Table of contents (tentative)

First lecture Particle physics in the early Universe Second lecture Inflation (hybrid)

Advanced Cosmology
(advanced = earlier)

Phase transitions

Branes, braneworlds

Cosmic defects and heavy relics

Cosmic superstrings

Ana Achcarro, Leiden Univ.

2nd Astroparticle Physics School

Nijmegen 2006 30/8 and 1/9

Simplification # 1
The early Universe is very homogeneous and isotropic only degree of freedom: scale factor a(t) (spatial curvature k=+1,0,-1) Einsteins equations give a(t) depending on three terms: -matter ~ 1/a3 radiation ~ 1/a4 -cosmological constant (or dark energy) ~ constant -spatial curvature ~ k/a2 ( in some units, percentages must add to 100% )

Simplification # 2

matter ~ 1/a3 radiation ~ 1/a4

Three important cases:

Radiation-dominated universe Matter-dominated universe a(t) ~ t 1/2 a(t) ~ t 2/3

radiation ~ t -2 matter
~ t -2 a(t) ~ exp( /3 t)

In the very early Universe, ignore curvature and cosmological constant

Inflation (cosmological constant-dominated universe)

The standard cosmological model - I

Particle physics in a thermal bath of photons at temperature T Temperature decreases as T ~ 1/a(t) ~ 1/t1/2 Nucleosynthesis (protons, neutrons light elements)
General Relativity

Isotropy, homogeneity % matter and radiation, spatial curvature, cosmological constant

a(t)
expansion as a function of time; age of Universe

predict relative abundances of He, D, Li, etc

Nucleosynthesis CMB - temp.

Recombination

(protons + electrons

hydrogen)

predict relic radiation, Cosmic Microwave Background

Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Thermodynamics

Evolution of primordial plasma with temperature

Temperature

T(t) ~ 1/a(t)

A possible history of the Cosmos

The standard model of cosmology

Today
Life on earth Solar system Quasars

t = 13.5 billion years

The standard cosmological model - II

General Relativity

Galaxy Formation
Gravitational collapse

Isotropy, homogeneity % matter and radiation, spatial curvature, cosmological constant

a(t)
expansion as a function of time; age of Universe

Recombination
relic radiation decouples

Matter domination
onset of grav. instability

+
Nucleosynthesis Initial perturbations (inhomogeneties) CMB - temperature CMB-anisotropies Structure formation (galaxies, etc)

Universe must be radiation dominated

Nucleosynthesis
light elements D, He, Li

Quark-hadron transition
protons, neutrons form

Electroweak phase transition

Supersymmetry Grand Unification transition

SPECULATIVE
Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Thermodynamics Evolution of primordial plasma with temperature

Temperature

Inflation, defects, baryogenesis

T(t) ~ 1/a(t)

The Planck epoch

quantum gravity

THE CONCORDANCE MODEL

WMAP RESULTS
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Inflation
A sudden, accelerated expansion of the early Universe.

The Universe is 13.7 billion years old (with a margin of error close to 1%) Light in WMAP picture from 379,000 years after the Big Bang.

Content of the Universe (today): 4% Atoms 22% Dark matter 74% Dark energy

Expansion rate (Hubble constant) value: Ho= 72 km/sec/Mpc (with a margin of error of ~ 5%)

New evidence for Inflation (in polarized signal)

In the concordance model, the nature of 96% of the contents of the Universe is unknown (22% dark matter, 74% dark energy!)

Inflation is powered by a scalar field, the inflaton. Their microscopic origin is unclear

Inflation
Can particle physics explain inflation?
Particle physics models can give rise to inflation. No obvious preferred candidate so far. Typically need a scalar field with a very flat plateau in the potential so that kinetic energy << potential energy Model should also contain a natural way to end inflation

Need this negative and constant (scalar fields again) Some modern candidates:
Grand unified theories Supersymmetric models (e.g. D-term inflation) Superstring models (D-brane inflation) (next lecture)

The standard cosmological model ?? - III

General Relativity (or similar)

The standard cosmological model ?? - III

General Relativity (or similar)

Isotropy, homogeneity % matter, radiation, fields spatial curvature, cosmological constant (dark energy?)

a(t)
expansion as a function of time; age of Universe

Isotropy, homogeneity % matter, radiation, fields spatial curvature, cosmological constant (dark energy?)

a(t)
expansion as a function of time; age of Universe

+
Initial perturbations (inhomogeneties)

+
Initial perturbations (inhomogeneties)

Inflation? Defects? Braneworlds? Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Thermodynamics, QFT, quantum gravity (superstrings?)

Nucleosynthesis baryogenesis CMB - temperature GW background? CMB-anisotropies dark matter Structure formation (galaxies, etc)

Inflation? Defects? Braneworlds? Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear physics, Particle physics, Thermodynamics, QFT, quantum gravity (superstrings?)

