No Arabic abstract
This paper aims to put constraints on the transition redshift $z_t$, which determines the onset of cosmic acceleration, in cosmological-model independent frameworks. In order to perform our analyses, we consider a flat universe and {assume} a parametrization for the comoving distance $D_C(z)$ up to third degree on $z$, a second degree parametrization for the Hubble parameter $H(z)$ and a linear parametrization for the deceleration parameter $q(z)$. For each case, we show that {type Ia supernovae} and $H(z)$ data complement each other on the parameter {space} and tighter constrains for the transition redshift are obtained. By {combining} the type Ia supernovae observations and Hubble parameter measurements it is possible to constrain the values of $z_t$, for each approach, as $0.806pm 0.094$, $0.870pm 0.063$ and $0.973pm 0.058$ at 1$sigma$ c.l., respectively. Then, such approaches provide cosmological-model independent estimates for this parameter.
We show how to obtain constraints on $beta=f/b$, the ratio of the matter growth rate and the bias that quantifies the linear redshift-space distortions, that are independent of the cosmological model, using multiple tracers of large-scale structure. For a single tracer the uncertainties on $beta$ are constrained by the uncertainties in the amplitude and shape of the power spectrum, which is limited by cosmic variance. However, for two or more tracers this limit does not apply, since taking the ratio of power spectra cosmic variance cancels out, and in the linear (Kaiser) approximation one measures directly the quantity $(1+ beta_1 mu^2)^2/(1+ beta_2 mu^2)^2$, where $mu$ is the angle of a given mode with the line of sight. We provide analytic formulae for the Fisher matrix for one and two tracers, and quantify the signal-to-noise ratio needed to make effective use of the multiple-tracer technique. We also forecast the errors on $beta$ for a survey like Euclid.
We use current measurements of the expansion rate $H(z)$ and cosmic background radiation bounds on the spatial curvature of the Universe to impose cosmological model-independent constraints on cosmic opacity. To perform our analyses, we compare opacity-free distance modulus from $H(z)$ data with those from two supernovae Ia compilations: the Union2.1 plus the most distant spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia (SNe Ia SCP-0401 $z=1.713$) and two Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) subsamples. The influence of different SNe Ia light-curve fitters (SALT2 and MLCS2K2) on the results is also verified. We find that a completely transparent universe is in agreement with the largest sample in our analysis (Union 2.1 plus SNe Ia SCP-0401). For SDSS sample a such universe it is compatible at $< 1.5sigma$ level regardless the SNe Ia light-curve fitting used.
The effective anisotropic stress or gravitational slip $eta=-Phi/Psi$ is a key variable in the characterisation of the physical origin of the dark energy, as it allows to test for a non-minimal coupling of the dark sector to gravity in the Jordan frame. It is however important to use a fully model-independent approach when measuring $eta$ to avoid introducing a theoretical bias into the results. In this paper we forecast the precision with which future large surveys can determine $eta$ in a way that only relies on directly observable quantities. In particular, we do not assume anything concerning the initial spectrum of perturbations, nor on its evolution outside the observed redshift range, nor on the galaxy bias. We first leave $eta$ free to vary in space and time and then we model it as suggested in Horndeski models of dark energy. Among our results, we find that a future large scale lensing and clustering survey can constrain $eta$ to within 10% if $k$-independent, and to within 60% or better at $k=0.1 h/$Mpc if it is restricted to follow the Horndeski model.
The cosmic curvature ($Omega_k$) is a fundamental parameter for cosmology. In this paper, we propose an improved model-independent method to constrain the cosmic curvature, which is geometrically related to the Hubble parameter $H(z)$ and luminosity distance $D_L(z)$. Using the currently largest $H(z)$ sample from the well-known cosmic chronometers, as well as the luminosity distance $D_L(z)$ from the relation between the UV and X-ray luminosities of 1598 quasars and the newly-compiled Pantheon sample including 1048 SNe Ia, 31 independent measurements of the cosmic curvature $Omega_k(z)$ can be expected covering the redshift range of $0.07<z<2$. Our estimation of $Omega_k(z)$ is fully compatible with flat Universe at the current level of observational precision. Meanwhile, we find that, for the Hubble diagram of 1598 quasars as a new type of standard candle, the spatial curvature is constrained to be $Omega_k=0.08pm0.31$. For the latest Pantheon sample of SNe Ia observations, we obtain $Omega_k= -0.02pm0.14$. Compared to other approaches aiming for model-independent estimations of spatial curvature, our analysis also achieves constraints with competitive precision. More interestingly, it is suggested that the reconstructed curvature $Omega_k$ is negative in the high redshift region, which is also consistent with the results from the model-dependent constraints in the literature. Such findings are confirmed by our reconstructed evolution of $Omega_k(z)$, in the framework of a model-independent method of Gaussian processes (GP) without assuming a specific form.
We derive a simple model-independent upper bound on the strength of magnetic fields obtained in inflationary and post-inflationary magnetogenesis taking into account the constraints imposed by the condition of weak coupling, back-reaction and Schwinger effect. This bound turns out to be rather low for cosmologically interesting spatial scales. Somewhat higher upper bound is obtained if one assumes that some unknown mechanism suppresses the Schwinger effect in the early universe. Incidentally, we correct our previous estimates for this case.