Cosmological constraints on number of neutrinos and neutrino masses

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

The number of species of neutrinos ($N_{\rm eff}$) and the neutrino masses ($\Sigma m_\nu$) has been constrained by the measurement of cosmological signals, including the power spectrum of cosmic microwave background (CMB), baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) and the expansion rate of local Universe ($H_0$). I will report the recent constraints on $N_{\rm eff}$ and $\Sigma m_\nu$ by CMB measurements from WMAP, SPT and especially Planck satellite and its combination with BAO or $H_0$ measurement. The physical stories of how $N_{\rm eff}$ and $\Sigma m_\nu$ are constrained are different. They come from the different features on different angular scales of CMB power spectrum, which will be presented given the current precision of Planck data. I will show how $N_{\rm eff}$ and $\Sigma m_\nu$ are further constrained by adding BAO and $H_0$ data. The impact of $N_{\rm eff}$ and $\Sigma m_\nu$ to the consistency between CMB, BAO and $H_0$ data will also be discussed.

Authors

  • Zhen Hou

    University of California, Davis