Nucleosynthesis baryogenesis CMB - temperature GW background? CMB-anisotropies dark matter Structure formation (galaxies, etc)

Evolution of primordial plasma with temperature

Temperature

T(t) ~ 1/a(t)

Evolution of primordial plasma with temperature

Temperature

T(t) ~ 1/a(t)

Simplification # 3
At such high energies we do not know what particle physics looks like Accelerators ~ a few TeV Cosmic rays ~ 1020 eV GUTs Quantum gravity ~ 103 GeV ~ 1011 GeV ~ 1016 GeV ~ 1019 GeV

Simplification # 3
At such high energies we do not know what particle physics looks like Accelerators ~ a few TeV Cosmic rays ~ 1020 eV GUTs Quantum gravity ~ 103 GeV ~ 1011 GeV ~ 1016 GeV ~ 1019 GeV

Expect phase transitions (symmetry breaking phase transitions) In some cases these produce heavy relics (cosmic defects) that could have survived until today

The Universe starts hot and dense. The expansion cools it down. Symmetry - breaking phase transitions defects
Points: Lines: Surfaces: ... monopoles cosmic strings domain walls branes textures
NOTsuperstrings

The Universe starts hot and dense. The expansion cools it down. Symmetry - breaking phase transitions defects
Points: Lines: Surfaces: ... monopoles
ALSO superstrings

cosmic strings domain walls

branes textures

Cosmic defects are ruled out as the main agent in structure formation but they are a powerful tool to constrain the microscopic degrees of freedom of the early Universe.

Cosmic defects are ruled out as the main agent in structure formation but they are a powerful tool to constrain the microscopic degrees of freedom of the early Universe - even in superstring models.

COSMIC DEFECTS: a mechanical analogue

Microphysics constraints from topological defects
THE MONOPOLE PROBLEM: Grand Unified Theories produce an unacceptable abundance of magnetic monopoles. Either : no G.U.T.s at T ~ 10 15 - 10 16 GeV or : new physics

INFLATION
THE VORTON PROBLEM: Persistent currents in vortex loops can stop their collapse and give rise to long-lived remnants (vortons). Constrains the temperature of the phase transition, T < 10 8 - 10 9 GeV if they survive until nucleosynthesis T < 10 5 - 10 7 GeV if they survive until now.

COSMIC DEFECTS: a mechanical analogue

spontaneous symmetry breaking

metal bars springs hinges

Left - right symmetric

COSMIC DEFECTS: a mechanical analogue

Cold : no motion bars fall

bars fall to the right metal bars springs hinges

bars fall to the left

No left-right symmetry

(unbroken group) Left - right symmetric Hot Cold jiggling no motion (vertical) (bars fall) Set of ground states V = G /H vacuum manifold has two disconnected components

COSMIC STRINGS

A TOPOLOGICAL DEFECT IS A CONCENTRATION OF ENERGY WHICH CAN MOVE BUT IT CANNOT (EASILY) DISSIPATE

IN 3 DIMENSIONS, THE KINK GIVES RISE TO A DOMAIN WALL

Energy is localised on a line

DOMAIN WALLS WILL APPEAR IF THE SET OF GROUND STATES HAS TWO OR MORE DISCONNECTED PARTS

SIMILARLY, VORTICES ARISE IF THE SET OF GROUND STATES CONTAINS NON CONTRACTIBLE CIRCLES AND MONOPOLES IF IT CONTAINS SPHERES

Types of defects
Dimensions: Monopoles (points) Strings Branes (Textures) Mexican hat potential (lines)

Domain walls (surfaces)

Back to (local) COSMIC STRINGS

Type of symmetry that is broken:

Global Local (Semilocal)

etc

Global strings and monopoles have divergent (gradient) energy Local strings are magnetic flux tubes Local monopoles are magnetic monopoles

Cosmic strings are 30 years old this year!

Cosmological formation of topological defects

J.Phys A: Math.Gen. Vol 9. No 8, 1976. Printed in Great Britain 1976

Kibble mechanism (1976)

Topology of cosmic domains and strings

T.W.B.Kibble

Defect density determined by size of domains and probability of defect formation where domains meet Size of domains in the early Universe limited (by causality, at least)

Topological defects will form in cosmological phase transitions

STRING FORMATION IN PHASE TRANSITIONS

Cosmic strings: network evolution

scaling ~1990 Experiments on liquid crystals at Bell Labs

interconnection

density at formation:

domain size

probability to trap a string where three domains meet

Chuang, Durrer, Turok, Yurke Science 91 Bowick, Chander, Schiff, Srivastava, Science 92

Initial network of strings

~ random walk, step Radiation dominated (comoving box) Matter dominated

Coherence length grows as (t) ~ t strings intersect and reconnect, loops contract and disappear

strings straighten form loops (radiation)

Self-similar scaling solution a few infinite strings per horizon scale invariant distribution of loops n(R) dR = f (R / ) R-4 dR
number density of loops with size (R,R+dR) constant ~ (6

2)

Energy density in strings strings ~ t -2 radiation era strings / radiation ~ 400 G matter era strings / matter ~ 60 G

OK
G ~ 10 -6

Gravitational field of a cosmic string

Cosmic string signatures:

Gravitational lensing (undistorted double images) CMB power spectrum, polarization CMB temperature discontinuities (sharp) Gravitational radiation Cosmic rays? (gamma rays?) Long-lived loops (vortons) Static string: = 8G deficit angle Moving string: v = T/T= 8Gv
Doppler jump Wakes

no force on test particles gravitational lensing two identical images, no distorsion

The spectra of the two images are almost identical

Possible detection of a cosmic string through gravitational lensing? Sazhin et al, MNRAS 2003
z = 0.46 ?

