arXiv subjects

Bharat Ratra

Publications and source records attributed to Bharat Ratra.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Current data are consistent with flat spatial hypersurfaces in the $Λ$CDM cosmological model but favor more lensing than the model predicts

We study the performance of three pairs of tilted $Λ$CDM cosmological models, two pairs allowing for non-flat spatial hypersurfaces with CMB temperature and polarization power spectrum data (P18) from Planck, P18 lensing (lensing), and non-CMB data (non-CMB). For the six models, we measure cosmological parameters and study whether or not pairs of the data sets are mutually consistent in these models. Half of these models allow the lensing consistency parameter $A_L$ to be an additional free parameter, while the other three have $A_L = 1$. The tilted spatially-flat models assume the usual primordial spatial inhomogeneity power spectrum. The tilted non-flat models assume either the primordial power spectrum used in the Planck group analyses [Planck $P(q)$] or a recently computed power spectrum [new $P(q)$]. In the tilted non-flat models with $A_L=1$ we find differences between P18 data and non-CMB data cosmological parameter constraints, which are large enough to rule out the Planck $P(q)$ model at 3$σ$ but not the new $P(q)$ model. While both P18 data and non-CMB data separately favor a closed geometry when P18+non-CMB data are jointly analyzed the evidence in favor of non-flat hypersurfaces subsides. Differences between P18 data and non-CMB data cosmological constraints subside when $A_L$ is allowed to vary. From the most restrictive P18+lensing+non-CMB data combination we get almost model-independent constraints and find that the $A_L>1$ option is preferred over the $Ω_k<0$ one, with the $A_L$ parameter, for all models, being larger than unity by $\sim 2.5σ$. According to the deviance information criterion, in the P18+lensing+non-CMB analysis, the varying $A_L$ option is on the verge of being strongly favored over the $A_L=1$ one, which could indicate a problem for the standard tilted flat $Λ$CDM model (Abridged abstract).

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arXiv2023

Accretion disks, quasars and cosmology: meandering towards understanding

As Setti & Woltjer noted back in 1973, quasars could be used to construct the Hubble diagram but the actual application was not that straightforward. It took years to implement the idea successfully. Most of the ways to use quasars for cosmology now require an advanced understanding of their structure, step by step. We briefly review this progress, with unavoidable personal bias, and concentrate on bright unobscured sources. We will mention the problem of the gas flow character close to the innermost stable circular orbit close to the black hole, discussed 50 years ago, which later led to the development of the slim disk scenario, but was recently revived in the context of Magnetically Arrested Disks (MAD) and Standard and Normal Evolution (SANE) disk models. We also discuss the hot/warm corona issue, which is still under discussion and complicates the analysis of the X-ray reflection. We present the scenario of the formation of the low ionization part of the Broad Line Region as a mostly failed wind powered by radiation pressure acting on dust (FRADO - Failed Radiatively Driven Dusty Outflow model). Next, we discuss the cosmological constraints that are currently achievable with quasars, mostly concentrating on light echo methods (continuum time delays and spectral line time delays with respect to the continuum) which are (or should be) incorporating the progress mentioned above. Finally, we briefly mention future prospects in this direction.

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arXiv2022

Tilted non-spatially-flat inflation

We construct non-linear inflaton potential energy densities that describe not-necessarily very-slowly-rolling closed and open inflation models, and compute tilted primordial spatial inhomogeneity power spectra that follow from quantum mechanical fluctuations during inflation in these models. Earlier non-flat inflation model power spectra computations assumed an inflaton potential energy density with a linear slope that resulted in very-slow-roll during inflation and untilted power spectra. These new tilted power spectra differ from those that have previously been used to study cosmological data in non-flat cosmological models.

