Jaume Haro

Bouncing Loop Quantum Cosmology from F(T) gravity

The big bang singularity could be understood as a breakdown of Einstein’s general relativity at very high energies. By adopting this viewpoint, other theories that implement Einstein cosmology at high energies might solve the problem of the primeval singularity. One of them is loop quantum cosmology (LQC) with a small cosmological constant that models a universe moving along an ellipse, which prevents singularities like the big bang or the big rip, in the phase space ð H; Þ , where H is the Hubble parameter and the energy density of the universe. Using LQC one considers a model universe filled by radiation and matter where, due to the cosmological constant, there are a de Sitter and an anti–de Sitter solution. This means that one obtains a bouncing nonsingular universe which is in the contracting phase at early times. After leaving this phase, i.e., after bouncing, it passes trough a radiation- and matter-dominated phase and finally at late times it expands in an accelerated way (current cosmic acceleration). This model does not suffer from the horizon and flatness problems as in big bang cosmology, where a period of inflation that increases the size of our universe in more than 60 e-folds is needed in order to solve both problems. The model has two mechanisms to avoid these problems: the evolution of the universe through a contracting phase and a period of super inflation ( _ H> 0 )

Future singularities and teleparallelism in loop quantum cosmology

We demonstrate how holonomy corrections in loop quantum cosmology (LQC) prevent the Big Rip singularity by introducing a quadratic modification in terms of the energy density ρ in the Friedmann equation in the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) space-time in a consistent and useful way. In addition, we investigate whether other kind of singularities like Type II,III and IV singularities survive or are avoided in LQC when the universe is filled by a barotropic fluid with the state equation P = −ρ−f(ρ), where P is the pressure and f(ρ) a function of ρ. It is shown that the Little Rip cosmology does not happen in LQC. Nevertheless, the occurrence of the Pseudo-Rip cosmology, in which the phantom universe approaches the de Sitter one asymptotically, is established, and the corresponding example is presented. It is interesting that the disintegration of bound structures in the Pseudo-Rip cosmology in LQC always takes more time than that in Einstein cosmology. Our investigation on future singularities is generalized to that in modified teleparallel gravity, where LQC and Brane Cosmology in the Randall-Sundrum scenario are the best examples. It is remarkable that F(T) gravity may lead to all the kinds of future singularities including Little Rip.

Viability of the matter bounce scenario in Loop Quantum Cosmology from BICEP2 last data

The CMB map provided by the Planck project constrains the value of the ratio of tensor-to-scalar perturbations, namely r, to be smaller than 0.11 (95 % CL). This bound rules out the simplest models of inflation. However, recent data from BICEP2 is in strong tension with this constrain, as it finds a value r=0.20+0.07-0.05 with 0r= disfavored at 7.0 s, which allows these simplest inflationary models to survive. The remarkable fact is that, even though the BICEP2 experiment was conceived to search for evidence of inflation, its experimental data matches correctly theoretical results coming from the matter bounce scenario (the alternative model to the inflationary paradigm). More precisely, most bouncing cosmologies do not pass Plancks constrains due to the smallness of the value of the tensor/scalar ratio r= 0.11, but with new BICEP2 data some of them fit well with experimental data. This is the case with the matter bounce scenario in the teleparallel version of Loop Quantum CosmologyThe CMB map provided by the Planck project constrains the value of the ratio of tensor-to-scalar perturbations, namely r, to be smaller than 0.11 (95 % CL). This bound rules out the simplest models of inflation. However, recent data from BICEP2 is in strong tension with this constrain, as it finds a value r=0.20{sup +0.07}{sub -0.05} with 0r= disfavored at 7.0 σ, which allows these simplest inflationary models to survive. The remarkable fact is that, even though the BICEP2 experiment was conceived to search for evidence of inflation, its experimental data matches correctly theoretical results coming from the matter bounce scenario (the alternative model to the inflationary paradigm). More precisely, most bouncing cosmologies do not pass Plancks constrains due to the smallness of the value of the tensor/scalar ratio r≤ 0.11, but with new BICEP2 data some of them fit well with experimental data. This is the case with the matter bounce scenario in the teleparallel version of Loop Quantum Cosmology.

An extended matter bounce scenario: current status and challenges

As an alternative to the paradigm of slow roll inflation, we propose an extended scenario of the matter bounce cosmology in which the Universe has experienced a quasi-matter contracting phase with a variable background equation of state parameter. This extended matter bounce scenario can be realized by considering a single scalar field evolving along an approximately exponential potential. Our result reveals that the rolling of the scalar field in general leads to a running behavior on the spectral index of primordial cosmological perturbations and a negative running can be realized in this model. We constrain the corresponding parameter space by using the newly released Planck data. To apply this scenario, we revisit bouncing cosmologies within the context of modified gravity theories, in particular, the holonomy corrected loop quantum cosmology and teleparallel F(T) gravity. A gravitational process of reheating is presented in such a matter bounce scenario to demonstrate the condition of satisfying current observations. We also comment on several unresolved issues that often appear in matter bounce models.

Viscous cosmology for early- and late-time universe

From a hydrodynamicist’s point of view the inclusion of viscosity concepts in the macroscopic theory of the cosmic fluid would appear most natural, as an ideal fluid is after all an abstraction (exluding special cases such as superconductivity). Making use of modern observational results for the Hubble parameter plus standard Friedmann formalism, we may extrapolate the description of the universe back in time up to the inflationary era, or we may go to the opposite extreme and analyze the probable ultimate fate of the universe. In this review, we discuss a variety of topics in cosmology when it is enlarged in order to contain a bulk viscosity. Various forms of this viscosity, when expressed in terms of the fluid density or the Hubble parameter, are discussed. Furthermore, we consider homogeneous as well as inhomogeneous equations of state. We investigate viscous cosmology in the early universe, examining the viscosity effects on the various inflationary observables. Additionally, we study viscous cosmology in the late universe, containing current acceleration and the possible future singularities, and we investigate how one may even unify inflationary and late-time acceleration. Finally, we analyze the viscosity-induced crossing through the quintessence-phantom divide, we examine the realization of viscosity-driven cosmological bounces, and we briefly discuss how the Cardy–Verlinde formula is affected by viscosity.

Quasimatter domination parameters in bouncing cosmologies

A fine set of parameters is introduced for bouncing cosmologies in order to describe the nearly matter-dominated phase, and which play the same role that the usual slow-roll parameters play in inflationary cosmology. It is shown that, as in the inflation case, the spectral index and the running parameter for scalar perturbations in bouncing cosmologies can be best expressed in terms of these small parameters. Further, they explicitly exhibit the duality that exists between a nearly matter-dominated universe in its contracting phase and the quasi\char21{}de Sitter regime in the expanding one. The results obtained also confirm and extend the known evidence that the spectral index for an exactly matter-dominated universe (i.e., a pressureless universe) in the contracting phase is, in fact, the same as the spectral index for an exact de Sitter regime in the expanding phase. Finally, in both the inflationary and the matter bounce scenarios, the theoretical values of the spectral index and of the running parameter are compared with their experimental counterparts, obtained from the most recent Planck data, with the result that the bouncing models discussed here fit accurate astronomical observations well.

Nonsingular Models of Universes in Teleparallel Theories

Different models of universes are considered in the context of teleparallel theories. Assuming that the universe is filled by a fluid with an equation of state P=-ρ-f(ρ), for different teleparallel theories and different equation of state we study its dynamics. Two particular cases are studied in detail: in the first one we consider a function f with two zeros (two de Sitter solutions) that mimics a huge cosmological constant at early times and a pressureless fluid at late times; in the second one, in the context of loop quantum cosmology with a small cosmological constant, we consider a pressureless fluid (P=0⇔f(ρ)=-ρ) which means there are de Sitter and anti-de Sitter solutions. In both cases one obtains a nonsingular universe that at early times is in an inflationary phase; after leaving this phase, it passes trough a matter dominated phase and finally at late times it expands in an accelerated way.

