arXiv subjects

Alain Blanchard

Publications and source records attributed to Alain Blanchard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Low-redshift tests of Newtonian cosmologies with a time-varying gravitational constant

In this work, we investigate Newtonian cosmologies with a time-varying gravitational constant, $G(t)$. We examine whether such models can reproduce the low-redshift cosmological observations without a cosmological constant, or any other sort of explicit dark energy fluid. Starting with a modified Newton's second law, where $G$ is taken as a function of time, we derive the first Friedmann--Lema{î}tre equation, where a second parameter, $G^*$, appears as the gravitational constant. This parameter is related to the original $G$ from the second law, which remains in the acceleration equation. We use this approach to reproduce various cosmological scenarios that are studied in the literature, and we test these models with low-redshift probes: type-Ia supernovae (SNIa), baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic chronometers, taking also into account a possible change in the supernovae intrinsic luminosity with redshift. As a result, we obtain several models with similar $χ^2$ values as the standard $Λ$CDM cosmology. When we allow for a redshift-dependence of the SNIa intrinsic luminosity, a model with a $G$ exponentially decreasing to zero while remaining positive (model 4) can explain the observations without acceleration. When we assume no redshift-dependence of SNIa, the observations favour a negative $G$ at large scales, while $G^*$ remains positive for most of these models. We conclude that these models offer interesting interpretations to the low-redshift cosmological observations, without needing a dark energy term.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Time-dependent $G$ in Einstein's equations as an alternative to the cosmological constant

In this work, we investigate cosmologies where the gravitational constant varies in time, with the aim of explaining the accelerated expansion without a cosmological constant. We achieve this by considering a phenomenological extension to general relativity, modifying Einstein's field equations such that $G$ is a function of time, $G(t)$, and we preserve the geometrical consistency (Bianchi identity) together with the usual conservation of energy by introducing a new tensor field to the equations. In order to have concrete expressions to compare with cosmological data, we posit additional properties to this tensor field, in a way that it can be interpreted as a response of spacetime to a variation of $G$. Namely, we require that the energy this tensor represents is nonzero only when there is a time variation of $G$, and its energy depends on the scale factor only because of its coupling to $G$ and the matter and radiation energy densities. Focusing on the accelerated expansion period, we use type Ia supernovae and baryon acoustic oscillation data to determine the best fit of the cosmological parameters as well as the required variation in the gravitational constant. As a result, we find that it is possible to explain the accelerated expansion of the Universe with a variation of $G$ and no cosmological constant. The obtained variation of $G$ stays under 10 \% of its current value in the investigated redshift range and it is consistent with the local observations of $\dot{G}/G$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

Cluster counts: calibration issue or new physics?

In recent years, the amplitude of matter fluctuations inferred from low-redshift probes has been found to be generally lower than the value derived from CMB observations in the $Λ$CDM model. This tension has been exemplified by Sunyaev-Zel'dovich and X-ray cluster counts which, when using their Planck standard cluster mass calibration, yield a value of $σ_8$ , appreciably lower than estimations based on the latest Planck CMB measurements. In this work we examine whether non-minimal neutrino masses can alleviate this tension substantially. We used the cluster X-ray temperature distribution function derived from a flux-limited sample of local X-ray clusters, combined with Planck CMB measurements. These datasets were compared to $Λ$CDM predictions based on recent mass function, adapted to account for the effects of massive neutrinos. Treating the clusters mass calibration as a free parameter, we examined whether the data favours neutrino masses appreciably higher than the minimal 0.06 eV value. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, we found no significant correlation between the mass calibration of clusters and the sum of neutrino masses, meaning that massive neutrinos do not noticeably alleviate the above-mentioned Planck CMB--clusters tension. The addition of other datasets (BAO and Ly-$α$) reinforces those conclusions. As an alternative possible solution to the tension, we introduced a simple, phenomenological modification of gravity by letting the growth index $γ$ vary as an additional free parameter. We find that the cluster mass calibration is robustly correlated with the $γ$ parameter, insensitively to the presence of massive neutrinos or/and additional data used. We conclude that the standard Planck mass calibration of clusters, if consolidated, would represent evidence for new physics beyond $Λ$CDM with massive neutrinos.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

