Does the reionization model influence the constraints on dark matter decay or annihilation?

If dark matter decay or annihilate, a large amount of energy and particles would be released into the cosmic plasma. Therefore, they could modify the thermal and ionization history of our universe, then leave footprints on the cosmic microwave background power spectra. In this paper, we take dark matter annihilation as an example and investigate whether different reionization models influence the constraints on dark matter annihilation. We consider the ionization history including both dark matter annihilation and star formation, then put constraints on DM annihilation. Combining the latest Planck data, BAO data, SNIa measurement, Q HII constraints from observations of quasars, as well as the star formation rate density from UV and IR data, the optical depth is τ = 0.0571+0.0005 -0.0006 at 68%C.L. and the upper limit of ϵ0 f d reads 2.7765 × 10-24 at 95%C.L.. By comparison, we also constrain dark matter annihilation in the instantaneous reionization model from the same data combination except the Q HII constraints and star formation rate density. We get τ = 0.0559+0.0069 -0.0076 at 68%C.L. and the upper limit of ϵ0 f d is 2.8468 × 10-24 at 95%C.L.. This indicates various reionization models have little influence (≲ 2.5%) on constraining parameters of dark matter decay or annihilation.

Limits on Polarized Dust Spectral Index Variations for CMB Foreground Analysis

Using Planck polarization data, we search for and constrain spatial variations of the polarized dust foreground for cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations, specifically in its spectral index, β d . Failure to account for such variations will cause errors in the foreground cleaning that propagate into errors on cosmological parameter recovery from the cleaned CMB map. It is unclear how robust prior studies of the Planck data that constrained β d variations are due to challenges with noise modeling, residual systematics, and priors. To clarify constraints on β d and its variation, we employ two pixel space analyses of the polarized dust foreground at >3.°7 scales on ≈60% of the sky at high Galactic latitudes. A template fitting method, which measures β d over three regions of ≈20% of the sky, does not find significant deviations from a uniform β d = 1.55, consistent with prior Planck determinations. An additional analysis in these regions, based on multifrequency fits to a dust and CMB model per pixel, puts limits on σ β d , the Gaussian spatial variation in β d . The data support σ β d up to 0.45 at the highest latitudes, 0.30 at midlatitudes, and 0.15 at low latitudes. We also demonstrate that care must be taken when interpreting the current Planck constraints, β d maps, and noise simulations. Due to residual systematics and low dust signal-to-noise ratios at high latitudes, forecasts for ongoing and future missions should include the possibility of large values of σ β d as estimated in this paper, based on current polarization data.

A novel way of constraining the α-attractor chaotic inflation through Planck data

Defining a scale of k-modes of the quantum fluctuations during inflation through the dynamical horizon crossing condition k = aH we go from the physical t variable to k variable and solve the equations of cosmological first-order perturbations self consistently, with the chaotic α-attractor type potentials. This enables us to study the behaviour of ns , r, nt and N in the k-space. Comparison of our results in the low-k regime with the Planck data puts constraints on the values of the α parameter through microscopic calculations. Recent studies had already put model-dependent constraints on the values of α through the hyperbolic geometry of a Poincaré disk: consistent with both the maximal supergravity model 𝒩 = 8 and the minimal supergravity model 𝒩 = 1, the constraints on the values of α are 1/3, 2/3, 1, 4/3, 5/3, 2, 7/3. The minimal 𝒩 = 1 supersymmetric cosmological models with B-mode targets, derived from these supergravity models, predicted the values of r between 10-2 and 10-3. Both in the E-model and the T-model potentials, we have obtained, in our calculations, the values of r in this range for all the constrained values of α stated above, within 68% CL. Moreover, we have calculated r for some other possible values of α both in low-α limit, using the formula r = 12α/N 2, and in the high-α limit, using the formula r = 4n/N, for n = 2 and 4. With all such values of α, our calculated results match with the Planck-2018 data with 68% or near 95% CL.

