88503448
Towards a fully consistent parameterization of modified gravity
There is a distinct possibility that current and future cosmological data can be used to constrain Einstein's theory of gravity on the very largest scales. To be able to do this in a model-independent way, it makes sense to work with a general parameterization of modified gravity. Such an approach would be analogous to the Parameterized Post-Newtonian (PPN) approach which is used on the scale of the Solar System. A few such parameterizations have been proposed and preliminary constraints have been obtained. We show that the majority of such parameterizations are only exactly applicable in the quasistatic regime. On larger scales they fail to encapsulate the full behaviour of typical models currently under consideration. We suggest that it may be possible to capture the additions to the `Parameterized Post-Friedmann' (PPF) formalism by treating them akin to fluid perturbations.
36591368
Fast and precise map‐making for massively multi‐detector CMB experiments
Future cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarisation experiments aim to measure an unprecedentedly small signal - the primordial gravity wave component of the polarisation field B-mode. To achieve this, they will analyse huge dataset s, involving years worth of timeordered data (TOD) from massively multi-detector focal planes. This creates the need for fast and precise methods to complement the M-L approach in analysis pipelines. In this paper, we investigate fast map-making methods as applied to long duration, massively multi-detector, ground-based experiments, in the context of the search for B-modes. We focus on two alternative map-making approaches: destriping and TOD filtering , comparing their performance on simulated multi-detector polarisation data. We have written an optimised, parallel destriping code, the DEStriping CARTographer (DESCART), that is generalised for massive focal planes, including the potential effect of cross-correlate d TOD 1/f noise. We also determine the scaling of computing time for destriping as applied to a simulated full-season data-set for a realistic experiment. We find that destriping can out-perf orm filtering in estimating both the large-scale E and B-mode angular power spectra. In particular, filtering can produce significant spurious B-mode power via EB mixing. Whilst this can be removed, it contributes to the variance of B-mode bandpower estimates at scales near the primordial B-mode peak. For the experimental configuration we simulate, this has an effect o n the possible detection significance for primordial B-modes. Destriping is a viable alternative fast method to the full M-L approach that does not cause the problems associated with fil tering, and is flexible enough to
119408227
CMB likelihood functions for beginners and experts
Although the broad outlines of the appropriate pipeline for cosmological likelihood analysis with CMB data has been known for several years, only recently have we had to contend with the full, large-scale, computationally challenging problem involving both highly-correlated noise and extremely large datasets (N>1000). In this talk we concentrate on the beginning and end of this process. First, we discuss estimating the noise covariance from the data itself in a rigorous and unbiased way; this is essentially an iterated minimum-variance mapmaking approach. We also discuss the unbiased determination of cosmological parameters from estimates of the power spectrum or experimental bandpowers.
11014726
Initial conditions of the universe: how much isocurvature is allowed?
We investigate the constraints imposed by current data on correlated mixtures of adiabatic and nonadiabatic primordial perturbations. We discover subtle flat directions in parameter space that tolerate large (approximately 60%) fractions of nonadiabatic fluctuations. In particular, larger values of the baryon density and a spectral tilt are allowed. The cancellations in the degenerate directions are explored and the role of priors is elucidated.
122687802
Imaging the early universe with the BOOMERanG Experiment
The BOOMERanG experiment has recently detected temperature fluctuations the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), the otherwise isotropic radiation coming from the early Universe. These anisotropies have a low contrast (about 30 ppm) and feature a peculiar angular power spectrum at angles corresponding to sub-horizon scales at recombination. In the current cosmological model, these structures result from acoustic oscillations in the primeval plasma. In the framework of the Hot Big Bang theory with the inflationary hypothesis, the statistical properties of the image of the CMB allow us to measure most of the cosmological parameters.
119285987
Cosmology of Axions and Moduli: A Dynamical Systems Approach
xed point attractors, repellers and saddle points, which we analyse in detail. We also provide geometric interpretations of the phase space. The xed points can be used to bound the couplings in the model. A systematic scan of certain regions of parameter space reveals that the future evolution of the universe in this model can be rich, containing multiple epochs of accelerated expansion.
