Statistical Test of Distance--Duality Relation with Type Ia Supernovae and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations

We test the distance--duality relation $\eta \equiv d_L / [ (1 + z)^2 d_A ] = 1$ between cosmological luminosity distance ($d_L$) from the JLA SNe Ia compilation (arXiv:1401.4064) and angular-diameter distance ($d_A$) based on Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS; arXiv:1607.03155) and WiggleZ baryon acoustic oscillation measurements (arXiv:1105.2862, arXiv:1204.3674). The $d_L$ measurements are matched to $d_A$ redshift by a statistically consistent compression procedure. With Monte Carlo methods, nontrivial and correlated distributions of $\eta$ can be explored in a straightforward manner without resorting to a particular evolution template $\eta(z)$. Assuming independent constraints on cosmological parameters that are necessary to obtain $d_L$ and $d_A$ values, we find 9% constraints consistent with $\eta = 1$ from the analysis of SNIa + BOSS and an 18% bound results from SNIa + WiggleZ. These results are contrary to previous claims that $\eta < 1$ has been found close to or above the $1 \sigma$ level. We discuss the effect of different cosmological parameter inputs and the use of the apparent deviation from distance--duality as a proxy of systematic effects on cosmic distance measurements. The results suggest possible systematic overestimation of SNIa luminosity distances compared with $d_A$ data when a Planck {\Lambda}CDM cosmological parameter inference (arXiv:1502.01589) is used to enhance the precision. If interpreted as an extinction correction due to a gray dust component, the effect is broadly consistent with independent observational constraints.Comment: v1: Initial analysis; v2: Using BOSS DR12 consensus BAO data w/ expanded analysis; v3: Major revision & expansion; v4: Matching ApJ-accepted version, 11 pages, 4 tables, 6 figures. Code & data for replication: see https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1219473 Comments welcom

Power of Observational Hubble Parameter Data: a Figure of Merit Exploration

We use simulated Hubble parameter data in the redshift range 0 \leq z \leq 2 to explore the role and power of observational H(z) data in constraining cosmological parameters of the {\Lambda}CDM model. The error model of the simulated data is empirically constructed from available measurements and scales linearly as z increases. By comparing the median figures of merit calculated from simulated datasets with that of current type Ia supernova data, we find that as many as 64 further independent measurements of H(z) are needed to match the parameter constraining power of SNIa. If the error of H(z) could be lowered to 3%, the same number of future measurements would be needed, but then the redshift coverage would only be required to reach z = 1. We also show that accurate measurements of the Hubble constant H_0 can be used as priors to increase the H(z) data's figure of merit.Comment: 8 pages, 1 table, 8 figures. v2: version accepted by Ap

Unconventional thermoelectric behaviors and enhancement of figure of merit in Rashba spintronic systems

Thermoelectric transport in strongly spin-orbit coupled two-dimensional Rashba system is studied using the exact solution of the linearized Boltzmann equation. Some unusual transport behaviors are revealed. We show that the electrical conductivity takes a Drude form when the Fermi energy $E_{F}$ is above the band crossing point, but a non-Drude form which is a quadratic function of $E_{F}$ when $E_{F}$ lies below the band crossing point. The Mott relation breaks down when $E_{F}$ lies in the vicinity of the band crossing point. It is shown that the thermopower and thermoelectric figure of merit are strongly enhanced when $E_{F}$ downs below the band crossing point. This enhancement is attributed to not only the one-dimensional-like density of state but also the unconventional intraband elastic scattering below the band crossing point. The differences between these results and those obtained by the relaxation time approximation are discussed in detail.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Thermoelectric response of spin polarization in Rashba spintronic systems

Motivated by recent discovery of strongly spin-orbit coupled two-dimensional (2D) electron gas near the surface of Rashba semiconductors BiTeX (X=Cl, Br, I), we calculate thermoelectric responses of spin polarization in 2D Rashba model using an exact solution of the linearized Boltzmann equation for elastic scattering. When the Fermi energy $E_{F}$ lies below the band crossing point we find a non-Edelstein electric-field induced spin polarization which is linear in $E_{F}$. We show that the Mott-like relation between spin polarizations induced by the temperature gradient and electric field breaks down significantly when $E_{F}$ lies in the vicinity of the band crossing point. As the temperature tends to zero, the temperature-gradient induced spin polarization vanishes. These results differ from previous ones obtained by relaxation time approximations.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure