Abstract

We use joint likelihood analyses of combinations of fifteen cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy data sets from the DMR, UCSB South Pole 1994, Python I–III, ARGO, MAX 4 and 5, White Dish, OVRO, and SuZIE experiments to constrain cosmogonies. We consider open and spatially-flat-Λ cold dark matter cosmogonies, with nonrelativistic-mass density parameter Ω0in the range 0.1–1, baryonic-mass density parameter ΩBin the range (0.005–0.029)h-2, and age of the universe t0in the range (10–20) Gyr.Marginalizing over all parameters but Ω0, the data favor Ω0≃ 0.9–1 (0.4–0.6) flat-Λ (open) models. The range in deduced Ω0values is partially a consequence of the different combinations of smaller-angular-scale CMB anisotropy data sets used in the analyses, but more significantly a consequence of whether the DMR quadrupole moment is accounted for or ignored in the analysis. While the open model is difficult to reconcile with the results of analyses of more recent CMB anisotropy data, the lower values of Ω0found in this case are more easily reconciled with dynamical estimates of this parameter. For both flat-Λ and open models, after marginalizing over all other parameters, a lower ΩBh2≃ 0.005–0.009 is favored. This is also marginally at odds with estimates from more recent CMB anisotropy data and some estimates from standard nucleosynthesis theory and observed light element abundances. For both sets of models a younger universe with t0≃ 12–15 Gyr is favored, consistent with other recent non-CMB indicators. We emphasize that we have performed an exact analysis (i.e. from data to parameter likelihoods without the intermediate step of data compression into band powers), and since we consider only a small number of data sets, these results are tentative. More importantly, the analyses here do not rule out the currently favored flat-Λ model with Ω0~ 0.3, nor the larger ΩBh2values favored by some other data.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call