Cosmological Constraints from Multiple Probes in the Dark Energy Survey

A Possible Explanation of Dark Matter and Dark Energy Involving a Vector Torsion Field

A simple gravitational model with torsion is studied, and it is suggested that it could explain the dark matter and dark energy in the universe. It can be reinterpreted as a model using the Einstein gravitational equations where spacetime has regions filled with a perfect fluid with negative energy (pressure) and positive mass density, other regions containing an anisotropic substance that in the rest frame (where the momentum is zero) has negative mass density and a uniaxial stress tensor, and possibly other “luminal” regions where there is no rest frame. The torsion vector field is inhomogeneous throughout spacetime, and possibly turbulent. Numerical simulations should reveal whether or not the equations are consistent with cosmological observations of dark matter and dark energy.

A Peek Outside Our Universe

According to general relativity (GR), a universe with a cosmological constant Λ, like ours, is trapped inside an event horizon, r<3/Λ. What is outside? We show, using Israel (1967) junction conditions, that there could be a different universe outside. Our universe looks like a black hole for an outside observer. Outgoing radial null geodesics cannot escape our universe, but incoming photons can enter and leave an imprint on our CMB sky. We present a picture of such a fossil record from the analysis of CMB maps that agrees with the black hole universe predictions but challenges our understanding of the origin of the primordial universe.