Gravitation

About: Gravitation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 29306 publications have been published within this topic receiving 821510 citations.

Parametrized tests of post-Newtonian theory using Advanced LIGO and Einstein Telescope

Abstract: General relativity has very specific predictions for the gravitational waveforms from inspiralling compact binaries obtained using the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation. We investigate the extent to which the measurement of the PN coefficients, possible with the second generation gravitational-wave detectors such as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the third generation gravitational-wave detectors such as the Einstein Telescope (ET), could be used to test post-Newtonian theory and to put bounds on a subclass of parametrized-post-Einstein theories which differ from general relativity in a parametrized sense. We demonstrate this possibility by employing the best inspiralling waveform model for nonspinning compact binaries which is 3.5PN accurate in phase and 3PN in amplitude. Within the class of theories considered, Advanced LIGO can test the theory at 1.5PN and thus the leading tail term. Future observations of stellar mass black hole binaries by ET can test the consistency between the various PN coefficients in the gravitational-wave phasing over the mass range of 11–44M⊙. The choice of the lower frequency cutoff is important for testing post-Newtonian theory using the ET. The bias in the test arising from the assumption of nonspinning binaries is indicated.

Holographic p-wave superconductors from Gauss-Bonnet gravity

Abstract: We study the holographic p-wave superconductors in a five-dimensional Gauss-Bonnet gravity with an SU(2) Yang-Mills gauge field. In the probe approximation, we find that when the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient grows, the condensation of the vector field becomes harder, both the perpendicular and parallel components, with respect to the direction of the condensation, of the anisotropic conductivity decrease. We also study the mass of the quasiparticle excitations, the gap frequency and the DC conductivities of the p-wave superconductor. All of them depend on the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient. In addition, we observe a strange behavior for the condensation and the relation between the gap frequency and the mass of quasiparticles when the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient is larger than 9/100, which is the upper bound for the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient from the causality of the dual field theory.

Analytical representations of unified equations of state for neutron-star matter

Abstract: Context. A unified equation of state (EoS) should describe the crust and the core of a neutron star using the same physical model. The Brussels-Montreal group has recently derived a family of such EoSs based on the nuclear energy-density functional theory with generalized Skyrme effective forces, fitted to the available mass data. At the same time, these forces were constrained to reproduce microscopic calculations of homogeneous neutron matter based on realistic two- and three-nucleon forces. Aims. We represent basic physical characteristics of the latest Brussels-Montreal EoS models by analytical expressions to facilitate their inclusion in astrophysical simulations. Methods. We consider three EoS models, which significantly differ by stiffness: BSk19, BSk20, and BSk21. For each of them we constructed two versions of the EoS parametrization. In the first version, pressure P and gravitational mass density \rho are given as functions of the baryon number density n_b. In the second version, P, \rho, and n_b are given as functions of pseudo-enthalpy, which is useful for two-dimensional calculations of stationary rotating configurations of neutron stars. In addition to the EoS, we derived analytical expressions for several related quantities that are required in neutron-star simulations: number fractions of electrons and muons in the stellar core, nucleon numbers per nucleus in the inner crust, and equivalent radii and shape parameters of the nuclei in the inner crust. Results. We obtain analytical representations for the basic characteristics of the models of cold dense matter, which are most important for studies of neutron stars. We demonstrate the usability of our results by applying them to calculations of neutron-star mass-radius relations, maximum and minimum masses, thresholds of direct Urca processes, and the electron conductivity in the neutron-star crust.

Quantum gravity at astrophysical distances

Abstract: Assuming that quantum Einstein gravity (QEG) is the correct theory of gravity on all length scales, we use analytical results from nonperturbative renormalization group (RG) equations as well as experimental input in order to characterize the special RG trajectory of QEG which is realized in Nature and to determine its parameters. On this trajectory, we identify a regime of scales where gravitational physics is well described by classical general relativity. Strong renormalization effects occur at both larger and smaller momentum scales. The latter lead to a growth of Newton's constant at large distances. We argue that this effect becomes visible at the scale of galaxies and could provide a solution to the astrophysical missing mass problem which does not require any dark matter. We show that an extremely weak power law running of Newton's constant leads to flat galaxy rotation curves similar to those observed in Nature. Furthermore, a possible resolution of the cosmological constant problem is proposed by noting that all RG trajectories admitting a long classical regime automatically give rise to a small cosmological constant.