International Journal of Astronomy

International Journal of Astronomy is a peer-reviewed natural science journal that deals with the study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, nebulae, star clusters and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth’s atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe.

David F. Mota

Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Astronomy

Associate Professor, University of Oslo, Norway

Research Areas

Astrophysics, Cosmology

Education

2003Ph.DMathematics, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
2002Visiting Graduate StudentDepartment of Physics, University of Oxford
1999MasterMathematics-MASt (PART III Mathematical Tripos), Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
1998Bachelor and MasterTechnological Physics Engineering, Instituto Superior T_ecnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal

Experience

2009-presentAssociate Professor, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo
2010Abel Extraordinary Chair,Universidad Complutense de Madrid
2009Visiting Associate Astronomer, LUTH, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon
2006-2008Humboldt Research Fellow, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Heidelberg
2008Visiting CNRS Fellow, Laboratory of Theoretical Physics and Astroparticles, University of Montpellier
2006Visiting Post-Doctoral Researcher, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Canada
2005-2006Post-Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo
2003-2005Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Astrophysics, University of Oxford

Membership

Member, PhD Degree committee, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, 2010-present
Chair, European Research Council (ERC) University of Oslo committee, 2010
Member, Elections and Nominations committee, 2010-present
Internal Examiner for Solar Physics Master Degrees, Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics-University of Oslo, 2010-present
Chair PostDoctoral Hiring committee, 2009-2010
Manager of 3 project grants: FRINAT, Romforskning and UiO Starting pack, 2009-2014
Host/Manager of 12 YYGDRASIL grants from Research council Norway, 2009-2011
Administrator of Large experience in applying for grants to the EU and Norwegian Research Council
Administrator of Agreement on Educational, Cultural and Scientific exchanges, 2011-2012
Host of 40 guest researchers at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, 2009-2011

