Théorie

The H0 tension and non-minimal couplings to gravity

Theoretical models that aim to solve the tension between local measurements of the Hubble constant H0 and its inference from CMB data  have to include a modification to the standard LCDM model around the time of matter-radiation equality. I propose that such an early-time modification consists in a scalar field non-minimally coupled to the Ricci scalar, which behaves effectively like a dark radiation component and induces a time evolution of the Newton constant G.

Vainshtein screening for slowly rotating stars 

We study the Vainshtein mechanism in the context of slowly rotating stars in scalar-tensor theories.
While the Vainshtein screening is well established for spherically symmetric spacetimes, we introduce a slow rotation of the source and examine its validity in the axi-symmetric case.
We solve for the frame-dragging function accounting for the slow rotation and show that the deviations from the general relativity (GR) solution are screened in the weak-field approximation, meaning the solution for the frame-dragging function is the same as GR to leading order.
This suggests that the Vainsh

General relativistic weak-field limit and Newtonian N-body simulations

Future galaxy surveys such as Euclid, LSST and SKA will cover larger and larger scales where general relativistic effects become important. On the other hand, our study of large scale structure still relies on Newtonian N-body simulations. I show how standard Newtonian N-body simulations can be interpreted in terms of the weak-field limit of general relativity. Our framework allows the inclusion of radiation perturbations and the non-linear evolution of matter. I show how to construct the weak-field metric by combining Newtonian simulations with results from Einstein-Boltzmann codes.

Formation and abundance of primordial black holes

Primordial black holes can form in the early Universe from the collapse of cosmological perturbations after the cosmological horizon crossing. They are possible candidates for the dark matter as well as for the seeds of supermassive black holes observed today in the centre of galaxies. In calculations of spherically symmetric collapse, a Lagrangian relativistic hydrodynamical code is used to follow the non linear evolution. If the perturbation is larger than a threshold depending on the equation of state and on the specific shape of the perturbation, a black hole is formed.

Beyond the Standard Models with Cosmic Strings

Cosmic strings (CS) are topological defects formed after spontaneous breaking of a U(1) symmetry. Remarkably, thanks to the scaling regime, CS loops constitute a long-standing source of Gravitational Waves (GW) and produce a flat GW spectrum during radiation domination, spanning many orders of magnitude in frequency.

APC colloquium

Dear all,

We are very happy to welcome Andrzej M. Szelc (Royal Society University Research Fellow, the University of Manchester) at APC this week.

Andrzej will talk about the "Long- and Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments” (abstract and poster below) in Amphi PGG on Friday, February 7th at 11am.

Vincent and Josquin

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Title: Long- and Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments  

Cosmology as a CFT1

Over the last decades, the emergence of conformal symmetry in gravitational systems has provided a powerful tool to investigate new aspects in classical, semi-classical and quantum general relativity.

Relieving the Hubble tension with primordial magnetic fields 

The standard cosmological model determined from the accurate cosmic microwave background measurements made by the Planck satellite implies a value of the Hubble constant H0 that is 4.4 standard deviations lower than the one determined from Type Ia supernovae. The Planck best fit model also predicts lower values of the matter density fraction Om and clustering amplitude S8 compared to those obtained from the Dark Energy Survey Year 1 data.
Théorie