arXiv subjects

Bharat Ratra

Publications and source records attributed to Bharat Ratra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Is the $w_0w_a$CDM cosmological parameterization evidence for dark energy dynamics partially caused by the excess smoothing of Planck PR4 CMB anisotropy data?

We study the performance of the flat $\Lambda$CDM model and the dynamical dark energy parameterizations $w_0$CDM and $w_0w_a$CDM, in which the dark energy (DE) equation of state is either constant ($w=w_0$) or redshift-dependent [$w(z)=w_0+w_a z/(1+z)$], without and with a varying CMB lensing consistency parameter $A_L$, using combinations of Planck PR4 CMB data (PR4 and lensing), and a compilation of non-CMB data composed of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) data that do not include DESI BAO data, Pantheon+ type Ia supernova observations, Hubble parameter measurements $H(z)$, and growth rate $f\sigma_8$ data. We also compare results from earlier Planck PR3 data with those obtained using PR4 data in order to assess the stability of cosmological constraints. For the largest data combinations, PR3/PR4+lensing+non-CMB, the cosmological parameters inferred from PR3 and PR4 data are consistent, almost all differing by $1\sigma$ or less. For the $\Lambda$CDM$+A_L$ model, we have $A_L=1.087 \pm 0.035$ for PR3 and $A_L=1.053 \pm 0.034$ ($1.6\sigma$ above unity) for PR4, which indicates that the CMB lensing anomaly is reduced when PR4 data are used. For the $w_0 w_a$CDM parameterization, we find $w_0 = -0.863\pm0.060$ (quintessence-like) and $w_0+w_a=-1.37^{+0.19}_{-0.17}$ (phantom-like), suggesting that the current observations favor dynamical DE over a cosmological constant at about $1.8\sigma$. For the $w_0w_a$CDM$+A_L$ parameterization, we find $w_0=-0.877\pm 0.060$ and $w_0 + w_a =-1.29_{-0.17}^{+0.20}$, corresponding to a preference for dynamical DE over a cosmological constant of about $1.5\sigma$ and with $A_L = 1.042 \pm 0.037$ exceeding unity at $1.1\sigma$. These results indicate that while the PR4 data mildly favor a time-evolving DE, part of this preference may be associated with possible residual excess smoothing present in the Planck PR4 CMB anisotropy spectra (abridged).

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arXiv2025

Standardizing reverberation-mapped H$\beta$ active galactic nuclei using time-averaged radius$-$luminosity relations with 5100\,\AA\,, broad H$\beta$, and narrow \OIII\ luminosities

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been studied as alternate probes in cosmology due to their large and stable luminosities and broad redshift range. Previously it was shown that higher-redshift AGN that were reverberation-mapped (RM) using broad Mg\,\textsc{ii} and C\,\textsc{iv} lines are standardizable and yield weak cosmological constraints that are consistent with those from better-established probes. In contrast, lower-redshift AGN that were reverberation-mapped using the broad H$\beta$ line exhibited tensions with the standard cosmological model, in particular they preferred currently decelerating cosmological expansion. Here we study the standardizability of a homogeneous RM H$\beta$ sample of $\sim 100$ AGN (over redshifts $0.00308 \leq z \leq 0.8429$), whose H$\beta$ time delays and three luminosity tracers (at 5100\,\AA\,, broad H$\beta$, and narrow [O\,\textsc{iii}]) are averaged over several epochs. We find that this averaged sample is standardizable using three $R-L$ relations. While for luminosities corresponding to 5100\,\AA\, and the broad H$\beta$ line the cosmological constraints prefer currently decelerating cosmological expansion, the cosmological parameters for the narrow [O\,\textsc{iii}] luminosity are more consistent with those from better-established probes and they are in agreement with currently accelerating cosmological expansion. This demonstrates for the first time that narrow-line region [O\,\textsc{iii}] can be utilized for AGN standardization and cosmological constraints. Selecting proper photoionizing flux proxies for the broad-line region is thus crucial in studies of RM AGN standardizability.

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arXiv2025

Updated observational constraints on $\phi$CDM dynamical dark energy cosmological models

We present updated observational constraints on the spatially flat $\phi$CDM model, where dark energy is described by a minimally coupled scalar field $\phi$ with an inverse power-law potential $V=V_0 \phi^{-\alpha}$. Using Planck 2018 CMB temperature, polarization (P18), and lensing power spectra (lensing), along with a compilation of non-CMB data including baryon acoustic oscillation, type Ia supernova, Hubble parameter, and growth rate measurements, we constrain $\phi$CDM and $\phi$CDM+$A_L$ models where $A_L$ is the CMB lensing consistency parameter. The scalar field parameter $\alpha$, which governs dark energy dynamics, is more tightly constrained by non-CMB data than by CMB data alone. For the full dataset, we obtain $\alpha = 0.055 \pm 0.041$ in the $\phi$CDM model and $\alpha = 0.095 \pm 0.056$ in the $\phi$CDM+$A_L$ model, mildly favoring evolving dark energy over a cosmological constant by $1.3\sigma$ and $1.7\sigma$. The Hubble constant is $H_0=67.55_{-0.46}^{+0.53}$ km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ in the $\phi$CDM model, consistent with median statistics and some local determinations, but in tension with other local determinations. The constraints for matter density and clustering amplitude ($\Omega_m = 0.3096 \pm 0.0055$, $\sigma_8 = 0.8013_{-0.0067}^{+0.0077}$) of the flat $\phi$CDM model statistically agree with $\Lambda$CDM model values. Allowing $A_L$ to vary reduces tensions between CMB and non-CMB data, although we find $A_L = 1.105 \pm 0.037$, $2.8\sigma$ higher than unity, consistent with the excess smoothing seen in Planck data. Model comparison using AIC and DIC indicates that the $\phi$CDM model provides a fit comparable to $\Lambda$CDM, with the $\phi$CDM+$A_L$ slightly preferred. Overall, while the $\Lambda$CDM model remains an excellent fit, current data leave open the possibility of mildly evolving quintessence-like dynamical dark energy.

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arXiv2025

Standardizing a larger, higher-quality, homogeneous sample of reverberation-mapped H$\beta$ active galactic nuclei using the broad-line region radius-luminosity relation

We present a high-quality, homogeneous sample of 157 H$\beta$ reverberation-mapped active galactic nuclei (RM AGNs) spanning redshifts $0.00308 \leq z \leq 0.8429$, which is approximately 3.8 times larger than the previously available high-quality homogeneous sample. Using the broad-line region radius$-$luminosity relation ($R-L$), which involves the broad H$\beta$ line time delay and the monochromatic luminosity at 5100\,\AA\,, we show that the sample is standardizable by using six spatially flat and nonflat cosmological models. The inferred cosmological model parameters are consistent within 2$\sigma$ uncertainties with those from better established baryon acoustic oscillation and Hubble parameter measurements, with the exception of two nonflat models that are ruled out by other data. The $R-L$ relation slope is found to be flatter ($\gamma=0.428 \pm 0.025$ in the flat $\Lambda$CDM model) than the slope expected from a simple photoionization model as well as the slope found previously for the smaller homogeneous sample. In addition, we find a mild dependence of H$\beta$ $R-L$ relation parameters as well as its intrinsic scatter on the Eddington ratio by comparing the $R-L$ relations for low- and high-accreting equal-sized subsamples. A future analysis of a larger homogeneous sample containing a broader range of luminosities and Eddington ratios is necessary to confirm the standardizability of H$\beta$ AGNs.

