 \) =F ² \(d\overline s ^2 \) , where \(d\overline s ^2 \) is the metric of the Riemannian manifold, conforming to the metric ds ² and allowing t as the cosmic time. We can then use the results previously achieved by the author (Peton, 1979) and write: 1 +Z _G =F(A _s,t _s,)/F(Ao_s,t _o) wherez _G denotes the shift of the spectral lines due to the metric. In the case of relative motion betweenO andS, we have $${\text{1 + z' = (1 + }}z_{\text{G}} {\text{)(1 + }}\beta _{\text{r}} {\text{)(1 }} - {\text{ }}\beta ^2 {\text{)}}^{ - 1/2} $$ The Doppler-Fizeau effect therefore appears as a result of the application of the Fermat principle.     

Zel’dovich Λ and Weinberg’s relation: an explanation for the cosmological coincidences

In 1937 Dirac proposed the large number hypothesis (LNH). The idea was to explain that these numbers were large because the Universe is old. A time variation of certain “constants” was assumed. So far, no experimental evidence has significantly supported this time variation. Here we present a simplified cosmological model. We propose a new cosmological system of units, including a cosmological Planck’s constant that “absorbs” the well known large number 10¹²⁰. With this new Planck’s constant no large numbers appear at the cosmological level. They appear at lower levels, e.g. at the quantum world. We note here that Zel’dovich formula, for the cosmological constant Λ, is equivalent to the Weinberg’s relation. The immediate conclusion is that the speed of light c must be proportional to the Hubble parameter H, and therefore decrease with time. We find that the gravitational radius of the Universe and its size are one and the same constant (Mach’s principle). The usual cosmological Ω’s parameters for mass, lambda and curvature turn out to be all constants of order one. The anthropic principle is not necessary in this theory. It is shown that a factor of 10⁶¹ converts in this theory a Planck fluctuation (a quantum black hole) into a cosmological quantum black hole: the Universe today. General relativity and quantum mechanics give the same local solution of an expanding Universe with the law a(t)≈const?t. This constant is just the speed of light today. Then the Hubble parameter is exactly H=a(t)′/a(t)=1/t.     

On Szebehely's problem for holonomic systems involving generalized potential functions

We consider the problem of finding the generalized potential function V = U _i(q ¹, q ²,..., q ⁿ)q ⁱ + U(q ¹, q ²,...;q ⁿ) compatible with prescribed dynamical trajectories of a holonomic system. We obtain conditions necessary for the existence of solutions to the problem: these can be cast into a system of n – 1 first order nonlinear partial differential equations in the unknown functions U ₁, U ₂,...;, U _n, U. In particular we study dynamical systems with two degrees of freedom. Using adapted coordinates on the configuration manifold M ₂ we obtain, for potential function U(q ¹, q ²), a classic first kind of Abel ordinary differential equation. Moreover, we show that, in special cases of dynamical interest, such an equation can be solved by quadrature. In particular we establish, for ordinary potential functions, a classical formula obtained in different way by Joukowsky for a particle moving on a surface.Work performed with the support of the Gruppo Nazionale di Fisica Matematica (G.N.F.M.) of the Italian National Research Council.     

Delay of emission from extragalactic gamma-ray burst sources as a test for selecting a model of the universe

We obtained an order-of-magnitude estimate for the dispersion of light caused by the effect of quantum fluctuations on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in four-dimensional spacetime. We calculated the delay of the photons from cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) for the flat, open, and closed cosmological models. This delay is attributable to the effect of expansion of the Universe on the propagation of a dispersive light wave in space. Analysis shows that the delay of GRB photons contains a regular component related to the expansion of the Universe. We conclude that cosmological models of the Universe can be selected by the delay of emission of various energies from GRBs; the accuracy of measuring the parameter Δt/ΔE _γ must be no lower than 10^?6 s MeV^?1.     

The speed of light and the Hubble parameter: the Mass-Boom effect

We prove here that Newton’s universal gravitation and momentum conservation laws together reproduce Weinberg’s relation. It is shown that the Hubble parameter H must be built in this relation, or equivalently the age of the Universe t. Using a wave-to-particle interaction technique we then prove that the speed of light c decreases with cosmological time, and that c is proportional to the Hubble parameter H. We see the expansion of the Universe as a local effect due to the LAB value of the speed of light c ₀ taken as constant. We present a generalized red shift law and find a predicted acceleration for photons that agrees well with the result from Pioneer 10/11 anomalous acceleration. We finally present a cosmological model coherent with the above results that we call the Mass-Boom. It has a linear increase of mass m with time as a result of the speed of light c linear decrease with time, and the conservation of momentum mc. We obtain the baryonic mass parameter equal to the curvature parameter, Ω _m =Ω _k , so that the model is of the type of the Einstein static, closed, finite, spherical, unlimited, with zero cosmological constant. This model is the cosmological view as seen by photons, neutrinos, tachyons etc. in contrast with the local view, the LAB reference. Neither dark matter nor dark energy is required by this model. With an initial constant speed of light during a short time we get inflation (an exponential expansion). This converts, during the inflation time, the Planck’s fluctuation length of 10^?33 cm to the present size of the Universe (about 10²⁸ cm, constant from then on). Thereafter the Mass-Boom takes care to bring the initial values of the Universe (about 10¹⁵ gr) to the value at the present time of about 10⁵⁵ gr.     

