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Steven J Oliver

Publications and source records attributed to Steven J Oliver.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Evolving dark energy with w not = -1.

Theories of evolving quintessence are constructed that generically lead to deviations from the w = -1 prediction of nonevolving dark energy. The small mass scale that governs evolution, m(phi) approximately = 10(-33) eV, is radiatively stable, and the "Why now?" problem is solved. These results rest on seesaw cosmology: Fundamental physics and cosmology can be broadly understood from only two mass scales, the weak scale nu and the Planck scale M. Requiring a scale of dark energy rho(DE)(1/4) governed by nu2/M and a radiatively stable evolution rate m(phi) given by nu4/M3 leads to a distinctive form for the equation of state w(z). Dark energy resides in the potential of a hidden axion field that is generated by a new QCD-like force that gets strong at the scale lambda approximately = nu2/M approximately = rho(DE)(1/4). The evolution rate is given by a second seesaw that leads to the axion mass m(phi) approximately = lambda2/f, with f approximately = M.

Journal Article↗

Late time neutrino masses, the LSND experiment, and the cosmic microwave background.

Models with low-scale breaking of global symmetries in the neutrino sector provide an alternative to the seesaw mechanism for understanding why neutrinos are light. Such models can easily incorporate light sterile neutrinos required by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector experiment. Furthermore, the constraints on the sterile neutrino properties from nucleosynthesis and large-scale structure can be removed due to the nonconventional cosmological evolution of neutrino masses and densities. We present explicit, fully realistic supersymmetric models, and discuss the characteristic signatures predicted in the angular distributions of the cosmic microwave background.

Journal Article↗