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At least 19 records

Black hole hair from scalar dark matter

In this report we show that a black hole surrounded by scalar dark matter develops scalar hair. This is the generalization of a phenomenon pointed out by Jacobson [1], that a minimally coupled scalar with a non-trivial time dependence far away from the black hole would endow the black hole with hair. In our case, the time dependence arises from the oscillation of a scalar field with a non-zero mass. We systematically explore the scalar profile around the black hole for different scalar masses. In the small mass limit, the scalar field has a 1/r component at large radius r, consistent with Jacobson's result. In the large mass limit (with the Compton wavelength of order of the horizon or smaller), the scalar field has a 1/r 3/4 profile yielding a pile-up close to the horizon, while distinctive nodes occur for intermediate masses. Thus, the dark matter profile around a black hole, while challenging to measure, contains information about the dark matter particle mass. As an application, we consider the case of the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, recently imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope. Its horizon size is roughly the Compton wavelength of a scalar particle of mass 10 -20 eV. We consider the implications of the expected scalar pile-up close to the horizon, for fuzzy dark matter at a mass of 10 -20 eV or below.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Limit on graviton mass using stacked galaxy cluster catalogs from SPT-SZ, Planck-SZ and SDSS-redMaPPer

In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in obtaining observational bounds on the graviton mass, following the detection of gravitational waves, because of the versatility of massive graviton theories in resolving multiple problems in cosmology and fundamental physics. In this work, we apply the method proposed in Rana et al., (2018), which consists of looking for Yukawa-like fall off in the gravitational potential, to stacked galaxy cluster catalogs from three disparate surveys. These include catalogs from 2500 sq. degree SPT-SZ survey, the Planck all-sky SZ catalog, and a redMaPPer selected catalog from 10,000 sq. degree of SDSS-DR8 data. The 90% c.l. limits which we obtained on the graviton mass using SPT, Planck and SDSS are: m{sub g}<4.73×10{sup −30} eV, 3.0×10{sup −30} eV, and 1.27×10{sup −30} eV respectively; or in terms of Compton wavelength are λ{sub g}>2.62×10{sup 20} km, 4.12×10{sup 20} km, 9.76×10{sup 20} km. These limits are about five times more stringent than the previous best bound from galaxy clusters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Black hole accretion discs and screened scalar hair

We present a novel way to investigate scalar field profiles around black holes with an accretion disc for a range of models where the Compton wavelength of the scalar is large compared to other length scales. By analysing the problem in ''Weyl' coordinates, we are able to calculate the scalar profiles for accretion discs in the static Schwarzschild, as well as rotating Kerr, black holes. We comment on observational effects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Electrostatics

Quantum mechanics should be able to generate the basic properties of a particle. One of the most basic properties are charge and the associated electrostatic electric field. Electrostatic force is a fundamental characteristics of a charged fermion and should have its nature described by the fermion’s structure. To produce the particle properties require two spaces that define both their dynamics and their base structure. Relativity and the conservation of energy dictate how these two separate spaces are connected and the differential equations that describe behavior within these two spaces. The main static characteristic of an elementary fermion are mass and charge. Mass represents a scale measure of the fermion and it appears that charge results from the detailed structure of the fermion, which must merge into the electric field description of Maxwell. Coulomb’s law is a good approximation for large distances, but it is a poor approximation at dimension on the order of a particle’s Compton wavelength. The relativistic description of the fermion in its own frame of reference contains the information required for producing the electrostatic field over all space without a singularity as a source. With this description it is possible to understand the first order correction to the ionization energy of hydrogen. The role of nuclear effects on ionization energies can now be better defined for nuclei heavier than hydrogen.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Stationary Solutions of Second-Order Equations for Point Fermions in the Schwarzschild Gravitational Field