A self-consistent world model

The field equations of the generalized field theory constructed by Mikhail and Wanas have been applied to a well-established geometrical structure given earlier by H. P. Robertson in connection with the cosmological problem. A unique solution, representing a specified expanding Universe (withq ₀=0, ₀=0.75,k=–1) has been obtained. The model obtained has been compared with cosmological observations and with FRW-models of relativistic cosmology. It has been shown that the suggested model is free of particle horizons. The existence of singularities has been discussed.The two cases, when the associated Riemannian-space has a definite or indefinite metric are considered. The case of indefinite metric with signature (+ – – –) is found to be characterized byk=–1, while the case of +ve definite metric is characterized byk=+1. Apart from that difference, the two cases give rise to the same cosmological parameters. It has been shown that energy conditions are satisfied by the material contents in both cases.     

Gravitational lenses in the dark Universe

We discuss how different cosmological models of the Universe affect the probability that a background source has multiple images related by an angular distance, i.e., the optical depth of gravitational lensing. We examine some cosmological models for different values of the density parameter Ω _i : (i) the cold dark matter model, (ii) the ΛCDM model, (iii) the Bose-Einstein condensate dark matter model, (iv) the Chaplygin gas model, (v) the viscous fluid cosmological model and (vi) the holographic dark energy model by using the singular isothermal sphere (SIS) model for the halos of dark matter. We note that the dependence of the energy-matter content of the universe profoundly modifies the frequency of multiple quasar images.     

Revisiting the Cosmological Principle in a Cellular Framework

The cosmological principle in its various versions states that: (i) the galaxy does not occupy a particular position, (ii) the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic. This statement does not agree with the recent astronomical observations in the range z lower than 0.05 which are in agreement with a cellular structure of the Universe. Here we present a local analysis of the inhomogeneity of the Universe. When z is greater than 0.05 our analysis cannot be applied because the astronomical sample of galaxies here processed is not complete. The two tools of the Poisson Voronoi Tessellation (PVT) and the luminosity function for galaxies allow building a new version of the local cosmological principle.     

Formation of stars by implosion of a gas cloud

In the standard Friedmann cosmology the black-body radiation spectrum is usually taken (without explicit proof as far as we know) to have the same familiarT ⁴-form that it has in a flat space. With explicit use of the equation of motion of a quantized massless field propagating in a curved background Robertson-Walker metric we show (for the readily tractable scalar field case) that the assumption is in fact true for an open Universe. For a closed Universe, we find that there is an in principle modification to theT ⁴-law. Unfortunately, the correction turns out to be too small to be experimentally detectable. In passing, we also obtain a simple derivation for the cosmological red shift of frequencies.     

The cosmological model of Brans-Dicke theory

We use the generalized Brans-Dicke theory, in which the Pauli metric is identified to be the physical space-time metric, to study the Universe in different epochs. Exact analytical expressions for dilaton field , cosmological radiusR and density parameter are obtained fork=+1,0,–1 Universe in the radiation-dominated epoch. For matter dominated Epoch, exact analytical expressions for Hubble parameterH, cosmological radius, dilaton field, deceleration factorq, density parameter and the gravitational coupling of the ordinary matter are obtained for the flat Universe. Other important results are: (1) the density parameter is always less than unity for the flat Universe because the dilaton field plays a role as an effective dark matter, and (2) the new Brans-Dicke parameter must be larger than 31.75 in order to consistent with the observed data.     

A two-dimensional study for cooling and self-gravitating accretion discs

A solution to the coincidence and Big Rip problems on the bases of an anisotropic space-time is proposed. To do so, we study the interaction between viscous dark energy and dark matter in the scope of the Bianchi type-I Universe. We parameterize the viscosity and the interaction between the two fluids by constants ζ ₀ and σ respectively. A detailed investigation on the cosmological implications of this parametrization has been made. We have also performed a geometrical diagnostic by using the statefinder pairs {s,r} and {q,r} in order to differentiate between different dark energy models. Moreover, we fit the coupling parameter σ as well as the Hubble’s parameter H ₀ of our model by minimizing the χ ² through the age differential method, involving a direct measurement of H.     