Cluster counts. II. Tensions, massive neutrinos, and modified gravity

The $Λ$CDM concordance model is very successful at describing our Universe with high accuracy and few parameters. Despite its successes, a few tensions persist; most notably, the best-fit $Λ$CDM model, as derived from the Planck CMB data, largely overpredicts the abundance of SZ clusters when using their standard mass calibration. Whether this is a sign of an incorrect calibration or the need for new physics remains a matter of debate. Here we examined two simple extensions of the standard model and their ability to release this tension: massive neutrinos and a simple modified gravity model via a non-standard growth index $γ$. We used both the Planck CMB and SZ cluster counts as datasets, with or without local X-ray clusters. In the case of massive neutrinos, the SZ calibration $(1-b)$ is constrained to $0.59^{+0.03}_{-0.04}$ (68\%), more than 5$σ$ away from its standard value $\sim0.8$. We found little correlation between $\sum m_ν$ and $(1-b)$, corroborating previous conclusions derived from X-ray clusters; massive neutrinos do not alleviate the cluster-CMB tension. With our simple $γ$ model, we found a large correlation between calibration and growth index but contrary to local X-ray clusters, SZ clusters are able to break the degeneracy between the two thanks to their extended $z$ range. The calibration $(1-b)$ was then constrained to $0.60^{+0.05}_{-0.07}$, leading to an interesting constraint on $γ=0.60\pm 0.13$. When both massive neutrinos and modified gravity were allowed, preferred values remained centred on standard $Λ$CDM values, but $(1-b)\sim0.8$ was allowed (though only at the $2σ$ level) provided $\sum m_ν\sim0.34 $ eV and $γ\sim0.8$. We conclude that massive neutrinos do not relieve the cluster-CMB tension and that a calibration close to the standard value $0.8$ would call for new physics in the gravitational sector.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Cluster Counts Tension : a Sign of Primordial Non-Gaussianity ?

Evolution and abundance of the large-scale structures we observe today, such as clusters of galaxies, is sensitive to the statistical properties of dark matter primordial density fluctuations, which is assumed to follow a Gaussian probability distribution function. Within this assumption, a significant disagreement have been found between clusters counts made by Planck and their prediction when calibrated by CMB angular power spectrum. The purpose of this work is to relax the Gaussianty assumption and test if Non-Gaussianity in dark matter primordial density fluctuations, could alleviate the tension.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Generalized dark matter model with the Euclid satellite

The concordance model in cosmology, $Λ$CDM, is able to fit the main cosmological observations with a high level of accuracy. However, around 95% of the energy content of the Universe within this framework remains still unknown. In this work we focus on the dark matter component and we investigate the generalized dark matter (GDM) model, which allows for non-pressure-less dark matter and a non-vanishing sound speed and viscosity. We first focus on current observations, showing that GDM could alleviate the tension between cosmic microwave background and weak lensing observations. We then investigate the ability of the photometric Euclid survey (photometric galaxy clustering, weak lensing, and their cross-correlations) to constrain the nature of dark matter. We conclude that Euclid will provide us with very good constraints on GDM, enabling us to better understand the nature of this fluid, but a non-linear recipe adapted to GDM is clearly needed in order to correct for non-linearities and get reliable results down to small scales.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Model-independent cosmic acceleration and type Ia supernovae intrinsic luminosity redshift dependence