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arXiv2025

Testing the consistency of new Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst dataset cosmological constraints with those from better-established cosmological data

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are promising cosmological probes for exploring the Universe at intermediate redshifts ($z$). We analyze 151 Fermi-observed long GRBs (datasets A123 and A28) to simultaneously constrain the Amati correlation and cosmological parameters within six spatially flat and nonflat dark energy models. We find that these datasets are standardizable via a single Amati correlation, suggesting their potential for cosmological analyses. However, constraints on the current value of the nonrelativistic matter density parameter from A123 and the combined A123 + A28 data exhibit $>2\sigma$ tension with those derived from a joint analysis of better-established Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] and baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) data for most considered cosmological models. This tension indicates that these GRB data are unsuitable for jointly constraining cosmological parameters with better-established $H(z)$ + BAO and similar data. Although the A28 data constraints are consistent with the $H(z)$ + BAO data constraints, its limited sample size (28 GRBs) and high intrinsic scatter ($\sim0.7$) diminishes its statistical power compared to existing datasets.

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arXiv2025

Is excess smoothing of Planck CMB ansiotropy data partially responsible for evidence for dark energy dynamics in other $w(z)$CDM parametrizations?

We study spatially-flat dynamical dark energy parametrizations, $w(z)$CDM, with redshift-dependent dark energy equation of state parameter $w(z)$ expressed using three different quadratic and other polynomial forms (as functions of $1-a$, where $a$ is the scale factor), without and with a varying cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing consistency parameter $A_L$. We use Planck CMB anisotropy data (P18 and lensing) and a large, mutually-consistent non-CMB data compilation that includes Pantheon+ type Ia supernova, baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO), Hubble parameter ($H(z)$), and growth factor ($f\sigma_8$) measurements, but not recent DESI BAO data. The six $w(z)$CDM ($+A_L$) parametrizations show higher consistency between the CMB and non-CMB data constraints compared to the XCDM ($+A_L$) and $w_0 w_a$CDM ($+A_L$) cases. Constraints from the most-restrictive P18+lensing+non-CMB data compilation on the six $w(z)$CDM ($+A_L$) parametrizations indicate that dark energy dynamics is favored over a cosmological constant by $\gtrsim 2\sigma$ when $A_L = 1$, but only by $\gtrsim 1\sigma$ when $A_L$ is allowed to vary (and $A_L>1$ at $\sim2\sigma$ significance). Non-CMB data dominate the P18+lensing+non-CMB compilation at low $z$ and favor quintessence-like dark energy. At high $z$ P18+lensing data dominate, favoring phantom-like dark energy with significance from $1.5\sigma$ to $2.9 \sigma$ when $A_L = 1$, and from $1.1\sigma$ to $1.8\sigma$ when $A_L$ varies. These results suggest that the observed excess weak lensing smoothing of some of the Planck CMB anistropy multipoles is partially responsible for the $A_L = 1$ cases $\gtrsim 2\sigma$ evidence for dark energy dynamics over a cosmological constant.

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arXiv2024

Standardizing reverberation-mapped H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ active galactic nuclei using radius--luminosity relations involving monochromatic and broad H$\alpha$ luminosities

We test the standardizability of a homogeneous sample of 41 lower-redshift ($0.00415\leq z \leq 0.474$) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) reverberation-mapped (RM) using the broad H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ emission lines. We find that these sources can be standardized using four radius$-$luminosity ($R-L$) relations incorporating H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ time delays and monochromatic and broad H$\alpha$ luminosities. Although the $R-L$ relation parameters are well constrained and independent of the six cosmological models considered, the resulting cosmological constraints are weak. The measured $R-L$ relations exhibit slightly steeper slopes than predicted by a simple photoionization model and steeper than those from previous higher-redshift H$\beta$ analyses based on larger datasets. These differences likely reflect the absence of high-accreting sources in our smaller, lower-redshift sample, which primarily comprises lower-accreting AGNs. The inferred cosmological parameters are consistent within 2$\sigma$ (or better) with those from better-established cosmological probes. This contrasts with our earlier findings using a larger, heterogeneous sample of 118 H$\beta$ AGNs, which yielded cosmological constraints differing by $\gtrsim 2\sigma$ from better-established cosmological probes. Our analysis demonstrates that sample homogeneity$-$specifically, the use of a consistent time-lag determination method$-$is crucial for developing RM AGNs as a cosmological probe.