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arXiv2022

Standardizing reverberation-measured C IV time-lag quasars, and using them with standardized Mg II quasars to constrain cosmological parameters

We use 38 C IV quasar (QSO) reverberation-mapped (RM) observations, which span eight orders of magnitude in luminosity and the redshift range $0.001064 \leq z \leq 3.368$, to simultaneously constrain cosmological-model and QSO radius-luminosity ($R-L$) relation parameters in six cosmological models, using an improved technique that more correctly accounts for the asymmetric errors bars of the time-lag measurements. We find that $R-L$ relation parameters are independent of the cosmological models used in the analysis and so the $R-L$ relation can be used to standardize the C IV QSOs. The C IV QSO cosmological constraints are consistent with those from Mg II QSOs, allowing us to derive joint C IV + Mg II QSO cosmological constraints which are consistent with currently accelerated cosmological expansion, as well as consistent with cosmological constraints derived using better-established baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] measurements. When jointly analyzed with $H(z)$ + BAO data, current C IV + Mg II QSO data mildly tighten current $H(z)$ + BAO data cosmological constraints.

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arXiv2022

Consistency study of high- and low-accreting Mg ii quasars: No significant effect of the Fe ii to Mg ii flux ratio on the radius-luminosity relation dispersion

We use observations of 66 reverberation-measured \Mgii\ quasars (QSOs) in the redshift range $0.36 \leq z \leq 1.686$ -- a subset of the 78 QSOs we previously studied that also have \rfe\ (flux ratio parameter of UV \Feii\ to \Mgii\ that is used as an accretion-rate proxy) measurements -- to simultaneously constrain cosmological model parameters and QSO 2-parameter and 3-parameter radius-luminosity ($R-L$) relation parameters in six different cosmological models. We find that these QSO $R-L$ relation parameters are independent of the assumed cosmological model and so these QSOs are standardizable through the $R-L$ relations. Also: (1) With the 2-parameter $R-L$ relation, we find that the low-\rfe\ and high-\rfe\ data subsets obey the same $R-L$ relation within the error bars. (2) Extending the 2-parameter $R-L$ relation to a 3-parameter one does not result in the hoped-for reduction in the intrinsic dispersion of the $R-L$ relation. (3) Neither of the 3-parameter $R-L$ relations provide a significantly better fit to the measurements than does the 2-parameter $R-L$ relation. These are promising results for the on-going development of \Mgii\ cosmological probes. The first and third of these results differ significantly from those we found elsewhere from analyses of reverberation-measured \hb\ QSOs.

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arXiv2022

Gamma-ray burst data strongly favor the three-parameter fundamental plane (Dainotti) correlation relation over the two-parameter one

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), observed to redshift $z=9.4$, are potential probes of the largely unexplored $z\sim 2.7-9.4$ part of the early Universe. Thus, finding relevant relations among GRB physical properties is crucial. We find that the Platinum GRB data compilation, with 50 long GRBs (with relatively flat plateaus and no flares) in the redshift range $0.553 \leq z \leq 5.0$, and the LGRB95 data compilation, with 95 long GRBs in $0.297 \leq z \leq 9.4$, as well as the 145 GRB combination of the two, strongly favor the three-dimensional (3D) fundamental plane (Dainotti) correlation relation (between the peak prompt lumininosity, the luminosity at the end of the plateau emission, and its rest frame duration) over the two-dimensional one (between the luminosity at the end of the plateau emission and its duration). The 3D Dainotti correlations in the three data sets are standardizable. We find that while LGRB95 data have $\sim50$% larger intrinsic scatter parameter values than the better-quality Platinum data, they provide somewhat tighter constraints on cosmological-model and GRB-correlation parameters, perhaps solely due to the larger number of data points, 95 versus 50. This suggests that when compiling GRB data for the purpose of constraining cosmological parameters, given the quality of current GRB data, intrinsic scatter parameter reduction must be balanced against reduced sample size.

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arXiv2022

Do reverberation-measured H$β$ quasars provide a useful test of cosmology?