When using a second-order Schrödinger-type equation with the effective potential of the Schwarzschild field, the existence of a stationary state of half-spin particles with energy E = 0 is proved. For each of the values of quantum numbers j, l, the physically meaningful energy E = 0 (the binding energy is E{sub b}=mc{sup 2}) is implemented at the value of the gravitational coupling constant α⩾α{sub min}. The particles with E = 0 are, with the overwhelming probability, at some distance from the event horizon within the range from zero to several fractions of the Compton wavelength of a fermion depending on value of the gravitational coupling constants and the values of j, l. In this paper, similar solutions of the second-order equation are announced for bound states of fermions in the Reissner–Nordström, Kerr, Kerr–Newman fields. Atomic-type systems (the point sources of the Schwarzschild gravitational field) with fermions in bound states are proposed as particles of dark matter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Stationary Solutions of the Second-Order Equation for Fermions in Kerr–Newman Space-Time

When using the quantum mechanical second-order equation with the effective potential of the Kerr–Newman (KN) field for fermions, results were obtained that qualitatively differ from the results obtained when using the Dirac equation. In the presence of two event horizons, existence of degenerate stationary bound states was proved for charged and uncharged fermions with square integrable wavefunctions vanishing on event horizons. The fermions in such states are localized near the event horizons with the maxima of probability densities away from the event horizons by fractions of the Compton wavelength of fermions versus the values of coupling constants, the values of angular and orbital momenta j, l, and the value of the azimuthal quantum number m{sub φ}. In the case of extreme KN fields, absence of stationary bound states of fermions was shown for any values of coupling constants. Existence of discrete energy spectra was shown for charged and uncharged fermions in the field of KN naked singularity at definite values of physical parameters. The KN naked singularity poses no threat to cosmic censorship because of the regular behavior of the effective potentials of the KN field in quantum mechanics with the second-order equation.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Stationary Solutions of Second-Order Equations for Fermions in Reissner–Nordström Space-Time

The existence of degenerate stationary bound states with square-integrable radial wavefunctions was proven when second-order equations are used with the effective potential of the Reissner–Nordström (RN) field with two event horizons for charged and uncharged fermions. The fermions in such states are localized near event horizons within the ranges from zero to several fractions of Compton wavelength of fermions versus the values of gravitational and electromagnetic coupling constants and the values of angular and orbital momenta j, l. In case of extreme RN fields, the absence of stationary bound states of fermions with the energies of E < mc{sup 2} is shown for solutions of the second-order equation for any value of gravitational and electromagnetic coupling constants. The existence of a discrete energy spectrum is shown for the naked RN singularity, due to the solution of the second-order equation at definite values of physical parameters. The discrete spectrum exists for both charged and uncharged fermions. The naked RN singularity in quantum mechanics with the second-order equation for half-spin particles poses no threat to cosmic censorship, since it is covered with an infinitely large potential barrier. Electrically neutral systems of atomic type (RN collapsars with the definite number of fermions in degenerate bound states) are proposed to consider as particles of dark matter.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A modern approach to superradiance

In this paper, we provide a simple and modern discussion of rotational super-radiance based on quantum field theory. We work with an effective theory valid at scales much larger than the size of the spinning object responsible for superradiance. Within this framework, the probability of absorption by an object at rest completely determines the superradiant amplification rate when that same object is spinning. We first discuss in detail superradiant scattering of spin 0 particles with orbital angular momentum ℓ = 1, and then extend our analysis to higher values of orbital angular momentum and spin. Along the way, we provide a simple derivation of vacuum friction — a ''quantum torque'' acting on spinning objects in empty space. Our results apply not only to black holes but to arbitrary spinning objects. We also discuss superradiant instability due to formation of bound states and, as an illustration, we calculate the instability rate Γ for bound states with massive spin 1 particles. For a black hole with mass M and angular velocity Ω, we find Γ ~ (GMμ) 7 Ω when the particle’s Compton wavelength 1/μ is much greater than the size GM of the spinning object. This rate is parametrically much larger than the instability rate for spin 0 particles, which scales like (GM μ) 9 Ω. This enhanced instability rate can be used to constrain the existence of ultralight particles beyond the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Electromagnetic fields from quantum sources in heavy-ion collisions

