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Title: Testing flatness of the universe with probes of cosmic distances and growth

Abstract

When using distance measurements to probe spatial curvature, the geometric degeneracy between curvature and dark energy in the distance-redshift relation typically requires either making strong assumptions about the dark energy evolution or sacrificing precision in a more model-independent approach. Measurements of the redshift evolution of the linear growth of perturbations can break the geometric degeneracy, providing curvature constraints that are both precise and model independent. Future supernova, CMB, and cluster data have the potential to measure the curvature with an accuracy of {sigma}({omega}{sub K})=0.002, without specifying a particular dark energy phenomenology. In combination with distance measurements, the evolution of the growth function at low redshifts provides the strongest curvature constraint if the high-redshift universe is well approximated as being purely matter dominated. However, in the presence of early dark energy or massive neutrinos, the precision in curvature is reduced due to additional degeneracies, and precise normalization of the growth function relative to recombination is important for obtaining accurate constraints. Curvature limits from distances and growth compare favorably to other approaches to curvature estimation proposed in the literature, providing either greater accuracy or greater freedom from dark energy modeling assumptions, and are complementary due to the use of independent data sets.more » Model-independent estimates of curvature are critical both for testing inflation and for obtaining unbiased constraints on dark energy parameters.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Department of Physics, Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, and Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21313559
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 80; Journal Issue: 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.80.123504; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0556-2821
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; ACCURACY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; DISTURBANCES; EVOLUTION; INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE; NEUTRINOS; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; PERTURBATION THEORY; POTENTIALS; RECOMBINATION; RED SHIFT; RELICT RADIATION; SIMULATION; SUPERNOVAE; UNIVERSE

Citation Formats

Mortonson, Michael J. Testing flatness of the universe with probes of cosmic distances and growth. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVD.80.123504.
Mortonson, Michael J. Testing flatness of the universe with probes of cosmic distances and growth. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.80.123504
Mortonson, Michael J. 2009. "Testing flatness of the universe with probes of cosmic distances and growth". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.80.123504.
@article{osti_21313559,
title = {Testing flatness of the universe with probes of cosmic distances and growth},
author = {Mortonson, Michael J},
abstractNote = {When using distance measurements to probe spatial curvature, the geometric degeneracy between curvature and dark energy in the distance-redshift relation typically requires either making strong assumptions about the dark energy evolution or sacrificing precision in a more model-independent approach. Measurements of the redshift evolution of the linear growth of perturbations can break the geometric degeneracy, providing curvature constraints that are both precise and model independent. Future supernova, CMB, and cluster data have the potential to measure the curvature with an accuracy of {sigma}({omega}{sub K})=0.002, without specifying a particular dark energy phenomenology. In combination with distance measurements, the evolution of the growth function at low redshifts provides the strongest curvature constraint if the high-redshift universe is well approximated as being purely matter dominated. However, in the presence of early dark energy or massive neutrinos, the precision in curvature is reduced due to additional degeneracies, and precise normalization of the growth function relative to recombination is important for obtaining accurate constraints. Curvature limits from distances and growth compare favorably to other approaches to curvature estimation proposed in the literature, providing either greater accuracy or greater freedom from dark energy modeling assumptions, and are complementary due to the use of independent data sets. Model-independent estimates of curvature are critical both for testing inflation and for obtaining unbiased constraints on dark energy parameters.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVD.80.123504},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21313559}, journal = {Physical Review. D, Particles Fields},
issn = {0556-2821},
number = 12,
volume = 80,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}