We use 118 H$β$ quasar (QSO) observations in the redshift range $0.0023 \leq z \leq 0.89$ to simultaneously constrain cosmological model parameters and QSO 2-parameter radius-luminosity ($R-L$) relation parameters in six different cosmological models. We find that the $R-L$ relation parameters for these QSOs are independent of the assumed cosmology so these QSOs seem to be standardizable through the $R-L$ relation (although there is a complication that might render this untrue). Cosmological constraints obtained using these QSOs are weak, more favor currently decelerated cosmological expansion, and typically are in $\sim 2σ$ tension with those obtained from a joint analysis of baryon acoustic oscillation and Hubble parameter measurements. Extending the $R-L$ relation to a 3-parameter one to try to correct for the accretion rate effect does not result in a reduction of the cosmological constraints discrepancy nor does it result in the hoped-for significant reduction of the intrinsic scatter of the $R-L$ relation.

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arXiv2022

Using lower-redshift, non-CMB, data to constrain the Hubble constant and other cosmological parameters

We use updated Hubble parameter and baryon acoustic oscillation data, as well as other lower-redshift Type Ia supernova, Mg II reverberation-measured quasar, quasar angular size, H II starburst galaxy, and Amati-correlated gamma-ray burst data, to jointly constrain cosmological parameters in six cosmological models. The joint analysis provides model-independent determinations of the Hubble constant, $H_0=69.7\pm1.2$ $\rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, and the current non-relativistic matter density parameter, $Ω_{m0}=0.295\pm0.017$. These error bars are factors of 2.2 and 2.3 larger than the corresponding error bars in the flat $Λ$CDM model from Planck TT,TE,EE+lowE+lensing cosmic microwave background anisotropy data. Based on the deviance information criterion (DIC), the flat $Λ$CDM model is most favored but mild dark energy dynamics and a little spatial curvature are not ruled out.

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arXiv2022

Standardizing Platinum Dainotti-correlated gamma-ray bursts, and using them with standardized Amati-correlated gamma-ray bursts to constrain cosmological model parameters

We show that the Platinum gamma-ray burst (GRB) data compilation, probing the redshift range $0.553 \leq z \leq 5.0$, obeys a cosmological-model-independent three-parameter fundamental plane (Dainotti) correlation and so is standardizable. While they probe the largely unexplored $z \sim 2.3-5$ part of cosmological redshift space, the GRB cosmological parameter constraints are consistent with, but less precise than, those from a combination of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] data. In order to increase the precision of GRB-only cosmological constraints, we exclude common GRBs from the larger Amati-correlated A118 data set composed of 118 GRBs and jointly analyze the remaining 101 Amati-correlated GRBs with the 50 Platinum GRBs. This joint 151 GRB data set probes the largely unexplored $z \sim 2.3-8.2$ region; the resulting GRB-only cosmological constraints are more restrictive, and consistent with, but less precise than, those from $H(z)$ + BAO data.

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arXiv2021

Do quasar X-ray and UV flux measurements provide a useful test of cosmological models?

The recent compilation of quasar (QSO) X-ray and UV flux measurements include QSOs that appear to not be standardizable via the X-ray luminosity and UV luminosity ($L_X-L_{UV}$) relation and so should not be used to constrain cosmological model parameters. Here we show that the largest of seven sub-samples in this compilation, the SDSS-4XMM QSOs that contribute about 2/3 of the total QSOs, have $L_X-L_{UV}$ relations that depend on the cosmological model assumed and also on redshift, and is the main cause of the similar problem discovered earlier for the full QSO compilation. The second and third biggest sub-samples, the SDSS-Chandra and XXL QSOs that together contribute about 30% of the total QSOs, appear standardizable, but provide only weak constraints on cosmological parameters that are not inconsistent with the standard spatially-flat $Λ$CDM model or with constraints from better-established cosmological probes.

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arXiv2021

Standardizing Dainotti-correlated gamma-ray bursts, and using them with standardized Amati-correlated gamma-ray bursts to constrain cosmological model parameters

We show that each of the three Dainotti-correlated gamma-ray burst (GRB) data sets recently compiled by Wang et al. and Hu et al., that together probe the redshift range $0.35 \leq z \leq 5.91$, obey cosmological-model-independent Dainotti correlation relations and so are standardizable. We use these GRB data in conjunction with the best currently-available Amati-correlated GRB data, that probe $0.3399 \leq z \leq 8.2$, to constrain cosmological model parameters. The resulting cosmological constraints are weak, providing lower limits on the non-relativistic matter density parameter, mildly favoring non-zero spatial curvature, and largely consistent with currently accelerated cosmological expansion as well as with constraints determined from better-established data.

