Search

Current observations do not rule out the possibility that the Universe might end up in an abrupt event. Different such scenarios may be explored through suitable parameterizations of the dark energy and then confronted to cosmological background data. Here we parameterize a pseudorip scenario using a particular sigmoid function and carry an in-depth multifaceted examination of its evolutionary features and statistical performance. This depiction of a non violent final fate of our cosmos seems to be arguably statistically favoured over the consensus {\Lambda}CDM model according to some Bayesian discriminators., Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures (one of them animated); references, figures and subsections added

The discovery of accelerated expansion of the universe opened the possibility of new scenarios for the doom of our spacetime, besides aeternal expansion and a final contraction. In this paper we review the chances which may await our universe. In particular, there are new possible singular fates (sudden singularities, big rip...), but there also other evolutions which cannot be considered as singular. In addition to this, some of the singular fates are not strong enough in the sense that the spacetime can be extended beyond the singularity. For deriving our results we make use of generalised power and asymptotic expansions of the scale factor of the universe., Comment: 2 tables, 11 pages, accepted for publication in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A

We have selected a sample of eleven massive clusters of galaxies observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in order to study the impact of the dynamical state on the IntraCluster Light (ICL) fraction, the ratio of total integrated ICL to the total galaxy member light. With the exception of the Bullet cluster, the sample is drawn from the Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey and the Frontier Fields program, containing five relaxed and six merging clusters. The ICL fraction is calculated in three optical filters using the CHEFs IntraCluster Light Estimator, a robust and accurate algorithm free of a priori assumptions. We find that the ICL fraction in the three bands is, on average, higher for the merging clusters, ranging between $\sim7-23\%$, compared with the $\sim 2-11\%$ found for the relaxed systems. We observe a nearly constant value (within the error bars) in the ICL fraction of the regular clusters at the three wavelengths considered, which would indicate that the colors of the ICL and the cluster galaxies are, on average, coincident and, thus, their stellar populations. However, we find a higher ICL fraction in the F606W filter for the merging clusters, consistent with an excess of lower-metallicity/younger stars in the ICL, which could have migrated violently from the outskirts of the infalling galaxies during the merger event., Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We present accurate photometric redshifts for galaxies observed by the Cluster Lensing and Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH). CLASH observed 25 massive galaxy cluster cores with the Hubble Space Telescope in 16 filters spanning 0.2 - 1.7 $\mu$m. Photometry in such crowded fields is challenging. Compared to our previously released catalogs, we make several improvements to the photometry, including smaller apertures, ICL subtraction, PSF matching, and empirically measured uncertainties. We further improve the Bayesian Photometric Redshift (BPZ) estimates by adding a redder elliptical template and by inflating the photometric uncertainties of the brightest galaxies. The resulting photometric redshift accuracies are dz/(1+z) $\sim$ 0.8\%, 1.0\%, and 2.0\% for galaxies with I-band F814W AB magnitudes $<$ 18, 20, and 23, respectively. These results are consistent with our expectations. They improve on our previously reported accuracies by a factor of 4 at the bright end and a factor of 2 at the faint end. Our new catalog includes 1257 spectroscopic redshifts, including 382 confirmed cluster members. We also provide stellar mass estimates. Finally, we include lensing magnification estimates of background galaxies based on our public lens models. Our new catalog of all 25 CLASH clusters is available via MAST. The analysis techniques developed here will be useful in other surveys of crowded fields, including the Frontier Fields and surveys carried out with J-PAS and JWST., Comment: 21 pages, 21 figures, 5 tables. Photo-z Catalogues Available. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The Cluster Lensing And Supernovae survey with Hubble (CLASH) is an Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Multi-Cycle Treasury program observing 25 massive galaxy clusters. CLASH observations are carried out in 16 bands from UV to NIR to derive accurate and reliable estimates of photometric redshifts. We present the CLASH photometric redshifts and study the photometric redshift accuracy of the arcs in more detail for the case of MACS1206.2-0847. We use the publicly available Le Phare and BPZ photometric redshift codes on 17 CLASH galaxy clusters. Using Le Phare code for objects with StoN>=10, we reach a precision of 3%(1+z) for the strong lensing arcs, which is reduced to 2.4%(1+z) after removing outliers. For galaxies in the cluster field the corresponding values are 4%(1+z) and 3%(1+z). Using mock galaxy catalogues, we show that 3%(1+z) precision is what one would expect from the CLASH photometry when taking into account extinction from dust, emission lines and the finite range of SEDs included in the photo-z template library. We study photo-z results for different aperture photometry and find that the SExtractor isophotal photometry works best. Le Phare and BPZ give similar photo-z results for the strong lensing arcs as well as galaxies of the cluster field. Results are improved when optimizing the photometric aperture shape showing an optimal aperture size around 1" radius giving results which are equivalent to isophotal photometry. Tailored photometry of the arcs improve the photo-z results., Comment: Accepted in A&A on nov 2013

We present a strong-lensing analysis of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 ($z$=0.44) using UV, Optical, and IR, HST/ACS/WFC3 data taken as part of the CLASH multi-cycle treasury program, with VLT/VIMOS spectroscopy for some of the multiply-lensed arcs. The CLASH observations, combined with our mass-model, allow us to identify 47 new multiply-lensed images of 12 distant sources. These images, along with the previously known arc, span the redshift range $1\la z\la5.5$, and thus enable us to derive a detailed mass distribution and to accurately constrain, for the first time, the inner mass-profile of this cluster. We find an inner profile slope of $d\log \Sigma/d\log \theta\simeq -0.55\pm 0.1$ (in the range [1\arcsec, 53\arcsec], or $5\la r \la300$ kpc), as commonly found for relaxed and well-concentrated clusters. Using the many systems uncovered here we derive credible critical curves and Einstein radii for different source redshifts. For a source at $z_{s}\simeq2.5$, the critical curve encloses a large area with an effective Einstein radius of $\theta_{E}=28\pm3\arcsec$, and a projected mass of $1.34\pm0.15\times10^{14} M_{\odot}$. From the current understanding of structure formation in concordance cosmology, these values are relatively high for clusters at $z\sim0.5$, so that detailed studies of the inner mass distribution of clusters such as MACS J1206.2-0847 can provide stringent tests of the $\Lambda$CDM paradigm., Comment: 7 pages, 1 table, 4 figures; submitted to ApJ Letters; V3: minor corrections

We examine the inner mass distribution of the relaxed galaxy cluster Abell 383 in deep 16-band HST/ACS+WFC3 imaging taken as part of the CLASH multi-cycle treasury program. Our program is designed to study the dark matter distribution in 25 massive clusters, and balances depth with a wide wavelength coverage to better identify lensed systems and generate precise photometric redshifts. This information together with the predictive strength of our strong-lensing analysis method identifies 13 new multiply-lensed images and candidates, so that a total of 27 multiple-images of 9 systems are used to tightly constrain the inner mass profile, $d\log \Sigma/d\log r\simeq -0.6\pm 0.1$ (r<160 kpc). We find consistency with the standard distance-redshift relation for the full range spanned by the lensed images, 1.01

We consider the Einstein equations within the DBI scenario for a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) spacetime without a cosmological constant. We derive the inflationary scenario by applying the symmetry transformations which preserve the form of the Friedmann and conservation equations. These form invariance transformations generate a symmetry group parametrized by the Lorentz factor $\ga$. We explicitly obtain an inflationary scenario by the cooperative effect of adding energy density into the Friedmann equation. For the case of a constant Lorentz factor, and under the slow roll assumption, we find the transformation rules for the scalar and tensor power spectra of perturbations as well as their ratio under the action of the form invariance symmetry group. Within this case and due to its relevance for the inflationary paradigm, we find the general solution of the dynamical equations for a DBI field driven by an exponential potential and show a broad set of inflationary solutions. The general solution can be split into three subsets and all these behave asymptotically as a power law solution at early and at late times., Comment: 9 pages, revtex 4.1

In this talk we review the appearance of new types of singularities (big rip, sudden singularities...) in FLRW cosmological models that have arisen on considering explanations for accelerated expansion of our universe., Comment: 3 pages, ws-procs975x65.cls to appear in Proceedings of 12th Marcel Grossmann Meeting, Paris

We consider FLRW cosmological models with standard Friedmann equations, but leaving free the equation of state. We assume that the dark energy content of the universe is encoded in an equation of state $p=f(\rho)$, which is expressed with most generality in the form of a power expansion. The inclusion of this expansion in Friedmann equations allows us to construct a perturbative solution and to relate the coefficients of the equation of state with the formation of singularities of different types., Comment: 4 pages, jpconf.cls, to appear in Proceedings of Spanish Relativity Meeting 2009 (ERE 09), Bilbao

In this talk we analyze the effect of recently proposed classes of sudden future singularities on causal geodesics of FLRW spacetimes. Geodesics are shown to be extendible and just the equations for geodesic deviation are singular, although tidal forces are not strong enough to produce a Big Rip., Comment: 4 pp. Published in Spanish Relativing Meeting 2005 Proceedings

In this paper we provide a thorough classification of Friedman-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) cosmological models in terms of the strong or weak character of their singularities according to the usual definitions. The classification refers to a generalised Puiseux power expansion of the scale factor of the model around a singular event., Comment: 9 pp. Uses jpconf.cls. Published in XXIXth Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE 2006): Einstein's Legacy: from the Theoretical Paradise to Astrophysical Observations. Eds: P. Apostolopoulos, C. Bona, J. Carot, Ll. Mas, A.M. Sintes, J. Stela

We consider perturbative modifications of the Friedmann equations in terms of energy density corresponding to modified theories of gravity proposed as an alternative route to comply with the observed accelerated expansion of the universe. Assuming that the present matter content of the universe is a pressureless fluid, the possible singularities that may arise as the final state of the universe are surveyed. It is shown that, at most, two coefficients of the perturbative expansion of the Friedman equations are relevant for the analysis. Some examples of application of the perturbative scheme are included., Comment: 4pp, to appear in AIP Conference: Proc. XXXI Spanish Relat. Meeting, ERE08, Salamanca, Spain, 15-19 Sept., 2008

We compare the dark energy model constraints obtained by using recent standard ruler data (Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) at z=0.2 and z=0.35 and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) shift parameters R and l_a) with the corresponding constraints obtained by using recent Type Ia Supernovae (SnIa) standard candle data (ESSENCE+SNLS+HST from Davis et. al.). We find that, even though both classes of data are consistent with LCDM at the 2\sigma level, there is a systematic difference between the two classes of data. In particular, we find that for practically all values of the parameters (\Omega_0m,\Omega_b) in the 2\sigma range of the the 3-year WMAP data (WMAP3) best fit, LCDM is significantly more consistent with the SnIa data than with the CMB+BAO data. For example for (\Omega_0m,\Omega_b)=(0.24,0.042) corresponding to the best fit values of WMAP3, the dark energy equation of state parametrization w(z)=w_0 + w_1 (z/(1+z)) best fit is at a 0.5\sigma distance from LCDM (w_0=-1,w_1=0) using the SnIa data and 1.7\sigma away from LCDM using the CMB+BAO data. There is a similar trend in the earlier data (SNLS vs CMB+BAO at z=0.35). This trend is such that the standard ruler CMB+BAO data show a mild preference for crossing of the phantom divide line w=-1, while the recent SnIa data favor LCDM. Despite of this mild difference in trends, we find no statistically significant evidence for violation of the cosmic distance duality relation \eta \equiv d_L(z)/(d_A(z) (1+z)^2)=1. For example, using a prior of \Omega_0m=0.24, we find \eta=0.95 \pm 0.025 in the redshift range 0

