782 research outputs found
Non-linear matter power spectrum from Time Renormalisation Group: efficient computation and comparison with one-loop
We address the issue of computing the non-linear matter power spectrum on
mildly non-linear scales with efficient semi-analytic methods. We implemented
M. Pietroni's Time Renormalization Group (TRG) method and its Dynamical 1-Loop
(D1L) limit in a numerical module for the new Boltzmann code CLASS. Our
publicly released module is valid for LCDM models, and optimized in such a way
to run in less than a minute for D1L, or in one hour (divided by number of
nodes) for TRG. A careful comparison of the D1L, TRG and Standard 1-Loop
approaches reveals that results depend crucially on the assumed initial
bispectrum at high redshift. When starting from a common assumption, the three
methods give roughly the same results, showing that the partial resumation of
diagrams beyond one loop in the TRG method improves one-loop results by a
negligible amount. A comparison with highly accurate simulations by M. Sato &
T. Matsubara shows that all three methods tend to over-predict non-linear
corrections by the same amount on small wavelengths. Percent precision is
achieved until k~0.2 h/Mpc for z>2, or until k~0.14 h/Mpc at z=1.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, revised title and conclusions, version accepted
in JCAP, code available at http://class-code.ne
Constraining Dark Matter-Neutrino Interactions using the CMB and Large-Scale Structure
We present a new study on the elastic scattering cross section of dark matter
(DM) and neutrinos using the latest cosmological data from Planck and
large-scale structure experiments. We find that the strongest constraints are
set by the Lyman-alpha forest, giving sigma_{DM-neutrino} < 10^{-33} (m_DM/GeV)
cm^2 if the cross section is constant and a present-day value of
sigma_{DM-neutrino} < 10^{-45} (m_DM/GeV) cm^2 if it scales as the temperature
squared. These are the most robust limits on DM-neutrino interactions to date,
demonstrating that one can use the distribution of matter in the Universe to
probe dark ("invisible") interactions. Additionally, we show that scenarios
involving thermal MeV DM and a constant elastic scattering cross section
naturally predict (i) a cut-off in the matter power spectrum at the Lyman-alpha
scale, (ii) N_eff ~ 3.5 +/- 0.4, (iii) H_0 ~ 71 +/- 3 km/s/Mpc and (iv) the
possible generation of neutrino masses.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
The Cosmic Linear Anisotropy Solving System (CLASS) IV: Efficient implementation of non-cold relics
We present a new flexible, fast and accurate way to implement massive
neutrinos, warm dark matter and any other non-cold dark matter relics in
Boltzmann codes. For whatever analytical or numerical form of the phase-space
distribution function, the optimal sampling in momentum space compatible with a
given level of accuracy is automatically found by comparing quadrature methods.
The perturbation integration is made even faster by switching to an approximate
viscous fluid description inside the Hubble radius, which differs from previous
approximations discussed in the literature. When adding one massive neutrino to
the minimal cosmological model, CLASS becomes just 1.5 times slower, instead of
about 5 times in other codes (for fixed accuracy requirements). We illustrate
the flexibility of our approach by considering a few examples of standard or
non-standard neutrinos, as well as warm dark matter models.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Matches published version. Code
available at http://class-code.ne
Parameter extraction by Planck for a CDM model with broken scale invariance and cosmological constant
We consider a class of spatially flat cold dark matter (CDM) models, with a
cosmological constant and a broken-scale-invariant (BSI) steplike primordial
spectrum of adiabatic perturbations, previously found to be in very good
agreement with observations. Performing a Fisher matrix analysis, we show that
in case of a large gravitational waves (GW) contribution some free parameters
(defining the step) of our BSI model can be extracted with remarkable accuracy
by the Planck satellite, thanks to the polarisation anisotropy measurements.
Further, cosmological parameters can still be found with very good precision,
despite a larger number of free parameters than in the simplest inflationary
models.Comment: Final version to appear in MNRAS. Minor changes. 5 pages, 1 LaTeX
figure, uses mn.st
The lepton asymmetry: the last chance for a critical-density cosmology?
