Is cosmology consistent?

Xiaomin Wang, Max Tegmark, and Matias Zaldarriaga
Phys. Rev. D 65, 123001 – Published 24 May 2002
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Abstract

We perform a detailed analysis of the latest cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurements (including BOOMERaNG, DASI, Maxima and CBI), both alone and jointly with other cosmological data sets involving, e.g., galaxy clustering and the Lyman Alpha Forest. We first address the question of whether the CMB data are internally consistent once calibration and beam uncertainties are taken into account, performing a series of statistical tests. With a few minor caveats, our answer is yes, and we compress all data into a single set of 24 bandpowers with associated covariance matrix and window functions. We then compute joint constraints on the 11 parameters of the “standard” adiabatic inflationary cosmological model. Our best fit model passes a series of physical consistency checks and agrees with essentially all currently available cosmological data. In addition to sharp constraints on the cosmic matter budget in good agreement with those of the BOOMERaNG, DASI and Maxima teams, we obtain a heaviest neutrino mass range 0.044.2eV and the sharpest constraints to date on gravity waves which (together with preference for a slight red-tilt) favor “small-field” inflation models.

  • Received 10 May 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.65.123001

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Xiaomin Wang* and Max Tegmark

  • Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Matias Zaldarriaga

  • Department of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003

  • *Email address: xiaomin@hep.upenn.edu

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Issue

Vol. 65, Iss. 12 — 15 June 2002

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