New Constraints on the Early Expansion History of the Universe

A. Hojjati, E.V. Linder, Johan Georg Mulvad Samsing

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cosmic microwave background measurements have pushed to higher resolution, lower noise, and more sky coverage. These data enable a unique test of the early Universe's expansion rate and constituents such as effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom and dark energy. Using the most recent data from Planck and WMAP9, we constrain the expansion history in a model-independent manner from today back to redshift z=105. The Hubble parameter is mapped to a few percent precision, limiting early dark energy and extra relativistic degrees of freedom within a model-independent approach to 2%-16% and 0.71 equivalent neutrino species, respectively (95% C.L.). Within dark radiation, barotropic ether, and Doran-Robbers models, the early dark energy constraints are 3.3%, 1.9%, and 1.2%, respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Article number041301
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume111
Issue number4
ISSN0031-9007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2013

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