We use a wide range of observations to constrain cosmological models possessing a significant asymmetry in the lepton sector, which offer perhaps the best chance of reconciling a critical-density Universe with current observations. The simplest case, with massless neutrinos, fails to fit many experimental data and does not lead to an acceptable model. If the neutrinos have mass of order one electron-volt (which is favoured by some neutrino observations), then models can be implemented which prove a good fit to microwave anisotropies and large-scale structure data. However, taking into account the latest microwave anisotropy results, especially those from Boomerang, we show that the model can no longer accommodate the observed baryon fraction in clusters. Together with the observed acceleration of the present Universe, this puts considerable pressure on such critical-density models
Cosmological constraints on Lorentz violating dark energy
The role of Lorentz invariance as a fundamental symmetry of nature has been
lately reconsidered in different approaches to quantum gravity. It is thus
natural to study whether other puzzles of physics may be solved within these
proposals. This may be the case for the cosmological constant problem. Indeed,
it has been shown that breaking Lorentz invariance provides Lagrangians that
can drive the current acceleration of the universe without experiencing large
corrections from ultraviolet physics. In this work, we focus on the simplest
model of this type, called ThetaCDM, and study its cosmological implications in
detail. At the background level, this model cannot be distinguished from
LambdaCDM. The differences appear at the level of perturbations. We show that
in ThetaCDM, the spectrum of CMB anisotropies and matter fluctuations may be
affected by a rescaling of the gravitational constant in the Poisson equation,
by the presence of extra contributions to the anisotropic stress, and finally
by the existence of extra clustering degrees of freedom. To explore these
modifications accurately, we modify the Boltzmann code CLASS. We then use the
parameter inference code Monte Python to confront ThetaCDM with data from
WMAP-7, SPT and WiggleZ. We obtain strong bounds on the parameters accounting
for deviations from LambdaCDM. In particular, we find that the discrepancy
between the gravitational constants appearing in the Poisson and Friedmann
equations is constrained at the level 1.8%.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure
Bounds on isocurvature perturbations from CMB and LSS data
We obtain very stringent bounds on the possible cold dark matter, baryon and
neutrino isocurvature contributions to the primordial fluctuations in the
Universe, using recent cosmic microwave background and large scale structure
data. In particular, we include the measured temperature and polarization power
spectra from WMAP and ACBAR, as well as the matter power spectrum from the 2dF
galaxy redshift survey. Neglecting the possible effects of spatial curvature,
tensor perturbations and reionization, we perform a Bayesian likelihood
analysis with nine free parameters, and find that the amplitude of the
isocurvature component cannot be larger than about 31% for the cold dark matter
mode, 91% for the baryon mode, 76% for the neutrino density mode, and 60% for
the neutrino velocity mode, at 2-sigma, for uncorrelated models. On the other
hand, for correlated adiabatic and isocurvature components, the fraction could
be slightly larger. However, the cross-correlation coefficient is strongly
constrained, and maximally correlated/anticorrelated models are disfavored.
This puts strong bounds on the curvaton model, independently of the bounds on
non-Gaussianity.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, some minor corrections; version accepted in PR
Detectability of the primordial origin of the gravitational wave background in the Universe
The appearance of peaks in various primordial fluctuation Fourier power
spectra is a generic prediction of the inflationary scenario. We investigate
whether future experiments, in particular the satellite experiment PLANCK, will
be able to detect the possible appearance of these peaks in the B-mode
polarization multipole power spectrum. This would yield a conclusive proof of
the presence of a primordial background of gravitational waves.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, version accepted for publication in A&A.
Conclusions unchange
CMB power spectrum parameter degeneracies in the era of precision cosmology
Cosmological parameter constraints from the CMB power spectra alone suffer
several well-known degeneracies. These degeneracies can be broken by numerical
artefacts and also a variety of physical effects that become quantitatively
important with high-accuracy data e.g. from the Planck satellite. We study
degeneracies in models with flat and non-flat spatial sections, non-trivial
dark energy and massive neutrinos, and investigate the importance of various
physical degeneracy-breaking effects. We test the CAMB power spectrum code for
numerical accuracy, and demonstrate that the numerical calculations are
accurate enough for degeneracies to be broken mainly by true physical effects
(the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, CMB lensing and geometrical and other
effects through recombination) rather than numerical artefacts. We quantify the
impact of CMB lensing on the power spectra, which inevitably provides
degeneracy-breaking information even without using information in the
non-Gaussianity. Finally we check the numerical accuracy of sample-based
parameter constraints using CAMB and CosmoMC. In an appendix we document recent
changes to CAMB's numerical treatment of massive neutrino perturbations, which
are tested along with other recent improvements by our degeneracy exploration
results.Comment: 27 pages, 28 figures. Latest CAMB version available from
http://camb.info/. Reduced number of figures, plot legend corrected and minor
edits to match published versio
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