Publications: Journals

[1]  O. Bertolami, D.F. Mota. Primordial Magnetic Fields via Spontaneous Breaking of Lorentz Invariance. Phys. Lett. B 455:96-103 (1999) [arXiv:gr-qc/9811087]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[2]  J. D. Barrow, D. F. Mota. Qualitative Analysis of Universes with Varying Alpha. Class. Quantum Gravity 19:6197-6212 (2002) [arXiv:gr-qc/0207012].
[3]  J. D. Barrow, D. F. Mota. Gauge-Invariant Perturbations of Varying-Alpha Cosmologies. Class. Quantum Gravity 20:2045-2062 (2003) [arXiv:gr-qc/0212032].
[4]  D. F. Mota, J. D. Barrow. Varying Alpha in a More Realistic Universe. Phys. Lett. B 581:141-146 (2004) [arXiv:astro-ph/0306047]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[5]  D. F. Mota, J. D. Barrow. Local and Global Variations of the Fine Structure Constant. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 349:291(2004) [arXiv:astro-ph/0309273] (TOPCITE = 100+)
[6]  D. F. Mota, C. van de Bruck. On the Spherical Collapse Model in Dark Energy Cosmologies. Astron. and Astrophys. 421:71-81 (2004) [arXiv:astro-ph/0401504]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[7]  T. Clifton, D. F. Mota, J. D. Barrow. Inhomogeneous Gravity. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 358:601 (2005) [arXiv:gr-qc/0406001]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[8]  C. Burgess, R. Easther, A. Mazumdar, D. F. Mota, T. Multamaki. Multiple Ination, Cosmic String Networks and the String Landscape. JHEP 0505:067 (2005) [arXiv:hep-th/0501125]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[9]  O. Elgaroy, D. F. Mota, T. Multamaki. Loitering Universe Models in Light of the CMB. Phys. Rev. D 71:067301 (2005) [arXiv:astro-ph/0501342].
[10]  N. J. Nunes, D. F. Mota. Structure Formation in Inhomogeneous Dark energy Models. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 368:2 751 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0409481]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[11]  A.W. Brook_eld, C. van de Bruck, D. F. Mota, D. Tocchini-Valentini. Cosmology with Massive Neutrinos Coupled to Dark Energy. Phys. Rev. Lett. 96:061301 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0503349]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[12]  M. Manera, D. F. Mota. Clusters Number Counts dependence on Dark Energy Inhomogeneities and Coupling to Dark Matter. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 371:1373 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0504519]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[13]  C. Skordis, D. F. Mota , P. Ferreira, C. Bohem. Large Scale Structure Formation in Bekenstein's Theory of Relativistic MOND. Phys. Rev. Lett. 96:011301 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0505519]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[14]  M. Amarzguioui, O. Elgaroy, D. F. Mota, T. Multamaki. Cosmological Constraints on F(R) Gravity Theories within the Palatini Approach. Astron. and Astrophys. 454, 707-714 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0510519]. (TOPCITE= 100+)
[15]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Dark Energy Anisotropic Stress and Large Scale Structure Formation. Phys. Rev. D 73:083502 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0512135]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[16]  A.W. Brook_eld, C. van de Bruck, D. F. Mota, D. Tocchini-Valentini. Cosmology of Mass-Varying Neutrinos Driven by Quintessence: Theory and Observations. Phys. Rev. D 73:083515 (2006) [arXiv:astro-ph/0512367]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[17]  A. Balaguera-Antol__nez, D. F. Mota, M.Nowakowski. Ellipsoidal Con_gurations in the de Sitter Spacetime. Class. Quantum Gravity 23:4497-4510 (2006) [arXiv:gr-qc/0606096].
[18]  D. F. Mota, D. Shaw. Strongly Coupled Chameleon Fields: New Horizons in Scalar Field Theory. Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 151102 (2006) [arXiv:hep-ph/0606204]. (TOPCITE = 100+)
[19]  D. F. Mota, D. Shaw. Evading Equivalence Principle Violations, Cosmological and other Experimental Constraints in Scalar Field Theories with a Strong Coupling to Matter. Phys. Rev. D 75, 063501 (2007) [arXiv: hep-ph/0608078] (TOPCITE = 100+)
[20]  F. Bourliot, P.G. Ferreira, D. F. Mota, C. Skordis. The cosmological behavior of Bekenstein's modi_ed theory of gravity. Phys. Rev. D 75, 063508 (2007) [arXiv:astro-ph/0611255]
[21]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Cosmology and Astrophysical Constraints of Gauss-Bonnet Dark Energy. Phys. Lett. B 644 (2007) 104. [arXiv: astro-ph/0606078] (TOPCITE = 100+)
[22]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Gauss-Bonnet Quintessence: Background Evolution, Large Scale Structure and Cosmological Constraints. Phys. Rev. D 75, 023518 (2007) [arXiv:hep-th/0609155] (TOPCITE = 100+)
[23]  B. Li, J. D. Barrow and D. F. Mota. The Cosmology of Modi_ed Gauss-Bonnet Gravity. Phys. Rev. D 76, 044027 (2007) [arXiv:0705.3795 gr-qc]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[24]  P. Brax, C. van de Bruck, A.C. Davis, D. F. Mota and D. Shaw. Testing Chameleon Theories with Light Propagating through a Magnetic Field. Phys. Rev. D 76, 085010 (2007) [arXiv:0707.2801 hep-ph].
[25]  B. Li, J. D. Barrow and D. F. Mota. Ricci-Tensor Squared Gravity in the Palatini Variational Approach. Phys. Rev. D 76, 010404 (2007) [arXiv:0707.2664 gr-qc].
[26]  D.F. Mota, J. R. Kristiansen, T. Koivisto and N. E. Groeneboom. Constraining Dark Energy Anisotropic Stress. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 382:793 (2007) [arXiv:0708.0830 astro-ph]. (TOPCITE= 50+)
[27]  A. Balaguera-Antol__nez, D. F. Mota, M.Nowakowski. Astrophysical Con_gurations with Background Cosmology: Probing Dark Energy at Astrophysical Scales. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 382:621 (2007) [arXiv:0708.2980 astro-ph].
[28]  P. Brax, C. van de Bruck, A.C. Davis, D. F. Mota and D. Shaw. Detecting Chameleons through Casimir Force Measurements. Phys. Rev. D 76, 124034 (2007). [arXiv:0709.2075 hep-ph].