Multi-dimensional cosmological models in effective string gravitation. I

We consider multi-dimensional cosmological models in the low-energy field theory of strings with a boson gravitational sector containing a metric, dilaton field, and antisymmetric Kalb-Ramon field. We study the conformal properties of the action and show that in the general conformal representation the theory is equivalent to a generalized scalar-tensor theory with a Lagrangian of nongravitating matter dependent on the dilaton. We find exact solutions of the flat homogeneous anisotropic model with structure R×M¹×...×Mⁿ and with equation of state p_i=a_i in the space Mⁱ. We discuss the picture of cosmological evolution in different conformal representations.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 2, 1995.     

A stochastic model for correlations between central black hole masses and galactic bulge velocity dispersions

We consider a cosmological model in which part of the Universe, Ω_h～10^?5, is in the form of primordial black holes with masses of ～ 10⁵ M _⊙. These primordial black holes were the centers for growing protogalaxies, which experienced multiple mergers with ordinary galaxies and with each other. The galaxy formation is accompanied by the merging and growth of central black holes in the galactic nuclei. We show that the recently discovered correlations between central black hole masses and galactic bulge parameters naturally arise in this scenario.     

Distance in the space of energetically bounded Keplerian orbits

In this paper we derive an explicit, analytic formula for the geodesic distance between two points in the space of bounded Keplerian orbits in a particular topology. The specific topology we use is that of a cone passing through the direct product of two spheres. The two spheres constitute the configuration manifold for the space of bounded orbits of constant energy. We scale these spheres by a factor equal to the semi-major axis of the orbit, forming a linear cone. This five-dimensional manifold inherits a Riemannian metric, which is induced from the Euclidean metric on \mathbbR⁶{\mathbb{R}^6}, the space in which it is embedded. We derive an explicit formula for the geodesic distance between any two points in this space, each point representing a physical, gravitationally bound Keplerian orbit. Finally we derive an expression for the Riemannian metric that we used in terms of classical orbital elements, which may be thought of as local coordinates on our configuration manifold.     

A Note on Parameter Values for Stable Low-Inclination Periodic Motion in the Restricted Three-Body Problem with Radiation

The intervals of the mass parameter (μ) values for possible stability of the basic families of 3D periodic orbits in the restricted three-body problem determined elsewhere are now extended into regions of theμ - q ₁ parameter space of the photogravitational restricted three-body problem, where q ₁ is the radiation factor of m ₁ and it is assumed that m ₂ does not radiate. Several 3D periodic orbits corresponding to these regions are computed and tested for stability and seven regions, corresponding to the vertical-critical orbits l1v, l'1v, l6v, m1v, m2v and i1v, survive this stability test, emerging as the regions allowing the simplest types of stable low inclination 3D motion of the infinitesimal particle. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Turbulence in cosmology

On the basis of the theory set out in Papers I and II (Marochniket al., 1975a, b), the kinetic equations for the spectra of classical and quantum short-wave turbulences have been obtained, taking account of the influence of the latter on the process of cosmological expansion of a homogeneous and, on average, isotropic Universe. The equilibrium and stationary spectra of the turbulence do not change the form of the cosmological solution found in II. The latter change if the spectra are non-stationary, or if the dissipation is taken into account. It is possible that a situation exists in which the primordial short-wave turbulence, having had a significant influence on the early metric, would not be observable at the present time. Quantum turbulence has been studied. Its influence on the metric may be significant only near the Planckian timet _g.     

Time evolution of the unstable two-fluid density fluctuations in Robertson-Walker Universes

We consider density fluctuations of a two-fluid model consisting of hydrogen plasma and radiation prior to the cosmic hydrogen recombination. As investigation method that of the dispersion relations is applied, which have been derived from the general-relativistic sound-wave equations taking into account the coupling between plasma and radiation carefully. We obtain growing unstable acoustic modes within the mass range 2 · 10⁶ M _⊙ < M < 6 · 10 ¹² M _⊙. In a second step the coupled differential equations for the amplitudes of the unstable modes are integrated numerically with respect to time where the integration extends from the initial time prior to the hydrogen recombination up to the present time. We find a significant increase of the amplitudes up to 4 orders of magnitude, if the Universe is described by a cosmological model with a positive cosmological constant (Λ ? 2,2 · 10^-56 cm^-2) and a positive curvature (Lemaître-Universe) without an essential amount of cold dark matter. We conclude that the existence of galaxies confirm these statements.