Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userNull tests of the cosmological constant using supernovae
148
0
0.0
(
0
)
Authors
Sahba Yahya
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
The standard concordance model of the Universe is based on the cosmological constant as the driver of accelerating expansion. This concordance model is being subjected to a growing range of inter-locking observations. In addition to using generic observational tests, one can also design tests that target the specific properties of the cosmological constant. These null tests do not rely on parametrisations of observables, but focus on quantities that are constant only if dark energy is a cosmological constant. We use supernova data in null tests that are based on the luminosity distance. In order to extract derivatives of the distance in a model-independent way, we use Gaussian Processes. We find that the concordance model is compatible with the Union 2.1 data, but the error bars are fairly large. Simulated datasets are generated for the DES supernova survey and we show that this survey will allow for a sharper null test of the cosmological constant if we assume the Universe is flat. Allowing for spatial curvature degrades the power of the null test.
rate research
Read More
We present an improved measurement of the Hubble constant (H_0) using the inverse distance ladder method, which adds the information from 207 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) at redshift 0.018 < z < 0.85 to existing distance measurements of 122 low redshift (z < 0.07) SNe Ia (Low-z) and measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs). Whereas traditional measurements of H_0 with SNe Ia use a distance ladder of parallax and Cepheid variable stars, the inverse distance ladder relies on absolute distance measurements from the BAOs to calibrate the intrinsic magnitude of the SNe Ia. We find H_0 = 67.8 +/- 1.3 km s-1 Mpc-1 (statistical and systematic uncertainties, 68% confidence). Our measurement makes minimal assumptions about the underlying cosmological model, and our analysis was blinded to reduce confirmation bias. We examine possible systematic uncertainties and all are below the statistical uncertainties. Our H_0 value is consistent with estimates derived from the Cosmic Microwave Background assuming a LCDM universe (Planck Collaboration et al. 2018).
The observed value $Lambda_{rm obs}$ of the cosmological constant $Lambda$ is extremely smaller than theoretical expectations, and the anthropic argument has been proposed as a solution to this problem because galaxies do not form when $Lambda gg Lambda_{rm obs}$. However, the contemporary galaxy formation theory predicts that stars form even with a high value of $Lambda / Lambda_{rm obs} sim$ 50, which makes the anthropic argument less persuasive. Here we calculate the probability distribution of $Lambda$ using a model of cosmological galaxy formation, considering extinction of observers caused by radiation from nearby supernovae. The life survival probability decreases in a large $Lambda$ universe because of higher stellar density. Using a reasonable rate of lethal supernovae, we find that the mean expectation value of $Lambda$ can be close to $Lambda_{rm obs}$, and hence this effect may be essential to understand the small but nonzero value of $Lambda$. It is predicted that we are located on the edge of habitable regions about stellar density in the Galaxy, which may be tested by future exoplanet studies.
The case for a flat Cold Dark Matter model with a positive cosmological constant $Lambda$ has been recently strongly advocated by some theoreticians. In this paper we give the observers point of view to the light of the most recent observations with a special emphasis on lensing tests. We confirm the apparent cosmic concordance for a flat Universe with $Omega_{Lambda}$ close to 0.6 but we note that a low mass density open universe with no cosmological constant is still quite acceptable for most of the reliable observational tests, including lensing tests as well.
Modifications of general relativity provide an alternative explanation to dark energy for the observed acceleration of the universe. We review recent developments in modified gravity theories, focusing on higher dimensional approaches and chameleon/f(R) theories. We classify these models in terms of the screening mechanisms that enable such theories to approach general relativity on small scales (and thus satisfy solar system constraints). We describe general features of the modified Friedman equation in such theories. The second half of this review describes experimental tests of gravity in light of the new theoretical approaches. We summarize the high precision tests of gravity on laboratory and solar system scales. We describe in some detail tests on astrophysical scales ranging from ~kpc (galaxy scales) to ~Gpc (large-scale structure). These tests rely on the growth and inter-relationship of perturbations in the metric potentials, density and velocity fields which can be measured using gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster abundances, galaxy clustering and the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. A robust way to interpret observations is by constraining effective parameters, such as the ratio of the two metric potentials. Currently tests of gravity on astrophysical scales are in the early stages --- we summarize these tests and discuss the interesting prospects for new tests in the coming decade.
Modifications to gravity can provide attractive alternatives to the dark components of the standard model of cosmology. These modifications to general relativity (GR) must be hidden at small scales where theory is well tested, and so one naturally looks to the large scales in order to detect any deviations from GR. One particularly promising avenue in testing gravity at cosmological scales is within the anisotropy of galaxy clustering in redshift space. This thesis presents a framework for consistently constructing large scale structure observables in redshift space for gravitational theories that include an additional scalar degree of freedom, specifically, the Horndeski class of theories with a generalized potential term. The relevance of such a framework in the context of next generation spectroscopic surveys is then investigated using N-body simulations. The thesis concludes with ongoing and recently completed extensions to this framework, including interacting dark energy models and the effective field theory of large scale structure.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
