Ram Gopal Vishwakarma

A Critique of Supernova Data Analysis in Cosmology

Observational astronomy has shown significant growth over the last decade and has made important contributions to cosmology. A major paradigm shift in cosmology was brought about by observations of Type Ia supernovae. The notion that the universe is accelerating has led to several theoretical challenges. Unfortunately, although high-quality supernovae data-sets are being produced, their statistical analysis leaves much to be desired. Instead of using the data to directly test the model, several studies seem to concentrate on assuming the model to be correct and limiting themselves to estimating model parameters and internal errors. As shown here, the important purpose of testing a cosmological theory is thereby vitiated.

Cosmology and cosmogony in a cyclic universe

In this paper we discuss the properties of the quasi-steady state cosmological model (QSSC) developed in 1993 in its role as a cyclic model of the universe driven by a negative energy scalar field. We discuss the origin of such a scalar field in the primary creation process first described by F. Hoyle & J. V. Narlikar forty years ago. It is shown that the creation processes which take place in the nuclei of galaxies are closely linked to the high energy and explosive phenomena, which are commonly observed in galaxies at all redshifts.The cyclic nature of the universe provides a natural link between the places of origin of the microwave background radiation (arising in hydrogen burning in stars), and the origin of the lightest nuclei (H, D, He3 and He4). It also allows us to relate the large scale cyclic properties of the universe to events taking place in the nuclei of galaxies. Observational evidence shows that ejection of matter and energy from these centers in the form of compact objects, gas and relativistic particles is responsible for the population of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) and gamma-ray burst sources in the universe.In the later parts of the paper we briefly discuss the major unsolved problems of this integrated cosmological and cosmogonical scheme — the understanding of the origin of the intrinsic redshifts, and the periodicities in the redshift distribution of the QSOs.

Modeling repulsive gravity with creation

There is a growing interest among cosmologists for theories with negative energy scalar fields and creation, in order to model a repulsive gravity. The classical steady state cosmology proposed by Bondi, Gold & Hoyle in 1948, was the first such theory which used a negative kinetic energy creation field to invoke creation of matter. We emphasize that creation plays a very crucial role in cosmology and provides a natural explanation to the various explosive phenomena occurring in local (z < 0.1) and extra galactic universe. We exemplify this point of view by considering the resurrected version of this theory — the quasi-steady state theory, which tries to relate creation events directly to the large scale dynamics of the universe and supplies more natural explanations of the observed phenomena.Although the theory predicts a decelerating universe at the present era, it explains successfully the recent SNe Ia observations (which require an accelerating universe in the standard cosmology), as we show in this paper by performing a Bayesian analysis of the data.

Einstein-de Sitter model re-examined for newly discovered Type Ia supernovae

The consistency of the Einstein–de Sitter model with the Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) recently observed by the Hubble Space Telescope is examined. The model shows a reasonable fit to the observations, if account is taken of the extinction of SN light by the intergalactic metallic dust ejected from the SN explosions. Although the fit to the new data is considerably worse than that of earlier data, it can still be regarded as acceptable. We should wait for more accurate observations at higher redshifts (as expected from forthcoming space missions such as SNAP and the James Webb Space Telescope) before ruling out a model that seems to explain all the other existing observations well (some even better than the favoured ΛCDM model), is consistent with beautiful theoretical ideas such as inflation and cold dark matter, and is not as speculative as the models of dark energy.

Mysteries of the geometrization of gravitation

As we now know, there are at least two major difficulties with general relativity (GR). The first one is related to its incompatibility with quantum mechanics, in the absence of a consistent, widely accepted theory that combines the two theories. The second problem is related to the requirement of the dark sectors—inflaton, dark matter and dark energy by the energy-stress tensor, which are needed to explain a variety of astronomical and cosmological observations. Research has indicated that the dark sectors themselves do not have any non-gravitational or laboratory evidence. Moreover, the dark energy poses, in addition, a serious confrontation between fundamental physics and cosmology. Guided by theoretical and observational evidences, we are led to an idea that the source of gravitation and its manifestation in GR should be modified. The result is in striking agreement with not only the theory, but also the observations, without requiring the dark sectors of the standard approach. Additionally, it provides natural explanations to some unexplained puzzles.

On the relativistic formulation of matter

A critical analysis of the relativistic formulation of matter reveals some surprising inconsistencies and paradoxes. Corrections are discovered which lead to the long-sought-after equality of the gravitational and inertial masses, which are otherwise different in general relativity.Realizing the potentially great impact of the discovered corrections, an overview of the situation is provided resulting from the newly discovered crisis, amid the evidences defending the theory.

A new solution of Einstein’s vacuum field equations

A new solution of Einstein’s vacuum field equations is discovered which appears as a generalization of the well-known Ozsváth–Schücking solution and explains its source of curvature which has otherwise remained hidden. Curiously, the new solution has a vanishing Kretschmann scalar and is singularity-free despite being curved. The discovery of the new solution is facilitated by a new insight which reveals that it is always possible to define the source of curvature in a vacuum solution in terms of some dimensional parameters. As the parameters vanish, so does the curvature. The new insight also helps to make the vacuum solutions the Machian solutions.

A Machian Approach to General Relativity

Machs principle is surely one of those tantalizingly beautiful concepts in physics which remain elusive. Though General Relativity (GR) was conceived in the spirit of realizing it, the theory failed to fulfill this expectation. Here a study on the implications of imposing Machs principle on GR with an insight that spacetime has no independent existence without a material background, is presented. This inclusion of the principle in GR turns out to be unexpectedly rewarding. The resulting theory solves many mysteries and averts lingering problems of the conventional forms of GR and cosmology.

Dynamics of ejection from galaxies and the variable mass hypothesis

Increasing numbers of active galaxies with significant alignments of quasars are being observed. It is the purpose of this paper to explore ejection dynamics of these quasars using the variable mass hypothesis (VMH) originally discussed by Narlikar and Das in 1980. According to the VMH quasars are ejected from parent galaxies initially with zero rest mass which grows through a Machian interaction. The intrinsic redshift of the quasar steadily decreases as its mass grows, but always remains in excess of the redshift of the galaxy. The ultimate aim of this hypothesis is to quantitatively relate the observed ordering of redshifts of ejected quasars, with separation from the galaxy, their intrinsic redshifts and the age of the evolutionary stage of the ejecta.

A new Weyl-like tensor of geometric origin

A set of new tensors of purely geometric origin have been investigated, which form a hierarchy. A tensor of a lower rank plays the role of the potential for the tensor of one rank higher. The tenso...