How to fool cosmic microwave background parameter estimation
With the release of the data from the Boomerang and MAXIMA-1 balloon flights, estimates of cosmological parameters based on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have reached unprecedented precision. In this paper I show that it is possible for these estimates to be substantially biased by features in the primordial density power spectrum. I construct primordial power spectra which mimic to within cosmic variance errors the effect of changing parameters such as the baryon density and neutrino mass, meaning that even an ideal measurement would be unable to resolve the degeneracy. Complementary measurements are necessary to resolve this ambiguity in parameter estimation efforts based on CMB temperature fluctuations alone.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 40205041
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review D, Vol. 63, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.63.043001; Othernumber: PRVDAQ000063000004043001000001; 067104PRD; PBD: 15 Feb 2001; ISSN 0556-2821
- Publisher:
- The American Physical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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