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arXiv2021

Cosmological constraints from HII starburst galaxy, quasar angular size, and other measurements

We compare the constraints from two (2019 and 2021) compilations of HII starburst galaxy (HIIG) data and test the model-independence of quasar angular size (QSO) data using six spatially flat and non-flat cosmological models. We find that the new 2021 compilation of HIIG data generally provides tighter constraints and prefers lower values of cosmological parameters than those from the 2019 HIIG data. QSO data by themselves give relatively model-independent constraints on the characteristic linear size, $l_{\rm m}$, of the QSOs within the sample. We also use Hubble parameter ($H(z)$), baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO), Pantheon Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) apparent magnitude (SN-Pantheon), and DES-3yr binned SN Ia apparent magnitude (SN-DES) measurements to perform joint analyses with HIIG and QSO angular size data, since their constraints are not mutually inconsistent within the six cosmological models we study. A joint analysis of $H(z)$, BAO, SN-Pantheon, SN-DES, QSO, and the newest compilation of HIIG data provides almost model-independent summary estimates of the Hubble constant, $H_0=69.7\pm1.2\ \rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, the non-relativistic matter density parameter, $Ω_{\rm m_0}=0.293\pm0.021$, and $l_{\rm m}=10.93\pm0.25$ pc.

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arXiv2021

Standardizing reverberation-measured Mg II time-lag quasars, by using the radius-luminosity relation, and constraining cosmological model parameters

We use 78 reverberation-measured Mg II time-lag quasars (QSOs) in the redshift range $0.0033 \leq z \leq 1.89$ to constrain cosmological parameters in six different cosmological models. The basis of our method is the use of the radius-luminosity or $R-L$ relation to standardize these 78 Mg II QSOs. In each cosmological model we simultaneously determine $R-L$ relation and cosmological model parameters, thus avoiding the circularity problem. We find that the $R-L$ relation parameter values are independent of the cosmological model used in the analysis thus establishing that current Mg II QSOs are standardizable candles. Cosmological constraints obtained using these QSOs are significantly weaker than, but consistent with, those obtained from a joint analysis of baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) observations and Hubble parameter [$H(z)$] measurements. So, we also analyse these QSOs in conjunction with the BAO + $H(z)$ data and find cosmological constraints consistent with the standard spatially-flat $Λ$CDM model as well as with mild dark energy dynamics and a little spatial curvature. A larger sample of higher-quality reverberation-measured QSOs should have a smaller intrinsic dispersion and so should provide tighter constraints on cosmological parameters.

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arXiv2021

Do gamma-ray burst measurements provide a useful test of cosmological models?

We study eight different gamma-ray burst (GRB) data sets to examine whether current GRB measurements -- that probe a largely unexplored part of cosmological redshift ($z$) space -- can be used to reliably constrain cosmological model parameters. We use three Amati-correlation samples and five Combo-correlation samples to simultaneously derive correlation and cosmological model parameter constraints. The intrinsic dispersion of each GRB data set is taken as a goodness measurement. We examine the consistency between the cosmological bounds from GRBs with those determined from better-established cosmological probes, such as baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) and Hubble parameter $H(z)$ measurements. We use the Markov chain Monte Carlo method implemented in \textsc{MontePython} to find best-fit correlation and cosmological parameters, in six different cosmological models, for the eight GRB samples, alone or in conjunction with BAO and $H(z)$ data. For the Amati correlation case, we compile a data set of 118 bursts, the A118 sample, which is the largest -- about half of the total Amati-correlation GRBs -- current collection of GRBs suitable for constraining cosmological parameters. This updated GRB compilation has the smallest intrinsic dispersion of the three Amati-correlation GRB data sets we examined. We are unable to define a collection of reliable bursts for current Combo-correlation GRB data. Cosmological constraints determined from the A118 sample are consistent with -- but significantly weaker than -- those from BAO and $H(z)$ data. They also are consistent with the spatially-flat $Λ$CDM model as well as with dynamical dark energy models and non-spatially-flat models. Since GRBs probe a largely unexplored region of $z$, it is well worth acquiring more and better-quality burst data which will give a more definitive answer to the question of the title.