In this paper causal geodesic completeness of FLRW cosmological models is analysed in terms of generalised power expansions of the scale factor in coordinate time. The strength of the found singularities is discussed following the usual definitions due to Tipler and Krolak. It is shown that while classical cosmological models are both timelike and lightlike geodesically incomplete, certain observationally alllowed models which have been proposed recently are lightlike geodesically complete., Comment: RevTeX 4, 12 pages

We use the SnIa Gold dataset to compare LCDM with 10 representative parametrizations of the recent Hubble expansion history $H(z)$. For the comparison we use two statistical tests; the usual $\chi_{min}^2$ which is insensitive to the parametrization number of parameters, and a statistic we call the p-test which depends on both the value of $\chi_{min}^2$ and the number $n$ of the parametrization parameters. The p-test measures the confidence level to which the parameter values corresponding to LCDM are excluded from the viewpoint of the parametrization tested. For example, for a linear equation of state parametrization $w(z)=w_0 + w_1 z$ the LCDM parameter values ($w_0=-1$, $w_1=0$) are excluded at 75% confidence level. We use a flat prior and $\Omega_{0m}=0.3$. All parametrizations tested are consistent with the Gold dataset at their best fit. According to both statistical tests, the worst fits among the 10 parametrizations, correspond to the Chaplygin gas, the brane world and the Cardassian parametrizations. The best fit is achieved by oscillating parametrizations which can exclude the parameter values corresponding to LCDM at 85% confidence level. Even though this level of significance does not provide a statistically significant exclusion of LCDM (it is less than $2\sigma$) and does not by itself constitute conclusive evidence for oscillations in the cosmological expansion, when combined with similar independent recent evidence for oscillations coming from the CMB and matter power spectra it becomes an issue worth of further investigation., Comment: 10 two column pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. Additional statistical tests applied. Accepted in JCAP (to appear)

We discuss the Newtonian limit of boost-rotation symmetric spacetimes by means of the Ehler's frame theory. Conditions for the existence of such a limit are given and, in particular, we show that asymptotic flatness is an essential requirement for the existence of such a limit. Consequently, generalized boost-rotation symmetric spacetimes describing particles moving in uniform fields will not possess a Newtonian limit. In the cases where the boost-rotation symmetric spacetime is asymptotically flat and its Newtonian limit exists, then it is non-zero only for the instant of time symmetry and its value is given by a Poisson integral. The relation of this result with the (Newtonian) gravitational potential suggested by the weak field approximation is discussed. We illustrate our analysis through some examples: the two monopoles solution, the Curzon-Chazy particle solution, the generalized Bonnor-Swaminarayan solution, and the C metric., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures and 1 appendix Minor corrections, one figure removed. Version to appear in Proc. Roy. Soc

The asymptotic properties of the solutions to the Einstein-Maxwell equations with boost-rotation symmetry and Petrov type D are studied. We find series solutions to the pertinent set of equations which are suitable for a late time descriptions in coordinates which are well adapted for the description of the radiative properties of spacetimes (Bondi coordinates). By calculating the total charge, Bondi and NUT mass and the Newman-Penrose constants of the spacetimes we provide a physical interpretation of the free parameters of the solutions. Additional relevant aspects on the asymptotics and radiative properties of the spacetimes considered, such as the possible polarization states of the gravitational and electromagnetic field, are discussed through the way.

We construct exact solutions to Einstein equations which represent relativistic disks immersed into an expanding FRW Universe. It is shown that the expansion influences dynamical characteristics of the disks such as rotational curves, surface mass density, etc. The effects of the expansion is exemplified with non-static generalizations of Kuzmin-Curzon and generalized Schwarzschild disks., Comment: Revised version to appear in ApJ, Latex, 17 pages, 10 figures, uses aaspp4 and epsf style files