A Figure of Merit Analysis of Current Constraints on Testing General Relativity using the Latest Cosmological Data Sets

ORAL

Abstract

Currently, much attention is going into testing general relativity to see if cosmic acceleration is due to dark energy or a modification to gravity at cosmological scales. An increasingly popular approach to this problem is parameterizing modifications to the growth equations in general relativity, particularly the Poisson's equation and the ratio between the two metric potentials in the perturbed FLRW metric. We compare some of the various modified growth (MG) parameterizations that have been proposed in recent literature. Next we place constraints on the MG parameters using current cosmological data. A Figure of Merit approach is then used to study and compare the constraining power of various combinations of data sets on the MG parameters. We find that adding up current data sets does not consistently improve the uncertainties on MG parameters due to tensions between the best-fit MG parameters preferred by different data sets. Finally, for all the parameterizations used, we find that the values corresponding to general relativity are within the 95{\%} confidence level contours for all data set combinations.

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Authors

  • Jason Dossett

    Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos