Can non-standard recombination resolve the Hubble tension?
The inconsistent Hubble constant values derived from cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations and from local distance-ladder measurements may suggest new physics beyond the standard ACDM paradigm. It has been found in earlier studies that, at least phenomenologically, non-standard recombinatio...
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Published in | Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy Vol. 63; no. 9; p. 290405 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Beijing
Science China Press
01.09.2020
Springer Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The inconsistent Hubble constant values derived from cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations and from local distance-ladder measurements may suggest new physics beyond the standard ACDM paradigm. It has been found in earlier studies that, at least phenomenologically, non-standard recombination histories can reduce the ≳ 4δ Hubble tension to ∼ 2δ. Following this path, we vary physical and phenomenological parameters in RECFAST, the standard code to compute ionization history of the universe, to explore possible physics beyond standard recombination. We find that the CMB constraint on the Hubble constant is sensitive to the hydrogen ionization energy and 2
s
→ 1
s
two-photon decay rate, both of which are atomic constants, and is insensitive to other details of recombination. Thus, the Hubble tension is very robust against perturbations of recombination history, unless exotic physics modifies the atomic constants during the recombination epoch. |
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ISSN: | 1674-7348 1869-1927 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11433-019-1509-5 |