Shamaila Rani

Bio: Shamaila Rani is an academic researcher from COMSATS Institute of Information Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Dark energy & Equation of state (cosmology). The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 48 publications receiving 299 citations.

Entropy corrected holographic dark energy models in modified gravity

Abstract: We consider the power law and the entropy corrected holographic dark energy (HDE) models with Hubble horizon in the dynamical Chern–Simons modified gravity. We explore various cosmological parameters and planes in this framework. The Hubble parameter lies within the consistent range at the present and later epoch for both entropy corrected models. The deceleration parameter explains the accelerated expansion of the universe. The equation of state (EoS) parameter corresponds to quintessence and cold dark matter (ΛCDM) limit. The ωΛ−ωΛ′ approaches to ΛCDM limit and freezing region in both entropy corrected models. The statefinder parameters are consistent with ΛCDM limit and dark energy (DE) models. The generalized second law of thermodynamics remain valid in all cases of interacting parameter. It is interesting to mention here that our results of Hubble, EoS parameter and ωΛ−ωΛ′ plane show consistency with the present observations like Planck, WP, BAO, H0, SNLS and nine-year WMAP.

Modified Chaplygin gas inspired inflationary model in braneworld scenario

Abstract: We investigate the modified Chaplygin gas inspired inflationary regime in the brane-world framework in the presence of standard and tachyon scalar fields. We consider the intermediate inflationary scenario and construct the slow-roll parameters, e-folding numbers, spectral index, scalar and tensor power spectra, tensor to scalar ratio for both scalar field models. We develop the $n_{s} - \mathcal{N}$ and $r - \mathcal{N}$ planes and concluded that $n_{s}\simeq96^{+0.5}_{-0.5}$ and $r\leq0.0016$ for $\mathcal{N}\simeq60^{+5}_{-5}$ in both cases of scalar field models as well as for all values of $m$ . These constraints are consistent with observational data such as WMAP7, WMAP9 and Planck data.

Cosmological aspects of sound speed parameterizations in fractal universe

Abstract: In the framework of fractal universe, the unified models of dark energy and dark matter are being presented with the background of homogenous and isotropic FLRW geometry. The aspects of fractal cosmology helps in better understanding of the universe in different dimensions. Relationship between the squared speed of the sound and the equation of state parameter is the key feature of these models. We have used constant as well as variable forms of speed of sound and express it as a function of equation of state parameter. By utilizing the four different forms of speed of sound, we construct the energy densities and pressures for these models and then various cosmological parameters like hubble parameter, EoS parameter, deceleration parameter and Om- diagnostic are investigated. Graphical analysis of these parameters show that in most of the cases EoS parameters and trajectories of Om-diagnostic corresponds to the quintessence like nature of the universe and the deceleration parameters represent accelerated and decelerated phase. In the end, we remark that cosmological analysis of these models indicates that these models correspond to different well known dark energy models.

The Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

Abstract: On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160) Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

The Supernova Legacy Survey: Measurement of Omega_m, Omega_l and w from the First Year Data Set

Abstract: We present distance measurements to 71 high redshift type Ia supernovae discovered during the first year of the 5-year Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS). These events were detected and their multi-color light-curves measured using the MegaPrime/MegaCam instrument at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), by repeatedly imaging four one-square degree fields in four bands. Follow-up spectroscopy was performed at the VLT, Gemini and Keck telescopes to confirm the nature of the supernovae and to measure their redshift. With this data set, we have built a Hubble diagram extending to z = 1, with all distance measurements involving at least two bands. Systematic uncertainties are evaluated making use of the multiband photometry obtained at CFHT. Cosmological fits to this first year SNLS Hubble diagram give the following results: {Omega}{sub M} = 0.263 {+-} 0.042 (stat) {+-} 0.032 (sys) for a flat {Lambda}CDM model; and w = -1.023 {+-} 0.090 (stat) {+-} 0.054 (sys) for a flat cosmology with constant equation of state w when combined with the constraint from the recent Sloan Digital Sky Survey measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations.

New observational constraints on f(T) gravity from cosmic chronometers

Abstract: We use the local value of the Hubble constant recently measured with 2.4% precision, as well as the latest compilation of cosmic chronometers data, together with standard probes such as Supernovae Type Ia and Baryon Acoustic Oscillation distance measurements, in order to impose constraints on the viable and most used f(T) gravity models, where T is the torsion scalar in teleparallel gravity. In particular, we consider three f(T) models with two parameters, out of which one is independent, and we quantify their deviation from ΛCDM cosmology through a sole parameter. Our analysis reveals that for one of the models a small but non-zero deviation from ΛCDM cosmology is slightly favored, while for the other models the best fit is very close to ΛCDM scenario. Clearly, f(T) gravity is consistent with observations, and it can serve as a candidate for modified gravity.

Cosmology for Grand Unified Theories with Radiatively Induced Symmetry Breaking

Abstract: The treatment of first-order phase transitions for standard grand unified theories is shown to break down for models with radiatively induced spontaneous symmetry breaking. It is argued that proper analysis of these transitions which would take place in the early history of the universe can lead to an explanation of the cosmological homogeneity, flatness, and monopole puzzles.

Holographic dark energy through Tsallis entropy

Abstract: In order to apply holography and entropy relations to the whole universe, which is a gravitational and thus nonextensive system, for consistency one should use the generalized definition for the universe horizon entropy, namely Tsallis nonextensive entropy. We formulate Tsallis holographic dark energy, which is a generalization of standard holographic dark energy quantified by a new dimensionless parameter δ, possessing the latter as a particular sub-case. We provide a simple differential equation for the dark energy density parameter, as well as an analytical expression for its equation-of-state parameter. In this scenario the universe exhibits the usual thermal history, namely the successive sequence of matter and dark-energy epochs, before resulting in a complete dark energy domination in the far future. Additionally, the dark energy equation-of-state parameter presents a rich behavior and, according to the value of δ, it can be quintessence-like, phantom-like, or experience the phantom-divide crossing before or after the present time. Finally, we confront the scenario with Supernovae type Ia and Hubble parameter observational data, and we show that the agreement is very good, with δ preferring a value slightly larger than its standard value 1.