We compute the electromagnetic field created by an ultrarelativistic charged particle in vacuum at distances comparable to the particle Compton wavelength. The wave function of the particle is governed by the Klein-Gordon equation,for a scalar particle, or the Dirac equation, for a spin-half particle. The produced electromagnetic field is essentially different in magnitude and direction from the Coulomb field, induced by a classical point charge, due to the quantum diffusion effect. Therefore, a realistic computation of the electromagnetic field produced in heavy-ion collisions must be based upon the full quantum treatment of the valence quarks.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Electromagnetic modeling and science reach of DMRadio-m 3

DMRadio-m 3 is an experimental search for dark matter axions. It uses a solenoidal dc magnetic field to convert an axion dark-matter signal to an ac electromagnetic response in a coaxial copper pickup. The current induced by this axion signal is measured by dc SQUIDs. DMRadio-m 3 is designed to be sensitive to Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov (KSVZ) and Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnisky (DFSZ) QCD axion models in the 10–200 MHz (41 neV/𝑐 2 –0.83 μ⁢eV/𝑐 2 ) range, and to axions with 𝑔 𝑎⁢𝛾⁢𝛾 =𝑔 𝑎⁢𝛾⁢𝛾,DFSZ ⁡(30 MHz) =1.87 ×10 −17 GeV −1 over 5–30 MHz as an extended goal. In this work, we present the electromagnetic modeling of the response of the experiment to an axion signal over the full frequency range of DMRadio-m 3 , which extends from the low-frequency, lumped-element limit to a regime where the axion Compton wavelength is only a factor of 2 larger than the detector size. With these results, we determine the live time and sensitivity of the experiment. The primary science goal of sensitivity to DFSZ axions across 30–200 MHz can be achieved with a 3⁢𝜎 live scan time of 2.9 years.

Dark matter direct detection↗

Fixed-point quantum circuits for quantum field theories

Renormalization group ideas and effective operators are introduced to efficiently prepare ground states of massive lattice field theories on digital quantum devices. This is accomplished with a systematic approximation through localized unitaries that removes an exponentially costly barrier in the spatial volume of the quantum simulation. With these methods, classically computed ground states in a spatial volume L, containing a few Compton wavelengths, can be used to determine operators for preparing the ground state toward the thermodynamic limit with a precision improving as e –mL on beyond-classical quantum registers. Here, due to the exponential spatial decay of correlations in massive theories and the double exponential suppression of digitization artifacts in the number of qubits representing the scalar field, the derived fixed-point quantum circuits are expected to be relevant for simulations of quantum field theories throughout the evolution from small-scale near-term quantum devices to large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Radiation by a laser-driven flying-focus electron wave packet

An exact solution of the Dirac equation in the presence of an arbitrary electromagnetic plane wave is found, which corresponds to a focused electron wave packet, with the focus of the wave packet moving at the speed of light in the opposite direction of the average momentum of the electron wave packet (unless the plane wave is so intense to reflect the electron). The photon spectrum emitted by such an electron wave packet in the presence of a linearly polarized plane wave is studied both analytically and numerically. The spectrum is also compared with the one emitted by a single-momentum, plane-wave electron in the case of the electron being initially counterpropagating (on average for the flying-focus case) with the plane wave and within the locally constant field approximation. It is found that if the electron flying-focus wave packet is focused beyond a Compton wavelength, the angular distribution of the emitted radiation along the magnetic field of the electromagnetic plane wave is broader than for an electron with definite momentum. Corresponding the maximum value of the photon yield on the transverse plane is smaller in the flying-focus electron case. This could represent an experimental signature of a laser-driven flying-focus electron wave packet.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Atomic Systems with Bound States of Fermions in the Schwarzschild, Reissner–Nordström Fields as Candidates for the Role of Dark Matters Particles

