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1. Cosmological constraints from gas mass fractions of massive, relaxed galaxy clusters

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab3390  

   Mantz, Adam B. ; Morris, R. Glenn ; Allen, Steven W. ; Canning, Rebecca E. A. ; Baumont, Lucie ; Benson, Bradford ; Bleem, Lindsey E. ; Ehlert, Steven R. ; Floyd, Benjamin ; Herbonnet, Ricardo ; et al ( November 2021 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   We present updated cosmological constraints from measurements of the gas mass fractions (fgas) of massive, dynamically relaxed galaxy clusters. Our new data set has greater leverage on models of dark energy, thanks to the addition of the Perseus cluster at low redshifts, two new clusters at redshifts z ≳ 1, and significantly longer observations of four clusters at 0.6 < z < 0.9. Our low-redshift (z < 0.16) fgas data, combined with the cosmic baryon fraction measured from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), imply a Hubble constant of h = 0.722 ± 0.067. Combining the full fgas data set with priors on the cosmic baryon density and the Hubble constant, we constrain the dark energy density to be ΩΛ = 0.865 ± 0.119 in non-flat Lambda cold dark matter (cosmological constant) models, and its equation of state to be $w=-1.13_{-0.20}^{+0.17}$ in flat, constant-w models, respectively 41 per cent and 29 per cent tighter than our previous work, and comparable to the best constraints available from other probes. Combining fgas, CMB, supernova, and baryon acoustic oscillation data, we also constrain models with global curvature and evolving dark energy. For the massive, relaxed clusters employed here, we find the scaling of fgas with mass to be consistent with a constant, with an intrinsic scatter that corresponds to just ∼3 per cent in distance.

    

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2. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR6 Gravitational Lensing Map and Cosmological Parameters

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acff5f  

   Madhavacheril, Mathew S. ; Qu, Frank J. ; Sherwin, Blake D. ; MacCrann, Niall ; Li, Yaqiong ; Abril-Cabezas, Irene ; Ade, Peter A. R. ; Aiola, Simone ; Alford, Tommy ; Amiri, Mandana ; et al ( February 2024 , The Astrophysical Journal)

   We present cosmological constraints from a gravitational lensing mass map covering 9400 deg²reconstructed from measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) made by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) from 2017 to 2021. In combination with measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations and big bang nucleosynthesis, we obtain the clustering amplitudeσ₈= 0.819 ± 0.015 at 1.8% precision,$S_8\equiv {\sigma }_8{({\mathrm{\Omega }}_{\mathrm{m}}/0.3)}^{0.5}=0.840\pm 0.028$, and the Hubble constantH₀= (68.3 ± 1.1) km s⁻¹Mpc⁻¹at 1.6% precision. A joint constraint with Planck CMB lensing yieldsσ₈= 0.812 ± 0.013,$S_8\equiv {\sigma }_8{({\mathrm{\Omega }}_{\mathrm{m}}/0.3)}^{0.5}=0.831\pm 0.023$, andH₀= (68.1 ± 1.0) km s⁻¹Mpc⁻¹. These measurements agree with ΛCDM extrapolations from the CMB anisotropies measured by Planck. We revisit constraints from the KiDS, DES, and HSC galaxy surveys with a uniform set of assumptions and find thatS₈from all three are lower than that from ACT+Planck lensing by levels ranging from 1.7σto 2.1σ. This motivates further measurements and comparison, not just between the CMB anisotropies and galaxy lensing but also between CMB lensing probingz∼ 0.5–5 on mostly linear scales and galaxy lensing atz∼ 0.5 on smaller scales. We combine with CMB anisotropies to constrain extensions of ΛCDM, limiting neutrino masses to ∑m_ν< 0.13 eV (95% c.l.), for example. We describe the mass map and related data products that will enable a wide array of cross-correlation science. Our results provide independent confirmation that the universe is spatially flat, conforms with general relativity, and is described remarkably well by the ΛCDM model, while paving a promising path for neutrino physics with lensing from upcoming ground-based CMB surveys.

    

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3. The DESI one-per cent survey: exploring the halo occupation distribution of luminous red galaxies and quasi-stellar objects with AbacusSummit

