The next generation of large scale surveys will not only measure cosmological parameters within the framework of General Relativity, but will also allow for precision tests of the framework itself. At the order of linear perturbations, departures from the growth in the LCDM model can be quantified in terms of two functions of time and Fourier number k. We argue that in local theories of gravity, in the quasi-static approximation, these functions must be ratios of polynomials in k, with the numerator of one function being equal to the denominator of the other. Moreover, the polynomials are even and of second degree in practically all viable models considered today. This means that, without significant loss of generality, one can use data to constrain only five functions of a single variable, instead of two functions of two variables. Furthermore, since the five functions are expected to be slowly varying, one can fit them to data in a non-parametric way with the aid of an explicit smoothness prior. We discuss practical application of this parametrization to forecasts and fits.

The RICE experiment (Radio Ice Cherenkov Experiment) at the South Pole, co-deployed with the AMANDA experiment, seeks to detect ultra-high energy (UHE) electron neutrinos interacting in cold polar ice. Such interactions produce electromagnetic showers, which emit radio-frequency Cherenkov radiation. We describe the experimental apparatus and the procedures used to measure the neutrino flux.

We extend previous work showing that violation of the null energy condition implies instability in a broad class of models, including gauge theories with scalar and fermionic matter as well as any perfect fluid. Simple examples are given to illustrate these results. The role of causality in our results is discussed. Finally, we extend the fluid results to more general systems in thermal equilibrium. When applied to the dark energy, our results imply that w is unlikely to be less than -1.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, Revte

Radio Cherenkov emission underlies the detection of high energy particles via a signal growing like the particle energy squared. Cosmic-ray-induced electromagnetic showers are a primary application. While many studies have treated the phenomenon approximately, none have attempted to incorporate all the physical scales involved in problems with time-or spatially evolving charges. We find it is possible to decompose the calculated fields into the product of a form factor, characterizing a moving charge distribution, multiplying a general integral which depends on the charge evolution. In circumstances of interest for cosmic ray physics, the resulting expressions can be evaluated explicitly in terms of a few parameters obtainable from shower codes. The classic issues of Fraunhofer and Fresnel zones play a crucial role in the coherence.

For a universe containing cosmological constant together with uniform arrangements of magnetic fields, strings, or domain walls, exact solutions to the Einstein equations are shown to lead to a universe with ellipsoidal expansion. The magnetic field case is the easiest to motivate and has the highest possibility of finding application in observational cosmology.PACS numbers: 98.62.En, 04.40.Nr