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Title: Constraints on cosmic opacity and beyond the standard model physics from cosmological distance measurements

Journal Article · · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
 [1];  [2];  [3]; ;  [4]
  1. Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, DAMTP, CMS, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA (United Kingdom)
  2. Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg (Germany)
  3. Max Planck Institut für Physik, Föhringer Ring 6, D-80805, Munich (Germany)
  4. ICREA and Institute for Sciences of the Cosmos (ICC), University of Barcelona, IEEC, Barcelona 08028 (Spain)

We update constraints on cosmic opacity by combining recent SN Type Ia data with the latest measurements of the Hubble expansion at redshifts between 0 and 2. The new constraint on the parameter ε parametrising deviations from the luminosity-angular diameter distance relation (d{sub L} = d{sub A}(1+z){sup 2+ε}), is ε = −0.04{sub −0.07}{sup +0.08} (2-σ). For the redshift range between 0.2 and 0.35 this corresponds to an opacity Δτ < 0.012 (95% C.L.), a factor of 2 stronger than the previous constraint. Various models of beyond the standard model physics that predict violation of photon number conservation contribute to the opacity and can be equally constrained. In this paper we put new limits on axion-like particles, including chameleons, and mini-charged particles.

OSTI ID:
22275355
Journal Information:
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2010, Issue 10; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1475-7516
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English