[29]  O. E. Bj_lde, A. Brook_eld, C. van de Bruck, S. Hannestad, D. F. Mota, L. Schrempp and D. Tocchini-Valentini. Neutrino Dark Energy-Revisiting the Stability Issue. JCAP 01: 026 (2008) [arXiv:0705.2018 astro-ph] (TOPCITE = 50+)
[30]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Accelerating Cosmologies with an Anisotropic Equation of State. Astrophys. J. 679:1 (2008) [arXiv:0707.0279 astro-ph]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[31]  D. Shaw , D. F. Mota. An Improved Semi-Analytical Spherical Collapse Model for Non-linear Density Evolution. Astrophys. J. Supp. 174, 277, (2008) [arXiv:0708.0868 astro-ph].
[32]  D. F. Mota, D.J. Shaw, J. Silk. On the Magnitude of Dark Energy Voids and Overdensities. Astrophys. J. 675:29 (2008). [arXiv:0709.2227 astro-ph].
[33]  D. Easson, R. Gregory, D.F. Mota, G. Tasinato and I. Zavala. Spination. JCAP 02:010 (2008) [arXiv:0709.2666 hep-th]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[34]  B. Li, D. F. Mota and J. D. Barrow. Detecting a Lorentz-Violating Field in Cosmology. Phys. Rev. D 77, 024032 (2008) [arXiv:0709.4581 astro-ph].
[35]  C. Boehmer , D. F. Mota. CMB Anisotropies and Ination from Non-Standard Spinors. Phys. Lett. B 663:168 (2008) [arXiv:0710.2003 astro-ph] (TOPCITE = 50+)
[36]  H. Gies, D. F. Mota, D. J. Shaw. Hidden in the Light: Magnetically Induced Afterglow from Trapped Chameleon Fields. Phys. Rev. D 77, 025016 (2008) [arXiv:0710.1556 hep-ph].
[37]  B. Li, D. F. Mota and D. J. Shaw. Indistinguishable Macroscopic Behaviour of Palatini Gravities and General Relativity Class. Quantum Gravity 26, 055018, 20 (2009) [arXiv:0801.0603 gr-qc]
[38]  D. F. Mota, V. Pettorino, G. Robbers, C. Wetterich. Neutrino Clustering in Growing Neutrino Quintessence. Phys. Lett. B 663:160 (2008) [arXiv:0802.1515 astro-ph]
[39]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Anisotropic Dark Energy: Dynamics of Background and Perturbations. JCAP 0806:018 (2008) [arXiv:0801.3676 astro-ph]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[40]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota. Vector Field Models of Ination and Dark Energy. JCAP 08:021 (2008) [arXiv:0805.4229 astro-ph]. (TOPCITE = 50+)
[41]  B. Li, D. F. Mota and D. J. Shaw. Microscopic and Macroscopic Behaviors of Palatini Modi_ed Gravity Theories. Phys. Rev. D 78, 064018 (2008) [arXiv:0805.3428 gr-qc].
[42]  B. Li, J. D. Barrow, D. F. Mota and H. Zhao. Testing Alternative Theories of Dark Matter with CMB. Phys. Rev. D 78, 064021 (2008) [arXiv: 0805.4400 gr-qc].
[43]  D. F. Mota. Probing Dark Energy at Galactic and Clusters Scales. JCAP 09:006 (2008) [arXiv: 0812.4493 astro-ph].
[44]  T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota, C. Pitrou. Ination from N-Forms and its Stability. JHEP 0909:092 (2009) [arXiv:0903.4158 astro-ph.CO ].
[45]  J. Bletran-Jimenez, T. Koivisto, A.Maroto, D. F. Mota. Perturbations in Electromagnetic Dark Energy. JCAP 0910:029 (2009) [arXiv:0907.3648 physics.gen-ph].
[46]  Nico Wintergerst, Valeria Pettorino, David F. Mota, Christof Wetterich, . Very large scale structures in growing neutrino quintessence. Phys. Rev. D 81, 063525 (2010) [arXiv:0910.4985 astro-ph.CO]
[47]  Antonio De Felice, David F. Mota, Shinji Tsujikawa. Matter instabilities in general Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Phys. Rev. D 81, 023532 (2010) [arXiv:0911.1811 gr-qc]
[48]  Christian G. Boehmer, James Burnett, David F. Mota, Douglas J. Shaw. Dark spinor models in gravitation and cosmology. JHEP 1007:053 (2010) [arXiv:1003.3858 hep-th]
[49]  M. Zumalacarregui, T. Koivisto, D. F. Mota, P. Ruiz-Lapuente. Disformal Scalar Fields and the Dark Sector of the Universe. JCAP 1005:038 (2010) [arXiv: 1004.2684 astro-ph.CO ].
[50]  Philippe Brax, Carsten van de Bruck, David F. Mota, Nelson J. Nunes, Hans A. Winther. Chameleons with Field Dependent Couplings. Phys. Rev. D 82 083503 (2010) [arXiv:1006.2796 astro-ph.CO ].
[51]  D. F. Mota, M. Sandstad and T. Zlosnik. Cosmology of the selfaccelerating third order Galileon. JHEP 1012 051 (2010) [arXiv:1009.6151 astro-ph.CO].
[52]  R. Gannouji, B. Moraes, D. F. Mota, D. Polarski, S. Tsujikawa, H. A. Winther, . Chameleon dark energy models with characteristic signatures. Phys. Rev. D 82, 124006 (2010). [arXiv:1010.3769 astro-ph.CO].
[53]  Tomi S. Koivisto, David F. Mota, Miguel Quartin, Tom G. Zlosnik. On the Possibility of Anisotropic Curvature in Cosmology. Phys. Rev. D83 023509 (2011) [arXiv:1006.3321 astro-ph.CO ].
[54]  B. Li, D. F. Mota and J. D. Barrow. Varying alpha from N-body Simulations. Astrophys. J. 728 108 (2011) [arXiv: 1009.1396 astro-ph.CO].
[55]  B. Li, D. F. Mota and J. D. Barrow. N-body Simulations for Extended Quintessence Models. Astrophys. J. 728 109 (2011) [arXiv:1009.1400 astro-ph.CO].
[56]  C. van de Bruck, D. F. Mota, J. M. Weller. Embedding DBI ination in scalar-tensor theory. JCAP 1103, 034 (2011). [arXiv:1012.1567 astro-ph.CO].
[57]  T. S. Koivisto, D. F. Mota, M. Zumalacarregui. Constraining Entropic Cosmology. JCAP 1102, 027 (2011). [arXiv:1011.2226 astro-ph.CO].
[58]  T. S. Koivisto, D. F. Mota, . CMB statistics in noncommutative ination. JHEP 1102, 061 (2011). [arXiv:1011.2126 astro-ph.CO].
[59]  D. F. Mota, H. A. Winther, . Cosmology of Chameleons with Power-Law Couplings. Astrophys. J. 733 7 (2011) [arXiv:1010.5650 astro-ph.CO].
[60]  D. F. Mota, V. Salzano, S. Capozziello. Testing feasibility of scalar-tensor gravity by scale dependent mass and coupling to matter. Phys. Rev. D83 084038 (2011) [arXiv:1103.4215 astro-ph.CO].
[61]  N. E. Groeneboom, M. Axelsson, D. F. Mota, T. Koivisto. Imprints of a hemispherical power asymmetry in the seven-year WMAP data due to non-commutativity of space-time Astrophys. J. in print [arXiv:1011.5353 astro-ph.CO].
[62]  R. Mainini, D. F. Mota. ISW-LSS cross-correlation in coupled Dark Energy models with massive neutrinos. Astrophys. J. in print [arXiv:1011.0083 astro-ph.CO].
[63]  A. C. Davis, B. Li, D. F. Mota, H. A. Winther, . Structure Formation in Symmetron Models. Astrophys. J. in print [arXiv: 1108.3081 astro-ph.CO].
[64]  D. F. Mota, C.A.O. Shelps. Requirement of a Primordial Magnetic Fields in Chameleon Models. Phys. Rev. Lett. in print [arXiv: 1108.0892 astro-ph.CO].

Publications: Conferences/Workshops/Symposiums

[1]  O. Bertolami, D. F. Mota. Primordial Magnetic Fields from the Breaking of Lorentz Invariance. Proceedings of the Second International Workshop: New Worlds in Astroparticle Physics, . Faro, Portugal, Sep., 1998. World Scienti_c Publishers: 335 (1999).
[2]  O. Bertolami, D. F. Mota. Seed Magnetic Fields from the Breaking of Lorentz Invariance. Proceedings: CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington. Edited by V. Alan Kostelecky. Singapore, World Scienti_c Publishers: 226-231 (1999) [arXiv:gr-qc/9901041].
[3]  C. van de Bruck, D. F. Mota. Dark energy and Non-Linear Perturbations. Proceedings of IDM, Edinburgh, September 2004 . Edited by N.J.C. Spooner, V. Kudryavtsev. Hackensack, World Scienti_c Publishers: 662 (2005) [arXiv: astro-ph/0501276]
[4]  D. F. Mota, D. J. Shaw. Beyond the Chameleon Mechanism. Proceedings of the 43rd Moriond Cosmology Meeting. La Thuile, Italy, 15th-22nd March. 2008. Edited by J. Dumarchez and Y. Giraud-Heraud. [arXiv:0805.3430 hep-ph]
[5]  D. F. Mota, D. J. Shaw. Strong Coupling Regime of Chameleon Models. Proceedings of the CRAL-Conference Series: Dark Energy and Dark Matter. Lyon, France, 7th-11th July 2008. EAS Publications Series.
[6]  V. Pettorino, D. F. Mota, G. Robbers and C. Wetterich. Clustering in Growing Neutrino Cosmologies. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop On The Dark Side Of The Universe (DSU. 2008) 1-5 Jun 2008, Cairo, Egypt.
[7]  A. De Felice, D. F. Mota and S. Tsujikawa, . Matter Instabilities In General Gauss-Bonnet Gravity. Proceedings Edited by K. Bamba, C.Q. Geng. Hackensack, World Scienti_c, 2010. (Mod. Phys. Lett. A25 (2010) 843-1025).