We present new constraints on the spectral index n_T of tensor fluctuations from the recent data obtained by the BICEP2 experiment. We found that the BICEP2 data alone slightly prefers a positive, blue, spectral index with n_T=1.36pm0.83 at 68 % c.l.
. However, when a TT prior on the tensor amplitude coming from temperature anisotropy measurements is assumed we get n_T=1.67pm0.53 at 68 % c.l., ruling out a scale invariant $n_T=0$ spectrum at more than three standard deviations. These results are at odds with current bounds on the tensor spectral index coming from pulsar timing, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, and direct measurements from the LIGO experiment. Considering only the possibility of a red, n_T<0 spectral index we obtain the lower limit n_T > -0.76 at 68 % c.l. (n_T>-0.09 when a TT prior is included).
A modification of the action of the general relativity produces a different pattern for the growth of the cosmic structures below a certain length-scale leaving an imprint on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. We re-examine the upper
limits on the length-scale parameter B0 of f (R) models using the recent data from the Planck satellite experiment. We also investigate the combined constraints obtained when including the Hubble Space Telescope H0 measurement and the baryon acoustic oscillations measurements from the SDSS, WiggleZ and BOSS surveys.
We present new constraints on coupled dark energy from the recent measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies from the Planck satellite mission. We found that a coupled dark energy model is fully compatible with the Planck measuremen
ts, deriving a weak bound on the dark matter-dark energy coupling parameter xi=-0.49^{+0.19}_{-0.31} at 68% c.l.. Moreover if Planck data are fitted to a coupled dark energy scenario, the constraint on the Hubble constant is relaxed to H_0=72.1^{+3.2}_{-2.3} km/s/Mpc, solving the tension with the Hubble Space Telescope value. We show that a combined Planck+HST analysis provides significant evidence for coupled dark energy finding a non-zero value for the coupling parameter xi, with -0.90< xi <-0.22 at 95% c.l.. We also consider the combined constraints from the Planck data plus the BAO measurements of the 6dF Galaxy Survey, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Baron Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey.
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the South Pole Telescope (SPT) have recently provided new and precise measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy damping tail. This region of the CMB angular spectra, thanks to the angular dis
tortions produced by gravitational lensing, can probe the growth of matter perturbations and provide a test for general relativity. Here we make use of the ACT and SPT power spectrum measurements (combined with the recent WMAP9 data) to constrain f(R) gravity theories. Adopting a parametrized approach, we obtain an upper limit on the lengthscale of the theory of B_0 < 0.86 at 95% c.l. from ACT, while we get a significantly stronger bound from SPT with B_0 < 0.14 at 95% c.l..