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arXiv2024

Is the $w_0w_a$CDM cosmological parameterization evidence for dark energy dynamics partially caused by the excess smoothing of Planck CMB anisotropy data?

We study the performance of the spatially-flat dynamical dark energy (DE) $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization, with redshift-dependent DE fluid equation of state parameter $w(z) = w_0 + w_a z/(1+z)$, with and without a varying CMB lensing consistency parameter $A_L$, against Planck cosmic microwave background (CMB) data (P18 and lensing) and a combination of non-CMB data composed of baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements that do not include DESI BAO data, Pantheon+ type Ia supernovae (SNIa) observations, Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] measurements, and growth factor ($f\sigma_8$) data points. From our most restrictive data set, P18+lensing+non-CMB, for the $w_0w_a$CDM+$A_L$ parameterization, we obtain $w_0=-0.879\pm 0.060$, $w_a=-0.39^{+0.26}_{-0.22}$, the asymptotic limit $w(z\to\infty) = w_0+w_a=-1.27^{+0.20}_{-0.17}$, and $A_L=1.078^{+0.036}_{-0.040}$ (all $1\sigma$ errors). This joint analysis of CMB and non-CMB data favors DE dynamics over a cosmological constant at $\sim 1\sigma$ and $A_L>1$ at $\sim 2\sigma$, i.e. more smoothing of the Planck CMB anisotropy data than is predicted by the best-fit model. For the $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization with $A_L=1$ the evidence in favor of DE dynamics is larger, $\sim 2\sigma$, suggesting that at least part of the evidence for DE dynamics comes from the excess smoothing of the Planck CMB anisotropy data. For the $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization with $A_L=1$, there is a difference of $2.8\sigma$ between P18 and non-CMB cosmological parameter constraints and $2.7\sigma$ between P18+lensing and non-CMB constraints. When $A_L$ is allowed to vary these tensions reduced to $1.9\sigma$ and $2.1\sigma$ respectively. Our P18+lensing+non-CMB data compilation positively favors the $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization without and with a varying $A_L$ parameter over the flat $\Lambda$CDM model, and $w_0w_a$CDM+$A_L$ is also positively favored over $w_0w_a$CDM.

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arXiv2024

Updated observational constraints on spatially-flat and non-flat $Λ$CDM and XCDM cosmological models

We study 6 LCDM models, with 4 allowing for non-flat geometry and 3 allowing for a non-unity lensing consistency parameter $A_L$. We also study 6 XCDM models with a dynamical dark energy density X-fluid with equation of state $w$. For the non-flat models we use two different primordial power spectra, Planck $P(q)$ and new $P(q)$. These models are tested against: Planck 2018 CMB power spectra (P18) and lensing potential power spectrum (lensing), and an updated compilation of BAO, SNIa, $H(z)$, and $fσ_8$ data [non-CMB data]. P18 data favor closed geometry for the LCDM and XCDM models and $w<-1$ (phantom-like dark energy) for the XCDM models while non-CMB data favor open geometry for the LCDM models and closed geometry and $w>-1$ (quintessence-like dark energy) for the XCDM models. When P18 and non-CMB data are jointly analyzed there is weak evidence for open geometry and moderate evidence for quintessence-like dark energy. Regardless of data used, $A_L>1$ is always favored. The XCDM model constraints obtained from CMB data and from non-CMB data are incompatible, ruling out the 3 $A_L = 1$ XCDM models at $> 3σ$. In the 9 models not ruled out, for the P18+lensing+non-CMB data set we find little deviation from flat geometry and moderate deviation from $w=-1$. In all 6 non-flat models (not ruled out), open geometry is mildly favored, and in all 3 XCDM+$A_L$ models (not ruled out) quintessence-like dark energy is moderately favored (by at most $1.6 σ$). In the $A_L = 1$ non-flat LCDM cases, we find for P18+lensing+non-CMB data $Ω_k = 0.0009 \pm 0.0017$ [$0.0008 \pm 0.0017$] for the Planck [new] $P(q)$ model, favoring open geometry. The flat LCDM model remains the simplest (largely) observationally-consistent cosmological model. Our cosmological parameter constraints obtained for the flat LCDM model (and other models) are the most restrictive results to date (Abridged).