The $Λ$CDM model is the current standard model in cosmology thanks to its ability to reproduce the observations. Its first observational evidence appeared from the type Ia supernovae (SNIa) Hubble diagram. However, there has been some debate in the literature concerning the statistical treatment of SNIa. In this paper we relax the standard assumption that SNIa intrinsic luminosity is independent of the redshift, and we examine whether it may have an impact on the accelerated nature of the expansion of the Universe. In order to be as general as possible, we reconstruct the expansion rate of the Universe through a cubic spline interpolation fitting observations of different probes: SNIa, baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), and the high-redshift information from the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We show that when SNIa intrinsic luminosity is not allowed to vary as a function of the redshift, cosmic acceleration is definitely proven in a model-independent approach. However, allowing for a redshift dependence, a non-accelerated reconstruction of the expansion rate is able to fit, as well as $Λ$CDM, the combination of SNIa and BAO data, both treating the BAO standard ruler $r_d$ as a free parameter, or adding the recently published prior from CMB observations. We further extend the analysis by including the CMB data, and we show that a non-accelerated reconstruction is able to nicely fit this combination of low and high-redshift data. In this work we present a model-independent reconstruction of a non-accelerated expansion rate of the Universe that is able to nicely fit all the main background cosmological probes. However, the predicted value of $H_0$ is in tension with recent direct measurements. Our analysis points out that a final, reliable, and consensual value for $H_0$ would be critical to definitively prove the cosmic acceleration in a model-independent way. [Abridged]

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

Testing General Relativity from Curvature & Energy contents at Cosmological scale

In this work we examine what are the cosmological implications of allowing the geometrical curvature density to behave independently from the energy density contents. Using the full data extracted by Planck mission from CMB, combined with BAO and SNIa measurements, we derive, in the light of this approach, new constraints on the cosmological parameters. In particular we determine the behavior of the curvature dark energy degeneracy when allowing a varying equation of state for the latter. We also examine whether this approach could bridge the gap recently found between the Hubble parameter value determined from CMB and that from the local universe measurements

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Is cosmic acceleration proven by local cosmological probes?

Context: The cosmological concordance model ($Λ$CDM) matches the cosmological observations exceedingly well. This model has become the standard cosmological model with the evidence for an accelerated expansion provided by the type Ia supernovae (SNIa) Hubble diagram. However, the robustness of this evidence has been addressed recently with somewhat diverging conclusions. Aims: The purpose of this paper is to assess the robustness of the conclusion that the Universe is indeed accelerating if we rely only on low-redshift (z$\lesssim$2) observations, that is to say with SNIa, baryonic acoustic oscillations, measurements of the Hubble parameter at different redshifts, and measurements of the growth of matter perturbations. Methods: We used the standard statistical procedure of minimizing the $χ^2$ function for the different probes to quantify the goodness of fit of a model for both $Λ$CDM and a simple nonaccelerated low-redshift power law model. In this analysis, we do not assume that supernovae intrinsic luminosity is independent of the redshift, which has been a fundamental assumption in most previous studies that cannot be tested. Results: We have found that, when SNIa intrinsic luminosity is not assumed to be redshift independent, a nonaccelerated low-redshift power law model is able to fit the low-redshift background data as well as, or even slightly better, than $Λ$CDM. When measurements of the growth of structures are added, a nonaccelerated low-redshift power law model still provides an excellent fit to the data for all the luminosity evolution models considered. Conclusions: Without the standard assumption that supernovae intrinsic luminosity is independent of the redshift, low-redshift probes are consistent with a nonaccelerated universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

On the dark contents of the Universe: A Euclid survey approach

In this work we study the consequences of allowing non pressureless dark matter when determining dark energy constraints. We show that present-day dark energy constraints from low-redshift probes are extremely degraded when allowing this dark matter variation. However, adding the cosmic microwave background (CMB) we can recover the $w_{DM} = 0$ case constraints. We also show that with the future Euclid redshift survey we expect to largely improve these constraints; but, without the complementary information of the CMB, there is still a strong degeneracy between dark energy and dark matter equation of state parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Dark sectors of the Universe: A Euclid survey approach

In this paper we study the consequences of relaxing the hypothesis of the pressureless nature of the dark matter component when determining constraints on dark energy. To this aim we consider simple generalized dark matter models with constant equation of state parameter. We find that present-day low-redshift probes (type-Ia supernovae and baryonic acoustic oscillations) lead to a complete degeneracy between the dark energy and the dark matter sectors. However, adding the cosmic microwave background (CMB) high-redshift probe restores constraints similar to those on the standard $Λ$CDM model. We then examine the anticipated constraints from the galaxy clustering probe of the future Euclid survey on the same class of models, using a Fisher forecast estimation. We show that the Euclid survey allows us to break the degeneracy between the dark sectors, although the constraints on dark energy are much weaker than with standard dark matter. The use of CMB in combination allows us to restore the high precision on the dark energy sector constraints.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Power law cosmology model comparison with CMB scale information