54192823
Are there hidden scalars in LHC Higgs results?
A bstractThe Higgs boson recently discovered at the Large Hadron Collider has shown to have couplings to the remaining particles well within what is predicted by the Standard Model. The search for other new heavy scalar states has so far revealed to be fruitless, imposing constraints on the existence of new scalar particles. However, it is still possible that any existing heavy scalars would preferentially decay to final states involving the light Higgs boson thus evading the current LHC bounds on heavy scalar states. Moreover, decays of the heavy scalars could increase the number of light Higgs bosons being produced. Since the number of light Higgs bosons decaying to Standard Model particles is within the predicted range, this could mean that part of the light Higgs bosons could have their origin in heavy scalar decays. This situation would occur if the light Higgs couplings to Standard Model particles were reduced by a concomitant amount. Using a very simple extension of the SM — the two-Higgs doublet model — we show that in fact we could already be observing the effect of the heavy scalar states even if all results related to the Higgs are in excellent agreement with the Standard Model predictions.
88506479
Parameterizing the flattening of galaxies rotation curves on an expanding locally anisotropic background
In this paper are discussed possible many body generalizations of the expanding locally anisotropic metric ansatz with respect to approximately Newtonian gravitational systems. This ansatz consistently describes local point-like matter distributions on the expanding Universe also allowing for a covariant parameterization of gravitational interactions at intermediate length scales. 
As an example of applicability it is modeled a disk galaxy model matching the physical parameters of the galaxy UGC2885 and it is shown that, by fine-tuning the metric functional parameter, the flattening of the galaxy rotation curve is fully parameterized by this metric. In addition it is numerically computed the mass-energy density corrections due to the expanding anisotropic background and explicitly shown that although there are negative contributions within the galaxy plane the total mass-energy density is strictly positive both at the galaxy plane and outside the galaxy plane. As the functional parameter for this metric is an exponential factor is required a floating point precision of $250$ significant digits for root finding routines and $200$ significant digits to evaluate the effective mass-energy density rendering a final precision of the results presented above double precision ($16$ significant digits). 
It is further shown that these results are consistent with the interpretation of the gravitational corrections as due to Dark Matter, in particular constituting a novel heuristic local parameterization for the Dark Matter distribution within the galaxy plane consistent with both local scale and cosmological scale physical laws which is useful to further investigate the local properties of Dark Matter.
119211611
A Locally Anisotropic Metric for Matter in an Expanding Universe: I. The Ansatz and the Modified Newton Law
It is suggested a metric ansatz to describe local matter in an expanding universe, hence interpolating between the Schwarzschild metric at small spatial scales and the FLRW metric at large spatial scales. This is acomplished maintaining space-time free of singularities except for the Schwarzschild mass pole at the origin as opposed to metrics already considered in the literature with the same purpose, namely the McVittie metric. The modified Newton law is analyzed and the static orbit solutions computed. It is concluded that the effects of expantion in the solar system are negligible, however depending on the metric parameter value, at galactic scales there is a significant deviation from the General Relativity Newton law which may contribute to dark matter effects allowing for a flattening of galaxy rotation curves.
118483060
Can we build a sensible theory with broken charge and colour symmetries
Charge and colour symmetries are broken using the vevs of scalar fields, but it is shown the theory possesses a photon-like massless particle and electroweak interactions almost identical to those of the Standard Model. We consider experimental signatures of this theory.
119547363
Stability of the tree-level vacuum in two Higgs doublet models against charge or CP spontaneous violation
We show that in two Higgs doublet models at tree-level the potential minimum preserving electric charge and CP symmetries, when it exists, is the global one. Furthermore, we derived a very simple condition, involving only the coefficients of the quartic terms of the potential, that guarantees spontaneous CP breaking.