5000

6000

7000

8000

~ 1.9 arc sec

Wavelength (A)

Wavelength (A)

Unfortunately not.

Hubble image shows two galaxies Cosmic strings signature on the CMB:

Doppler peaks washed out One large bump at around l=400 B-mode polarization

Current best-fit for inflation + defects allows ~ 7% contribution from cosmic strings, or slightly higher from global defects

TT and TE spectra from cosmic strings

M. Sakellariadou

A pre- WMAP fit for global defects.

Wyman, Pogosian, Wasserman, Phys.Rev.D72:023513,2005, Erratum-ibid.D73:089905,2006 astro-ph/0503364

CMB temperature discontinuities from cosmic strings?

Jeong and Smoot, Astrophys.J.624:21-27,2005 , astro-ph/0406432

Gravitational radiation from cosmic strings and superstrings

Damour and Vilenkin, Phys.Rev.D71:063510,2005, hep-th/0410222

p = probability of intercommutation (p~1 for cosmic strings, p<<1 for cosmic superstrings )

Current constraints put G at ~ 10-7 or lower

Cosmic superstrings are very loud in GW !

Back to inflation Finally, some models of inflation that produce cosmic strings at the end :
Typically need a scalar field with a very flat plateau in the potential so that kinetic energy << potential energy Model should also contain a natural way to end inflation (e.g. hybrid inflation: a second field ends inflation)

Supersymmetric (D-term) inflation Brane inflation (from superstring theory)

Supersymmetric models Generic features: many scalar fields. flat potentials

Natural candidates for inflation? Natural candidates for defects!

An example of cosmic strings after supersymmetric inflation: (D-term inflation)

inflation

Flat direction: Inflation

defects

A generic hybrid inflation potential

Kibble mechanism: Nielsen - Olesen strings

BRANEWORLDS
Open strings ends (matter and gauge fields) live on branes Closed strings (gravitons) live in the bulk gravity

at

ter

brane

Our Universe is a 3+1 dimensional surface (brane) living in a 9+1 (or 10+1) dimensional space (bulk)
J.Lykken

Cosmic superstrings can form at the end of brane inflation! Braneworld models make slightly different predictions about the gravitational force at very short distances (less than 0.1mm) about the evolution of the very early Universe about processes in particle colliders They can also explain inflation - from the interaction between separated branes moving in the extra dimension(s) when the branes collide, inflation ends and we recover the usual history of the Universe

but Branes inflate while they are separated

Cosmic superstrings can form at the end of brane inflation!

Cosmic superstrings can form at the end of brane inflation!

Branes annihilate, energy released, inflation ends.

Expansion and cooling .

Cosmic superstrings can form at the end of brane inflation!

SUMMARY We have a good understanding of the Universes evolution in terms of Dark matter and Dark energy (but we dont know what they are). It looks like there was a period of inflation (but we dont know what caused it). To understand dark matter, dark energy and inflation we need everything we know from Astronomy, Particle Physics, Superstring Theory it could be that we live on a brane inside a higher dimensional space. Many particle physics / braneworld models predict the formation of cosmic strings and superstrings, fossils of the early Universe. If found, they would provide unique microscopic information - even on superstring theory.

Our Universe with Cosmic superstrings

We can look for their signatures in the CMB, in gravitational lensing surveys and in gravitational wave detectors.

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A few useful references:

Vilenkin and Shellard, Cosmic strings and other topological defects, C.U.P. 1994 Hindmarsh and Kibble, Cosmic strings Rept.Prog.Phys.58:477-562,1995, hep-ph/9411342 Durrer, Kunz, Melchiorri, Cosmic structure formation with topological defects Phys.Rept.364:1-81,2002, astro-ph/0110348 (CMB) Kibble Cosmic strings reborn? astro-ph/0410073 Pedagogical: Vachaspati, Lectures on Cosmic Topological defects, ICTP lectures, hep-ph/0101270 Davis and Kibble Fundamental cosmic strings Contemp.Phys.46:313-322,2005, hep-th/0505050 Cline, Inflation from string theory, hep-th/0501179 Polchinski Introduction to cosmic F- and D- strings, Cargese lectures, hepth/0412244 (cosmic superstrings) (observational status)

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