After transition from the Dirac equation to the Schrödinger-type relativistic equation with effective potentials of the Schwarzschild and Reissner–Nordström (RN) fields, the existence of the stationary state of fermions with real square integrable radial wave functions is proved. The fermions are localized near the event horizons within the range from zero to several fractions or a few units of the Compton wavelength of a fermion as a function of both the gravitational and electromagnetic coupling constants and the angular and orbital momenta j,l. Electrically neutral atomic-type systems (Schwarzschild and RN collapsars with fermions in bound states) are proposed as particles of dark matter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Cold freeze out of superheavy dark matter and Hubble tension

We present a unified framework, the "X miracle", in which dark matter consists of superheavy, nonthermal X particles whose relic abundance is determined not by the conventional weak-scale, semi-relativistic ("hot") freeze-out of WIMPs, but by annihilation or decay occurring within the smallest and earliest gravitationally bound objects. Unlike thermal WIMPs, which decouple at velocities of order 0.3c with relic abundance ρ∞ set by weak-scale interactions, X particles are produced nonthermally with an initial overabun dance ρ ini >> ρ ∞ . They become nonrelativistic extremely early, redshift to ultra-cold velocities, allowing collapse into compact bound structures characterized by a novel quantum gravitational scale, r X = 4$\hbar$ 2 $/Gm^3_X$ = 10 −13 m $\hbar$$/m_Xc$, much larger than the Compton wavelength. The framework predicts a particle mass of 10 12 GeV and an enhanced cross section of 10 −21 m 3 /s. Overlapping particle wavefunctions in these compact structures drive annihilation or decay into additional radiation, leading to a "cold" freeze-out that converts most of ρ ini into radiation while leaving a relic density ρ ∞ . Solutions to the Boltzmann equation indicate that an extreme ("big") depletion, with only one particle in a billion surviving, yields an additional radiation contribution $ΔN_{eff}$ ≈ 0.4, which could help alleviate the Hubble tension. For particles of 10 12 GeV, the scenario predicts a dark coupling constant α X = 0.09 that is responsible for an instanton-induced decay process, consistent with current UHECR bounds. Early collapse at 10 −6 s may release binding energy as high-frequency (100kHz) gravitational waves or ultralight GUT-scale axions (10 −9 eV). Superheavy sterile neutrinos provide a natural particle realization, linking dark matter to neutrino mass and baryogenesis. If gravitationally produced, this framework favors high-scale inflation and effi cient reheating. The "X miracle" thus demonstrates that dark matter need not be weak-scale: gravitational dynamics can control freeze-out and evolution, producing multi-messenger observational signatures in UHECRs, axions, gravitational waves, and small-scale structures.

Xu, Zhijie Jay [Pacific Northwest National Laborat↗

Late time cosmological phase transitions 1: Particle physics models and cosmic evolution

We described a natural particle physics basis for late-time phase transitions in the universe. Such a transition can seed the formation of large-scale structure while leaving a minimal imprint upon the microwave background anisotropy. The key ingredient is an ultra-light pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson with an astronomically large (O(kpc-Mpc)) Compton wavelength. We analyze the cosmological signatures of and constraints upon a wide class of scenarios which do not involve domain walls. In addition to seeding structure, coherent ultra-light bosons may also provide unclustered dark matter in a spatially flat universe, omega sub phi approx. = 1.