Cosmology in the mimetic higher-curvature $$f(R,R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })$$ gravity

In the framework of the mimetic approach, we study the $$f(R,R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })$$ f ( R , R μ ν R μ ν ) gravity with the Lagrange multiplier constraint and the scalar potential. We introduce field equations for the discussed theory and overview their properties. By using the general reconstruction scheme we obtain the power law cosmology model for the $$f(R,R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })=R+d(R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })^p$$ f ( R , R μ ν R μ ν ) = R + d ( R μ ν R μ ν ) p case as well as the model that describes symmetric bounce. Moreover, we reconstruct model, unifying both matter dominated and accelerated phases, where ordinary matter is neglected. Using inverted reconstruction scheme we recover specific $$f(R,R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })$$ f ( R , R μ ν R μ ν ) function which give rise to the de-Sitter evolution. Finally, by employing the perfect fluid approach, we demonstrate that this model can realize inflation consistent with the bounds coming from the BICEP2/Keck array and the Planck data. We also discuss the holographic dark energy density in terms of the presented $$f(R,R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu })$$ f ( R , R μ ν R μ ν ) theory. Thus, it is suggested that the introduced extension of the mimetic regime may describe any given cosmological model.

Cosmological implications in f(P) gravity

In the framework of [Formula: see text] gravity, we examine the nature of cosmological parameters by choosing different models of [Formula: see text] gravity at past, present as well as future epoch for Hubble parameter from parameterized deceleration parameters. It is found that equation of state parameter leads to quintessence behavior and its ranges lie within Planck data for different constraints. We also study the squared sound speed and the thermodynamics for specific choice of constants. The squared sound speed corresponds to the viable results. Similarly, the validity of GSLT is also investigated for both linear and nonlinear models of [Formula: see text] theory. However, the thermal equilibrium condition holds for both [Formula: see text] models for specific choice of constants.

Attractor inflationary solutions in braneworld scenario

This paper is devoted to discuss the attractor solutions of inflationary Chaplygin gas models such as generalized Chaplygin gas, modified Chaplygin gas and generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas in the framework of Randall–Sundrum type II braneworld scenario. We investigate the inflationary parameters like scalar spectral index [Formula: see text], tensor to scalar ratio [Formula: see text], and the running of scalar index [Formula: see text] as a function of e-folding numbers [Formula: see text] in the presence of attractor: [Formula: see text]. We evaluate and reformulate these parameters under high energy condition. In this inflationary scenario, we develop [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] planes. We also found that these cosmological parameters and perturbation strongly agree with the recent Planck data 2018 for considered Chaplygin gas models instead of [Formula: see text] in case of generalized cosmic Chaplygin gas.

Radial derivatives as a test of pre-big bang events on the Planck data

ABSTRACT Although the search for azimuthal patterns in cosmological surveys is useful to characterize some effects depending exclusively on an angular distance within the standard model, they are considered as a key distinguishing feature of some exotic scenarios, such as bubble collisions or conformal cyclic cosmology (CCC). In particular, the CCC is a non-stardard framework that predicts circular patterns on the cosmic microwave background intensity fluctuations. Motivated by some previous works that explore the presence of radial gradients, we apply a methodology based on the radial derivatives to the latest release of Planck data. The new approach allows exhaustive studies to be performed at all-sky directions at a healpix resolution of Nside = 1024. Specifically, two different analyses are performed focusing on weight functions in both small (up to a 5-deg radius) and large scales. We present a comparison between our results and those shown by An, Meissner & Nurowski (2017) and An et al. (2018). In addition, a possible polarization counterpart of these circular patterns is also analysed for the most promising case. Taking into account the limitations to characterize the significance of the results, including the possibility of suffering a look-elsewhere effect, no strong evidence of the kind of circular patterns expected from CCC is found in the Planck data for either the small or the large scales.