Viability of the matter bounce scenario in Loop Quantum Cosmology for general potentials

We consider the matter bounce scenario in F (T) gravity and Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC) for phenomenological potentials that at early times provide a nearly matter dominated Universe in the contracting phase, having a reheating mechanism in the expanding or contracting phase, i.e., being able to release the energy of the scalar field creating particles that thermalize in order to match with the hot Friedmann Universe, and finally at late times leading to the current cosmic acceleration. For these potentials, numerically solving the dynamical perturbation equations we have seen that, for the particular F (T) model that we will name tele parallelversion of LQC, and whose modified Friedmann equation coincides with the corresponding one in holonomy corrected LQC when one deals with the flat Friedmann-Lemai tre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) geometry, the corresponding equations obtained from the well- know perturbed equations in F (T) gravity lead to theoretical results that fit well with current observational data. More precisely, in this teleparallelversion of LQC there is a set of solutions which leads to theoretical results that match correctly with last BICEP2 data, and there is another set whose theoretical results fit well with Plancks experimental data. On the other hand, in the standard holonomy corrected LQC, using the perturbed equations obtained replacing the Ashtekar connection by a suitable sinus function and inserting some counter-terms in order to preserve the algebra of constrains, the theoretical value of the tensor/scalar ratio is smaller than in the teleparallel version, which means that there is always a set of solutions that matches with Plancks data, but for some potentials BICEP2 experimental results disfavours holonomy corrected LQC.We consider the matter bounce scenario in Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC) for physical potentials that at early times provide a nearly matter dominated Universe in the contracting phase, having a reheating mechanism in the expanding phase, i.e., being able to release the energy of the scalar field creating particles that thermalize in order to match with the hot Friedmann Universe, and finally at late times leading to the current cosmic acceleration. For these models, numerically solving the dynamical equations we have seen that the teleparallel version of LQC leads to theoretical results that fit well with current observational data. More precisely, in teleparallel LQC there is a set of solutions which leads to theoretical results that match correctly with last BICEP2 data, and there is another set whose theoretical results fit well with {\it Plancks} experimental data. On the other hand, in holonomy corrected LQC the theoretical value of the tensor/scalar ratio is smaller than in teleparallel LQC, which means that there is always a set of solutions that matches with {\it Plancks} data, but for some potentials BICEP2 experimental results disfavours holonomy corrected LQC.

On particle creation in the flat FRW chart of de Sitter spacetime

The conditions of the Gibbons–Hawking effect, i.e., particle production in the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker chart of the de Sitter spacetime, are revisited. For a theory with a massive scalar and a fermionic field it is shown that, if one considers the Bunch–Davies vacuum state at early times, then only in the case that the condition mc2/H 1 is fulfilled can one assure that a thermal spectrum of radiation at temperature T = H/2πkB, where kB is the Boltzmann constant, will be obtained at late times. It is pointed out that this important proviso (which is nothing else than the adiabatic condition, as we shall see), is missing in several derivations of this effect in the literature, where the thermal spectrum was obtained without imposing any restriction on the relation between the mass of the field, m and the Hubble constant, H.

Does loop quantum cosmology replace the big rip singularity by a non-singular bounce?

It is stated that holonomy corrections in loop quantum cosmology introduce a modification in Friedmanns equation which prevent the big rip singularity. Recently in [1] it has been proved that this modified Friedmann equation is obtained in an inconsistent way, what means that the results deduced from it, in particular the big rip singularity avoidance, are not justified. The problem is that holonomy corrections modify the gravitational part of the Hamiltonian of the system leading, after Legendres transformation, to a non covariant Lagrangian which is in contradiction with one of the main principles of General Relativity. A more consistent way to deal with the big rip singularity avoidance is to disregard modification in the gravitational part of the Hamiltonian, and only consider inverse volume effects [2]. In this case we will see that, not like the big bang singularity, the big rip singularity survives in loop quantum cosmology. Another way to deal with the big rip avoidance is to take into account geometric quantum effects given by the the Wheeler-De Witt equation. In that case, even though the wave packets spread, the expectation values satisfy the same equations as their classical analogues. Then, following the viewpoint adopted in loop quantum cosmology, one can conclude that the big rip singularity survives when one takes into account these quantum effects. However, the spreading of the wave packets prevents the recover of the semiclassical time, and thus, one might conclude that the classical evolution of the universe come to and end before the big rip is reached. This is not conclusive because. as we will see, it always exists other external times that allows us to define the classical and quantum evolution of the universe up to the big rip singularity.