Despite the ability of the cosmological concordance model ($Λ$CDM) to describe the cosmological observations exceedingly well, power law expansion of the Universe scale radius, $R(t)\propto t^n$, has been proposed as an alternative framework. We examine here these models, analyzing their ability to fit cosmological data using robust model comparison criteria. Type Ia supernovae (SNIa), baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) and acoustic scale information from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have been used. We find that SNIa data either alone or combined with BAO can be well reproduced by both $Λ$CDM and power law expansion models with $n\sim 1.5$, while the constant expansion rate model $(n=1)$ is clearly disfavored. Allowing for some redshift evolution in the SNIa luminosity essentially removes any clear preference for a specific model. The CMB data are well known to provide the most stringent constraints on standard cosmological models, in particular, through the position of the first peak of the temperature angular power spectrum, corresponding to the sound horizon at recombination, a scale physically related to the BAO scale. Models with $n\geq 1$ lead to a divergence of the sound horizon and do not naturally provide the relevant scales for the BAO and the CMB. We retain an empirical footing to overcome this issue: we let the data choose the preferred values for these scales, while we recompute the ionization history in power law models, to obtain the distance to the CMB. In doing so, we find that the scale coming from the BAO data is not consistent with the observed position of the first peak of the CMB temperature angular power spectrum for any power law cosmology. Therefore, we conclude that when the three standard probes are combined, the $Λ$CDM model is very strongly favored over any of these alternative models, which are then essentially ruled out.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Cosmology and Fundamental Physics with the Euclid Satellite

Euclid is a European Space Agency medium class mission selected for launch in 2020 within the Cosmic Vision 2015 2025 program. The main goal of Euclid is to understand the origin of the accelerated expansion of the universe. Euclid will explore the expansion history of the universe and the evolution of cosmic structures by measuring shapes and redshifts of galaxies as well as the distribution of clusters of galaxies over a large fraction of the sky. Although the main driver for Euclid is the nature of dark energy, Euclid science covers a vast range of topics, from cosmology to galaxy evolution to planetary research. In this review we focus on cosmology and fundamental physics, with a strong emphasis on science beyond the current standard models. We discuss five broad topics: dark energy and modified gravity, dark matter, initial conditions, basic assumptions and questions of methodology in the data analysis. This review has been planned and carried out within Euclid's Theory Working Group and is meant to provide a guide to the scientific themes that will underlie the activity of the group during the preparation of the Euclid mission.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Is a symmetric matter-antimatter universe excluded?

We consider a non-standard cosmological model in which the universe contains as much matter as antimatter on large scales and presents a local baryon asymmetry. A key ingredient in our approach is that the baryon density distribution follows Gaussian fluctuations around a null value $η= 0$. Spatial domains featuring a positive (resp. negative) baryonic density value constitute regions dominated by matter (resp. antimatter). At the domains' annihilation interface, the typical density is going smoothly to zero, rather than following an abrupt step as assumed in previous symetric matter-antimatter models. As a consequence, the Cosmic Diffuse Gamma Background produced by annihilation is drastically reduced, allowing to easily pass COMPTEL's measurements limits. Similarly the Compton $y$ distorsion and CMB 'ribbons' are lowered by an appreciable factor. Therefore this model essentially escape previous constrainst on symetric matter-antimatter models. However, we produce an estimation of the CMB temperature fluctuations that would result from this model and confront it to data acquired from the Planck satellite. We construct a angular power spectrum in $δT / T_{CMB}$ assuming is can be approximated as an average of $C_\ell$ over a Gaussian distribution of $Ω_B$ using Lewis & Challinor's CAMB software. The resulting $C_\ell$ are qualitatively satisfying. We quantify the goodness of fit using a simple $χ^2$ test. We consider two distinct scenarios in which the fluctuations on $Ω_B$ are compensated by fluctuations on $Ω_{CDM}$ to assure a spatially flat $Ω_κ= 0$ universe or not. In both cases, out best fit have $Δχ^2 \gtrsim 2400$ (with respect to a fiducial $Λ$CDM model), empirically excluding our model by several tens of standard deviations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Cosmology and fundamental physics with the Euclid satellite

