Viscosity in cosmic fluids

The effective theory of large-scale structure formation based on $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM paradigm predicts finite dissipative effects in the resulting fluid equations. In this work, we study how viscous effect that could arise if one includes self-interaction among the dark-matter particles combines with the effective theory. It is shown that these two possible sources of dissipation can operate together in a cosmic fluid and the interplay between them can play an important role in determining dynamics of the cosmic fluid. In particular, we demonstrate that the viscosity coefficient due to self-interaction is added inversely with the viscosity calculated using effective theory of $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model. Thus the larger viscosity has less significant contribution in the effective viscosity. Using the known bounds on $$\sigma /m$$σ/m for self-interacting darkmatter, where $$\sigma $$σ and m are the cross-section and mass of the dark-matter particles respectively, we discuss role of the effective viscosity in various cosmological scenarios.

Observational and astrophysical cosmology: 1980–2018

Since 1980, our empirical knowledge of the universe has advanced tremendously and precision cosmology has become a reality. These developments have been largely technology-driven, the result of increased computer power, new generations of telescopes for all wavebands, new types of semiconductor detectors, such as CCDs, and major investments by many nations in superb observing facilities. The discipline also benefitted from the influx of experimental and theoretical physicists into the cosmological arena. The accuracy and reliability of the values of the cosmological parameters has improved dramatically, many of them now being known to about 1%. The ΛCDM model provides a remarkable fit to all the observational data, demonstrating that the cosmological constant is non-zero and that the global geometry of the universe is flat. The underlying physics of galaxy and large-scale structure formation has advanced dramatically and demonstrated the key roles played by dark matter and dark energy.

Continuum models for directed self-assembly

The computational description of directed self-assembly (DSA) of copolymer materials requires the prediction of large-scale structure formation of copolymer materials guided by chemical or topographical patterns. Continuum models provide the highest level of coarse-graining describing the system only by the local composition and allowing for a fast optimization of thermodynamic quantities.

Dark atoms with nuclear shell: A status review

Among dark atom scenarios, the simplest and most predictive one is that of O-helium (OHe) dark atoms, in which a leptonlike doubly charged particle O–– is bound to a primordial helium nucleus, and is the main constituent of dark matter. The OHe cosmology has several successes: it leads to a warmer-than-cold-dark matter scenario for large-scale-structure formation, it can provide an explanation for the excess in positron annihilation line in the galactic bulge and it may explain the results of direct dark matter searches. This model liberates the physics of dark atoms from many unknown features of new physics, but it is still not free from astrophysical uncertainties. It also demands a deeper understanding of the details of known nuclear and atomic physics, which are still somewhat unclear in the case of nuclear interacting “atomic” shells. These potential problems of the OHe scenario are also discussed.