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arXiv2024

Low- and high-redshift H II starburst galaxies obey different luminosity-velocity dispersion relations

To determine whether or not H II starburst galaxies (H IIG) are standardizable candles, we study the correlation between the H$β$ luminosity ($L$) and the velocity dispersion ($σ$) of the ionized gas from H IIG measurements by simultaneously constraining the $L-σ$ relation parameters and the cosmological model parameters. We investigate six flat and nonflat relativistic dark energy cosmological models. We find that low-redshift and high-redshift H IIG data subsets are standardizable but obey different $L-σ$ relations. Current H IIG data are too sparse and too non-uniformly distributed in redshift to allow for a determination of why the samples follow different relations, but it could be caused by the high-redshift sample containing relatively fewer intrinsically dimmer sources (Malmquist bias) or it could be a consequence of H IIG evolution. Until this issue is better understood, H IIG data cosmological constraints must be treated with caution.

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arXiv2024

Using non-DESI data to confirm and strengthen the DESI 2024 spatially-flat $w_0w_a$CDM cosmological parameterization result

We use a combination of Planck cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data and non-CMB data that include Pantheon+ type Ia supernovae (SNIa), Hubble parameter [$H(z)$], growth factor ($f\sigma_8$) measurements, and a collection of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) data, but not recent DESI 2024 BAO measurements, to confirm the DESI 2024 (DESI+CMB+PantheonPlus) data compilation support for dynamical dark energy with an evolving equation of state parameter $w(z) = w_0 + w_a z/(1+z)$. From our joint compilation of CMB and non-CMB data, in a spatially-flat cosmological model, we obtain $w_0 = -0.850 \pm 0.059$ and $w_a = -0.59^{+0.26}_{-0.22}$ and find that this dynamical dark energy is favored over a cosmological constant by $\sim 2\sigma$. Our data constraints on the flat $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization are slightly more restrictive than the DESI 2024 constraints, with the DESI 2024 and our values of $w_0$ and $w_a$ differing by $-0.27\sigma$ and $0.44\sigma$, respectively. Our data compilation slightly more strongly favors the flat $w_0w_a$CDM model over the flat $\Lambda$CDM model than does the DESI 2024 data compilation. We note that our CMB and non-CMB data $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization cosmological constraints are discrepant at 2.7$\sigma$, a little larger than the 1.9$\sigma$ discrepancy between DESI DR1 BAO and CMB data flat $\Lambda$CDM model cosmological constraints. We also show that if we remove the Pantheon+ SNIa contribution from the non-CMB data, for the $w_0w_a$CDM parameterization we still find tension between P18 and non-CMB data (2.5$\sigma$) and P18+lensing and non-CMB data (2.4$\sigma$). Even after the exclusion of Pantheon+ SNIa data the $\Lambda$CDM model is still disfavoured at $\sim 2\sigma$ c.l.

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arXiv2024

Testing the standardizability of, and deriving cosmological constraints from, a new Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst data compilation

By using gamma-ray burst (GRB) data to simultaneously constrain Amati correlation parameters and cosmological parameters in six spatially-flat and nonflat dark energy cosmological models, we show that an updated 220 GRB version of the Jia et al. [Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 516, 2575 (2022)] GRB data compilation are standardizable through the Amati correlation and so can be used for cosmological analyses. However, the resulting GRB data constraints on the current value of the nonrelativistic matter density parameter, $\Omega_{m0}$, are in $>2\sigma$ tension with those from a joint analysis of better-established Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] and baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) data for most of the cosmological models we consider, indicating that these GRB data cannot be jointly used with better-established $H(z)$ + BAO data to constrain cosmological parameters.

