Ashutosh K. Singh

Bounce conditions in Kantowski–Sachs and Bianchi cosmologies in modified gravity theories

Many cosmological scenarios envisage either a bounce of the universe at early times, or a collapse locally to form a black hole which re-expands into a new expanding universe region. Energy conditions preclude this phenomena for ordinary matter in general relativistic universe, but scalar or other types of fields can violate some of these conditions, and so can, possibly, provide conditions for a bouncing universe. In this paper, we have investigated the necessary conditions for a bounce in Kantowski–Sachs (KS) and Bianchi type models in some modified theories of gravity like Hoyle–Narlikar creation field theory, Lyra geometry, general class of scalar–tensor theories, Einsteins theory with variable cosmological term.

Characteristics of quasi-periodic scintillations observed at low latitude

[1]xa0Quasi-periodic scintillations are characterized as primary deep fadeout in field strength, associated with regular ringing patterns before and after it. In this paper, observations of quasi-periodic scintillations using geostationary satellite (FLEETSAT) transmissions operating at frequency 250 MHz at low-latitude ground station, Varanasi (geomagnetic latitude 14°55′N, longitude 153°59′E), are reported. The results indicate that the quasi-periodic scintillations are most likely produced by plasma blobs/bubbles present in the E and F regions of the ionosphere which are helpful in identifying the generation mechanism of the associated irregularities. The various characteristic features of the different types of quasi-periodic scintillations observed at low latitude are discussed for the first time in detail based on a highly comprehensive analysis of longer data sets using autocorrelation, power spectrum, and scintillation index analysis. The computed horizontal scale size of the quasi-periodic scintillations producing irregularity varies from 100 to 1300 m which shows that the irregularities are of intermediate-scale sizes. The spectral index obtained from the slopes of power spectrum varies from −2 to −8. All of these observed results are important for identifying the generation mechanism of ionospheric irregularities associated with quasi-periodic scintillations. The observed fading patterns, especially the modulation of the diffraction patterns (fading envelopes), can be explained by considering an obstacle called radio lens in the ionosphere elongated in one direction. For the first time, we have successfully simulated the amplitude versus time plots of almost all types of quasi-periodic scintillation patches and found that our modeled and observed characteristics of quasi-periodic scintillation patches compare well with each other.

Ionospheric irregularities at low latitude using VHF scintillations during extreme low solar activity period (2008–2010)

In the present study, we have used 250xa0MHz radio signal radiated by geostationary satellite UFO-02 to study the occurrence characteristics of very high frequency scintillations associated with ionospheric irregularities during recent extreme low solar activity period from 2008 to 2010 at low latitude Indian station Varanasi (Geomag. latitudexa0=xa014°55′N, long.xa0=xa0154°E, Dip anglexa0=xa037.3°, Sub-ionospheric dipxa0=xa034°). The impact of this recent extreme low solar activity period on ionosphere is investigated. It is observed that the scintillation occurrence is low having maximum percentage occurrence during pre-midnight periods. With increasing interest in understanding the behavior of ionospheric irregularities, an effort has been made to examine also the influence of solar and magnetic activity over the occurrence of scintillations. During the extreme low solar activity years the scintillation occurrences do not vary linearly with the sunspot number. The inhibition and generation of irregularities during enhanced magnetic activity period are explained by considering changes in the electric field. The spectral analysis provide spectral index for irregularities which varied between −1.5 and −8 and characteristic length of irregularities varied between 400 and 1200xa0m which confirms that 250xa0MHz scintillations observed over Varanasi were associated with intermediate scale irregularities.

A Study of Early/Slow VLF Perturbations Observed at Agra, India

We present here the results of sub-ionospheric VLF perturbations observed on NWC (19.8 kHz) transmitter signal propagating in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide, monitored at our low latitude station Agra. During the period of observation (June-December 2011), we found 89 cases of VLF perturbation, while only 73 cases showing early character associated with strong lightning discharges. Out of 73 events, 64 (~84%) of the early VLF perturbations are found to be early/slow in nature; the remaining 9 events are early/fast. The onset duration of these early/slow VLF perturbations is up to ~ 5 s. A total of 54 observed early events show amplitude change lying between ± 3.0 dB, and phase change ± 12 degree, respectively, and found to occur mainly during nighttime. One of the interesting results we found is that the events with larger recovery time lie far away from the VLF propagation path, while events with smaller duration of recovery are within the ± 50–100 km of signal path. The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data is analysed to find the location of causative lightning and temporal variation. The lightning discharge and associated processes that lead to early VLF events are discussed.

Bianchi type I cosmological model with a cosmological constant (Λ) in creation-field cosmology

Solutions of Einstein’s field equations with a cosmological constant Λ in the presence of a creation field have been obtained for Bianchi type I cosmological models in the Hoyle-Narlikar creation field theory. The cosmological parameters are calculated. We examine the nature of the creation field and the cosmological constant which dominate at the early stage of the universe, but they do not survive for a long time and finally tend to zero at large cosmic times.

Kantowski-Sachs and Bianchi type models with a general non-canonical scalar field

The paper deals with spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Kantowski-Sachs and Bianchi universes with a general non-canonical scalar field with the Lagrangian L = F(X) − Ω(ϕ), where

Molecular Phylogeny of Rediscovered Travancore Flying Squirrel ( Petinomys fuscocapillus ) and its Conservation Implications

X = frac{1}{2}{phi _i}{phi ^i}

Sub-ionospheric vlf propagation anomalies associated with the earthquake ON 25 March 2013

X=12ϕiϕi. We discuss a general non-canonical scalar field in three different cosmologies: (i) cosmology with a constant potential, Ω(ϕ) = Ω0 = const, (ii) cosmology with a constant equation-of-state parameter, i.e., γϕ = const, and (iii) cosmology with a constant speed of sound, i.e., cs2 = const. For a constant potential, we have shown that the k-essence Lagrangian and the Lagrangian of the present model are equivalent. Dissipation of anisotropy, when the universe is filled with a general non-canonical scalar field, is investigated. The existence of an average bounce in Kantowski-Sachs and locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi-I and Bianchi-III models is discussed in detail.