Euclid is a European Space Agency medium class mission selected for launch in 2019 within the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme. The main goal of Euclid is to understand the origin of the accelerated expansion of the Universe. Euclid will explore the expansion history of the Universe and the evolution of cosmic structures by measuring shapes and redshifts of galaxies as well as the distribution of clusters of galaxies over a large fraction of the sky. Although the main driver for Euclid is the nature of dark energy, Euclid science covers a vast range of topics, from cosmology to galaxy evolution to planetary research. In this review we focus on cosmology and fundamental physics, with a strong emphasis on science beyond the current standard models. We discuss five broad topics: dark energy and modified gravity, dark matter, initial conditions, basic assumptions and questions of methodology in the data analysis. This review has been planned and carried out within Euclid's Theory Working Group and is meant to provide a guide to the scientific themes that will underlie the activity of the group during the preparation of the Euclid mission.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

X-ray galaxy clusters abundance and mass temperature scaling

The abundance of clusters of galaxies is known to be a potential source of cosmological constraints through their mass function. In the present work, we examine the information that can be obtained from the temperature distribution function of X-ray clusters. For this purpose, the mass-temperature ($M$-$T$) relation and its statistical properties are critical ingredients. Using a combination of cosmic microwave background (CMB) data from Planck and our estimations of X-ray cluster abundances, we use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to estimate the $Λ$CDM cosmological parameters and the mass to X-ray temperature scaling relation simultaneously. We determine the integrated X-ray temperature function of local clusters using flux-limited surveys. A local comprehensive sample was build from the BAX X-ray cluster database, allowing us to estimate the local temperature distribution function above $\sim$1 keV. We model the expected temperature function from the mass function and the $M$-$T$ scaling relation. We then estimate the cosmological parameters and the parameters of the $M$-$T$ relation (calibration and slope) simultaneously. The measured temperature function of local clusters in the range $\sim\!\!1$-$10$ keV is well reproduced once the calibration of the $M$-$T$ relation is treated as a free parameter, and therefore is self-consistent with respect to the $Λ$CDM cosmology. The best-fit values of the standard cosmological parameters as well as their uncertainties are unchanged by the addition of clusters data. The calibration of the mass temperature relation, as well as its slope, are determined with $\sim10\%$ statistical uncertainties. This calibration leads to masses that are $\sim\!\!75\%$ larger than X-ray masses used in Planck.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Dark-energy dependent test of general relativity at cosmological scales

The $Λ$CDM framework offers a remarkably good description of our universe with a very small number of free parameters, which can be determined with high accuracy from currently available data. However, this does not mean that the associated physical quantities, such as the curvature of the universe, have been directly measured. Similarly, general relativity is assumed, but not tested. Testing the relevance of general relativity for cosmology at the background level includes a verification of the relation between its energy contents and the curvature of space. Using an extended Newtonian formulation, we propose an approach where this relation can be tested. Using the recent measurements on cosmic microwave background, baryonic acoustic oscillations and the supernova Hubble diagram, we show that the prediction of general relativity is well verified in the framework of standard $Λ$CDM assumptions, i.e. an energy content only composed of matter and dark energy, in the form of a cosmological constant or equivalently a vacuum contribution. However, the actual equation of state of dark fluids cannot be directly obtained from cosmological observations. We found that relaxing the equation of state of dark energy opens a large region of possibilities, revealing a new type of degeneracy between the curvature and the total energy content of the universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

SKA synergy with Microwave Background studies

The extremely high sensitivity and resolution of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be useful for addressing a wide set of themes relevant for cosmology, in synergy with current and future cosmic microwave background (CMB) projects. Many of these themes also have a link with future optical-IR and X-ray observations. We discuss the scientific perspectives for these goals, the instrumental requirements and the observational and data analysis approaches, and identify several topics that are important for cosmology and astrophysics at different cosmic epochs.

astro-ph.CO↗