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arXiv2024

Effects of type Ia supernovae absolute magnitude priors on the Hubble constant value

We systematically explore the influence of the prior of the peak absolute magnitude ($M$) of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) on the measurement of the Hubble constant ($H_0$) from SNe Ia observations. We consider five different data-motivated $M$ priors, representing varying levels of dispersion, and assume the spatially-flat $Λ$CDM cosmological model. Different $M$ priors lead to relative changes in the mean values of $H_0$ from 2% to 7%. Loose priors on $M$ yield $H_0$ estimates consistent with both the Planck 2018 result and the SH0ES result at the 68% confidence level. We also examine the potential impact of peculiar velocity subtraction on the value of $H_0$, and show that it is insignificant for the SNe Ia observations with redshift $z > 0.01$ used in our analyses. We also repeat the analysis in the cosmography model and find very similar results. This suggests that our results are robust and model independent.

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arXiv2024

Effects of heterogeneous data sets and time-lag measurement techniques on cosmological parameter constraints from MgII and CIV reverberation-mapped quasar data

Previously, we demonstrated that MgII and CIV reverberation-mapped quasars (RM QSOs) are standardizable and that the cosmological parameters inferred using the broad-line region radius-luminosity (R-L) relation are consistent with those determined from better-established cosmological probes. With more data expected from ongoing and future spectroscopic and photometric surveys, it is imperative to examine how new QSO data sets of varied quality, with their own specific luminosity and time-delay distributions, can be best used to determine more restrictive cosmological parameter constraints. In this study, we test the effect of adding 25 OzDES MgII RM QSOs as well as 25 lower-quality SDSS RM CIV QSOs, which increases the previous sample of RM QSOs by $\sim 36\%$. Although cosmological parameter constraints become tighter for some cosmological models after adding these new QSOs, the new combined data sets have increased differences between R-L parameter values obtained in different cosmological models and thus a lower standardizability for the larger MgII + CIV compilation. Different time-delay methodologies, particularly the ICCF and CREAM methods used for inferring time delays of SDSS RM QSOs, slightly affect cosmological and R-L relation parameter values, however, the effect is negligible for (smaller) compilations of robust time-delay detections. Our analysis indicates that increasing the sample size is not sufficient for tightening cosmological constraints and a quality cut is necessary to obtain a standardizable RM QSO sample.

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arXiv2024

Effect of extinction on quasar luminosity distances determined from UV and X-ray flux measurements

In Khadka et al. (2023), a sample of X-ray-detected reverberation-mapped quasars was presented and applied for the comparison of cosmological constraints inferred using two well-established relations in AGN -- the X-ray/UV luminosity ($L_{X}-L_{UV}$) relation and the broad-line region radius-luminosity ($R-L$) relation. $L_{X}-L_{UV}$ and $R-L$ luminosity distances to the same quasars exhibit a distribution of their differences that is generally asymmetric and positively shifted for the six cosmological models we consider. We demonstrate that this behaviour can be interpreted qualitatively to arise as a result of the dust extinction of UV/X-ray quasar emission. We show that the extinction always contributes to the non-zero difference between $L_{X}-L_{UV}$-based and $R-L$-based luminosity distances and we derive a linear relationship between the X-ray/UV colour index $E_{X-UV}$ and the luminosity-distance difference, which also depends on the value of the $L_{X}-L_{UV}$ relation slope. Taking into account the median and the peak values of the luminosity-distance difference distributions, the average X-ray/UV colour index falls in the range of $\overline{E}_{X-UV}=0.03-0.28$ mag for the current sample of 58 sources. This amount of extinction is typical for the majority of quasars and it can be attributed to the circumnuclear and interstellar media of host galaxies. After applying the standard hard X-ray and far-UV extinction cuts, heavily extincted sources are removed but overall the shift towards positive values persists. The effect of extinction on luminosity distances is more pronounced for the $L_{X}-L_{UV}$ relation since the extinction of UV and X-ray emissions both contribute.