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae359  

   Yuan, Sihan ; Zhang, Hanyu ; Ross, Ashley J. ; Donald-McCann, Jamie ; Hadzhiyska, Boryana ; Wechsler, Risa H. ; Zheng, Zheng ; Alam, Shadab ; Gonzalez-Perez, Violeta ; Aguilar, Jessica Nicole ; et al ( April 2024 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   We present the first comprehensive halo occupation distribution (HOD) analysis of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) One-Percent Survey luminous red galaxy (LRG) and Quasi Stellar Object (QSO) samples. We constrain the HOD of each sample and test possible HOD extensions by fitting the redshift-space galaxy 2-point correlation functions in 0.15 < r < 32 h−1 Mpc in a set of fiducial redshift bins. We use AbacusSummit cubic boxes at Planck 2018 cosmology as model templates and forward model galaxy clustering with the AbacusHOD package. We achieve good fits with a standard HOD model with velocity bias, and we find no evidence for galaxy assembly bias or satellite profile modulation at the current level of statistical uncertainty. For LRGs in 0.4 < z < 0.6, we infer a satellite fraction of $f_\mathrm{sat} = 11\pm 1~{y{\ \mathrm{per\,cent}}}$, a mean halo mass of $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot =13.40^{+0.02}_{-0.02}$, and a linear bias of $b_\mathrm{lin} = 1.93_{-0.04}^{+0.06}$. For LRGs in 0.6 < z < 0.8, we find $f_\mathrm{sat}=14\pm 1~{{\ \mathrm{per\,cent}}}$, $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot =13.24^{+0.02}_{-0.02}$, and $b_\mathrm{lin}=2.08_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$. For QSOs, we infer $f_\mathrm{sat}=3^{+8}_{-2}\mathrm{per\,cent}$, $\log _{10}\overline{M}_h/M_\odot = 12.65^{+0.09}_{-0.04}$, and $b_\mathrm{lin} = 2.63_{-0.26}^{+0.37}$ in redshift range 0.8 < z < 2.1. Using these fits, we generate a large suite of high fidelity galaxy mocks, forming the basis of systematic tests for DESI Y1 cosmological analyses. We also study the redshift-evolution of the DESI LRG sample from z = 0.4 up to z = 1.1, revealling significant and interesting trends in mean halo mass, linear bias, and satellite fraction.

    

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4. Uncertain times: the redshift–time relation from cosmology and stars

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab1521  

   Boylan-Kolchin, Michael ; Weisz, Daniel R ( June 2021 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   null (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT Planck data provide precise constraints on cosmological parameters when assuming the base ΛCDM model, including a 0.17 per cent measurement of the age of the Universe, $t_0=13.797 \pm 0.023\, {\rm Gyr}$. However, the persistence of the ‘Hubble tension’ calls the base ΛCDM model’s completeness into question and has spurred interest in models such as early dark energy (EDE) that modify the assumed expansion history of the Universe. We investigate the effect of EDE on the redshift–time relation z↔t and find that it differs from the base ΛCDM model by at least ${\approx } 4{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at all t and z. As long as EDE remains observationally viable, any inferred t ← z or z ← t quoted to a higher level of precision do not reflect the current status of our understanding of cosmology. This uncertainty has important astrophysical implications: the reionization epoch – 10 > z > 6 – corresponds to disjoint lookback time periods in the base ΛCDM and EDE models, and the EDE value of t0 = 13.25 ± 0.17 Gyr is in tension with published ages of some stars, star clusters, and ultrafaint dwarf galaxies. However, most published stellar ages do not include an uncertainty in accuracy (due to, e.g. uncertain distances and stellar physics) that is estimated to be $\sim 7\!-\!10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, potentially reconciling stellar ages with $t_{0,\rm EDE}$. We discuss how the big data era for stars is providing extremely precise ages ($\lt 1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) and how improved distances and treatment of stellar physics such as convection could result in ages accurate to $4\!-\!5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, comparable to the current accuracy of t↔z. Such precise and accurate stellar ages can provide detailed insight into the high-redshift Universe independent of a cosmological model. 

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5. The Pantheon+ Analysis: Cosmological Constraints

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac8e04  

   Brout, Dillon ; Scolnic, Dan ; Popovic, Brodie ; Riess, Adam G. ; Carr, Anthony ; Zuntz, Joe ; Kessler, Rick ; Davis, Tamara M. ; Hinton, Samuel ; Jones, David ; et al ( October 2022 , The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We present constraints on cosmological parameters from the Pantheon+ analysis of 1701 light curves of 1550 distinct Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) ranging in redshift from z = 0.001 to 2.26. This work features an increased sample size from the addition of multiple cross-calibrated photometric systems of SNe covering an increased redshift span, and improved treatments of systematic uncertainties in comparison to the original Pantheon analysis, which together result in a factor of 2 improvement in cosmological constraining power. For a flat ΛCDM model, we find Ω M = 0.334 ± 0.018 from SNe Ia alone. For a flat w 0 CDM model, we measure w 0 = −0.90 ± 0.14 from SNe Ia alone, H 0 = 73.5 ± 1.1 km s −1 Mpc −1 when including the Cepheid host distances and covariance (SH0ES), and w 0 = − 0.978 − 0.031 + 0.024 when combining the SN likelihood with Planck constraints from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO); both w 0 values are consistent with a cosmological constant. We also present the most precise measurements to date on the evolution of dark energy in a flat w 0 w a CDM universe, and measure w a = − 0.1 − 2.0 + 0.9 from Pantheon+ SNe Ia alone, H 0 = 73.3 ± 1.1 km s −1 Mpc −1 when including SH0ES Cepheid distances, and w a = − 0.65 − 0.32 + 0.28 when combining Pantheon+ SNe Ia with CMB and BAO data. Finally, we find that systematic uncertainties in the use of SNe Ia along the distance ladder comprise less than one-third of the total uncertainty in the measurement of H 0 and cannot explain the present “Hubble tension” between local measurements and early universe predictions from the cosmological model. 

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