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arXiv2021

Using Pantheon and DES supernova, baryon acoustic oscillation, and Hubble parameter data to constrain the Hubble constant, dark energy dynamics, and spatial curvature

We use Pantheon Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) apparent magnitude, DES-3yr binned SN Ia apparent magnitude, Hubble parameter, and baryon acoustic oscillation measurements to constrain six spatially flat and non-flat cosmological models. These sets of data provide mutually consistent cosmological constraints in the six cosmological models we study. A joint analysis of these data sets provides model-independent estimates of the Hubble constant, $H_0=68.8\pm1.8\ \rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$, and the non-relativistic matter density parameter, $Ω_{\rm m_0}=0.294\pm0.020$. Although the joint constraints prefer mild dark energy dynamics and a little spatial curvature, they do not rule out dark energy being a cosmological constant and flat spatial hypersurfaces. We also add quasar angular size and H II starburst galaxy measurements to the combined data set and find more restrictive constraints.

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arXiv2021

Determining the range of validity of quasar X-ray and UV flux measurements for constraining cosmological model parameters

We use six different cosmological models to study the recently-released compilation of X-ray and UV flux measurements of 2038 quasars (QSOs) which span the redshift range $0.009 \leq z \leq 7.5413$. We find, for the full QSO data set, that the parameters of the X-ray and UV luminosities $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation used to standardized these QSOs depend on the cosmological model used to determine these parameters, i.e, it appears that the full QSO data set include QSOs that are not standardized and so cannot be used for the purpose of constraining cosmological parameters. Subsets of the QSO data, restricted to redshifts $z \lesssim 1.5-1.7$ obey the $L_X-L_{UV}$ relation in a cosmological-model-independent manner, and so can be used to constrain cosmological parameters. The cosmological constraints from these lower-$z$, smaller QSO data subsets are mostly consistent with, but significantly weaker than, those that follow from baryon acoustic oscillation and Hubble parameter measurements.

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arXiv2020

Cosmological constraints from higher-redshift gamma-ray burst, HII starburst galaxy, and quasar (and other) data

We use higher-redshift gamma-ray burst (GRB), HII starburst galaxy (HIIG), and quasar angular size (QSO-AS) measurements to constrain six spatially flat and non-flat cosmological models. These three sets of cosmological constraints are mutually consistent. Cosmological constraints from a joint analysis of these data sets are largely consistent with currently-accelerating cosmological expansion as well as with cosmological constraints derived from a combined analysis of Hubble parameter ($H(z)$) and baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO, with Planck-determined baryonic matter density) measurements. A joint analysis of the $H(z)$ + BAO + QSO-AS + HIIG + GRB data provides fairly model-independent determinations of the non-relativistic matter density parameter $Ω_{\rm m_0}=0.313\pm0.013$ and the Hubble constant $H_0=69.3\pm1.2\ \rm{km \ s^{-1} \ Mpc^{-1}}$. These data are consistent with the dark energy being a cosmological constant and with spatial hypersurfaces being flat, but they do not rule out mild dark energy dynamics or a little spatial curvature. We also investigate the effect of including quasar flux measurements in the mix and find no novel conclusions.

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arXiv2020

Constraints on cosmological parameters from gamma-ray burst peak photon energy and bolometric fluence measurements and other data

We use measurements of the peak photon energy and bolometric fluence of 119 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) extending over the redshift range of $0.3399 \leq z \leq 8.2$ to simultaneously determine cosmological and Amati relation parameters in six different cosmological models. The resulting Amati relation parameters are almost identical in all six cosmological models, thus validating the use of the Amati relation in standardizing these GRBs. The GRB data cosmological parameter constraints are consistent with, but significantly less restrictive than, those obtained from a joint analysis of baryon acoustic oscillation and Hubble parameter measurements.

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