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arXiv2024

Median Statistics Estimate of the Distance to M87

de Grijs and Bono compiled 211 independent measurements of the distance to galaxy M87 in the Virgo cluster from 15 different tracers and reported the arithmetic mean of a subset of this compilation as the best estimate of the distance. We compute three different central estimates -- the arithmetic mean, weighted mean, and the median -- and corresponding statistical uncertainty for the full data set as well as two sub-compilations. We find that for all three central estimates the error distributions show that the data sets are significantly non-Gaussian. As a result, we conclude that that the median is the most reliable of the three central estimates, as median statistics does not assume Gaussianity. We use median statistics to determine the systematic error on the distance by analyzing the scatter in the 15 tracer subgroup distances. From the 211 distance measurements, we recommend a summary M87 distance modulus of $31.08^{+0.04}_{-0.05}$ (statistical) ${}^{+0.04}_{-0.06}$ (systematic) mag, or combining the two errors in quadrature $31.08^{+0.06}_{-0.08}$ mag, rounded to $16.4^{+0.5}_{-0.6}$ Mpc, all at $68.27\%$ significance.

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arXiv2023

$H_0=69.8\pm1.3$ $\rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, $Ω_{m0}=0.288\pm0.017$, and other constraints from lower-redshift, non-CMB, expansion-rate data

We use updated Type Ia Pantheon+ supernova, baryon acoustic oscillation, and Hubble parameter (now also accounting for correlations) data, as well as new reverberation-measured C IV quasar data, and quasar angular size, H II starburst galaxy, reverberation-measured Mg II quasar, and Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst data to constrain cosmological parameters. We show that these data sets result in mutually consistent constraints and jointly use them to constrain cosmological parameters in six different spatially-flat and non-flat cosmological models. Our analysis provides summary model-independent determinations of two key cosmological parameters: the Hubble constant, $H_0=69.8\pm1.3$ $\rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, and the current non-relativistic matter density parameter, $Ω_{m0}=0.288\pm0.017$. Our summary error bars are 2.4 and 2.3 times those obtained using the flat $Λ$CDM model and Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data. Our $H_0$ value is very consistent with that from the local expansion rate based on the Tip of the Red Giant Branch data, is 2$σ$ lower than that from the local expansion rate based on Type Ia supernova and Cepheid data, and is 2$σ$ higher than that in the flat $Λ$CDM model based on Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing CMB data. Our data compilation shows at most mild evidence for non-flat spatial hypersurfaces, but more significant evidence for dark energy dynamics, 2$σ$ or larger in the spatially-flat dynamical dark energy models we study.

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arXiv2023

Quasar UV/X-ray relation luminosity distances are shorter than reverberation-measured radius-luminosity relation luminosity distances

We use measurements of 59/58 quasars (QSOs), over a redshift range $0.0041\leq z \leq 1.686$, to do a comparative study of the radius--luminosity ($R-L$) and X-ray$-$UV luminosity ($L_X-L_{UV}$) relations and the implication of these relations for cosmological parameter estimation. By simultaneously determining $R-L$ or $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation parameters and cosmological parameters in six different cosmological models, we find that both $R-L$ and $L_X-L_{UV}$ relations are standardizable but provide only weak cosmological parameter constraints, with $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation data favoring larger current non-relativistic matter density parameter $Ω_{m0}$ values than $R-L$ relation data and most other available data. We derive $L_X-L_{UV}$ and $R-L$ luminosity distances for each of the sources in the six cosmological models and find that $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation luminosity distances are shorter than $R-L$ relation luminosity distances as well as standard flat $Λ$CDM model luminosity distances. This explains why $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation QSO data favor larger $Ω_{m0}$ values than do $R-L$ relation QSO data or most other cosmological measurements. While our sample size is small and only spans a small $z$ range, these results indicate that more work is needed to determine whether the $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation can be used as a cosmological probe.

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