Frieman, Joshua A.↗

Testing theories of Gravitation with the Interstellar Probe Radio Experiment

General Relativity (GR) will soon celebrate its 110th birthday, holding up against all experimental enquiry. Nonetheless, unification theories attempting to quantize gravity, such as string theory, are gaining footing. These hypothesize additional scalar, vector, and tensor long-range fields that couple to matter (Will, 2014), introducing violations to GR. Although such violations have never been detected, it is likely that GR will not be the ultimate theory of gravity. What is certain is that gravity tests are alive and well, pushing the validity of GR to new scales and accuracies, or -potentially- suggesting alternative routes for new physics. Building upon the legacy of Voyager and Pioneer missions, which demonstrated the capability to survive in the outer reaches of the solar system, the Interstellar Probe mission concept (McNutt et al., 2022) aims to characterise our heliosphere through state-of-the-art instrumentation, opening new frontiers also for GR testing. In this work, we investigate the possibility of constraining the Nordtvedt parameter η and the mass of the graviton via the Compton wavelength λc, by simulating the processing of 10 years of radiometric data from the Interstellar Probe. Station calibration and clock synchronisation, as well as limiting spacecraft precession manoeuvres are highlighted as key strategies for obtaining high-quality estimates. In the most favourable scenario, η can be constrained to less than 1.5 · 10 -5 , reducing the uncertainty obtained via Lunar Laser Ranging (Hofmann and Müller, 2018), and a lower bound of 1.4 ‧ 10 14 km is set for λc, improving the estimates obtained from planetary ephemerides (Bernus et al., 2020) and gravitational wave detection (Abbott et al., Jun 2021). Extending ranging measurement acquisition to 20 years improves the results tenfold. This experiment interrogates fundamental physics from a unique dynamical setting, investigating possible violations of the Equivalence Principle (EP) underlying GR.

general relativity↗

An 80 day X-ray light curve of 3C 371

The Large Area Sky Survey (LASS) experiment on HEAO 1 that monitored the N galaxy/BL Lacertae object 3C 371 from August 19 to November 7, 1977 is discussed, noting that statistically significant threefold or larger intensity variations were observed in the flux range 0.5-20 keV. It is found that the degree of variability depends on the time of observation, with the source sometimes appearing constant and sometimes changing on time scales of 1 to 2 weeks. Also observed was an X-ray flare that lasted approximately 25 days. The total 80-day X-ray light curve is seen as suggesting either a superposition of X-ray flares or a variable injection rate that changes on weekly time scales. The observed X-ray flux is found to be consistent with that expected by extrapolating the nonthermal optical spectrum, suggesting that the optical to X-ray flux could be synchrotron radiation, provided that it is possible to account for the patterns of variability seen at optical and X-ray wavelengths and to dispose of inverse Compton difficulties.

Snyder, W. A.↗

HOT DUST OBSCURED GALAXIES WITH EXCESS BLUE LIGHT: DUAL AGN OR SINGLE AGN UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS?

Hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs) are a population of hyper-luminous infrared galaxies identified by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission from their very red mid-IR colors, and characterized by hot dust temperatures (T > 60 K). Several studies have shown clear evidence that the IR emission in these objects is powered by a highly dust-obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) that shows close to Compton-thick absorption at X-ray wavelengths. Thanks to the high AGN obscuration, the host galaxy is easily observable, and has UV/optical colors usually consistent with those of a normal galaxy. Here we discuss a sub-population of eight Hot DOGs that show enhanced rest-frame UV/optical emission. We discuss three scenarios that might explain the excess UV emission: (i) unobscured light leaked from the AGN by reflection over the dust or by partial coverage of the accretion disk; (ii) a second unobscured AGN in the system; or (iii) a luminous young starburst. X-ray observations can help discriminate between these scenarios. We study in detail the blue excess Hot DOG WISE J020446.13–050640.8, which was serendipitously observed by Chandra/ACIS-I for 174.5 ks. The X-ray spectrum is consistent with a single, hyper-luminous, highly absorbed AGN, and is strongly inconsistent with the presence of a secondary unobscured AGN. Based on this, we argue that the excess blue emission in this object is most likely either due to reflection or a co-eval starburst. We favor the reflection scenario as the unobscured star formation rate needed to power the UV/optical emission would be ≳1000 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}. Deep polarimetry observations could confirm the reflection hypothesis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