We present distance measurements to 71 high redshift type Ia supernovae discovered during the first year of the 5-year Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS). These events were detected and their multi-color light-curves measured using the MegaPrime/MegaCam instrument at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), by repeatedly imaging four one-square degree fields in four bands. Follow-up spectroscopy was performed at the VLT, Gemini and Keck telescopes to confirm the nature of the supernovae and to measure their redshift. With this data set, we have built a Hubble diagram extending to z = 1, with all distance measurements involving at least two bands. Systematic uncertainties are evaluated making use of the multiband photometry obtained at CFHT. Cosmological fits to this first year SNLS Hubble diagram give the following results: {Omega}{sub M} = 0.263 {+-} 0.042 (stat) {+-} 0.032 (sys) for a flat {Lambda}CDM model; and w = -1.023 {+-} 0.090 (stat) {+-} 0.054 (sys) for a flat cosmology with constant equation of state w when combined with the constraint from the recent Sloan Digital Sky Survey measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations.

The Supernova Legacy Survey: Measurement of Omega_m, Omega_l and w from the First Year Data Set

There are several common conventions in use by the gravitational-wave community to describe the amplitude of sources and the sensitivity of detectors. These are frequently confused. We outline the merits of and differences between the various quantities used for parameterizing noise curves and characterizing gravitational-wave amplitudes. We conclude by producing plots that consistently compare different detectors. Similar figures can be generated on-line for general use at http://rhcole.com/apps/GWplotter.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/32/1/015014/pdf

Gravitational-wave sensitivity curves

We compile a list of 28 independent measurements of the Hubble parameter between redshifts 0.07 ≤ z ≤ 2.3 and use this to place constraints on model parameters of constant and time-evolving dark energy cosmologies. These H(z) measurements by themselves require a currently accelerating cosmological expansion at about, or better than, 3σ confidence. The mean and standard deviation of the six best-fit model deceleration-acceleration transition redshifts (for the three cosmological models and two Hubble constant priors we consider) are z da = 0.74 ± 0.05, in good agreement with the recent Busca et al. determination of z da = 0.82 ± 0.08 based on 11 H(z) measurements between redshifts 0.2 ≤ z ≤ 2.3, almost entirely from baryon-acoustic-oscillation-like data.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2041-8205/766/1/L7/pdf

Hubble parameter measurement constraints on the cosmological deceleration-acceleration transition redshift

In order to shed some light on the current discussion about f(R)-gravity theories we derive and discuss the bounds imposed by the energy conditions on a general f(R) functional form The null and strong energy conditions in this framework are derived from Raychaudhuri's equation along with the requirement that gravity is attractive, whereas the weak and dominant energy conditions are stated from a comparison with the energy conditions that can be obtained in a direct approach via an effective energy-momentum tensor for f(R) gravity As a concrete application of the energy conditions to locally homogeneous and isotropic f(R) cosmology, the recent estimated values of the deceleration and jerk parameters are used to examine the bounds from the weak energy condition on the parameters of two families of f(R)-gravity theories

Energy conditions in f(R) gravity

From a hydrodynamicist’s point of view the inclusion of viscosity concepts in the macroscopic theory of the cosmic fluid would appear most natural, as an ideal fluid is after all an abstraction (exluding special cases such as superconductivity). Making use of modern observational results for the Hubble parameter plus standard Friedmann formalism, we may extrapolate the description of the universe back in time up to the inflationary era, or we may go to the opposite extreme and analyze the probable ultimate fate of the universe. In this review, we discuss a variety of topics in cosmology when it is enlarged in order to contain a bulk viscosity. Various forms of this viscosity, when expressed in terms of the fluid density or the Hubble parameter, are discussed. Furthermore, we consider homogeneous as well as inhomogeneous equations of state. We investigate viscous cosmology in the early universe, examining the viscosity effects on the various inflationary observables. Additionally, we study viscous cosmology in the late universe, containing current acceleration and the possible future singularities, and we investigate how one may even unify inflationary and late-time acceleration. Finally, we analyze the viscosity-induced crossing through the quintessence-phantom divide, we examine the realization of viscosity-driven cosmological bounces, and we briefly discuss how the Cardy–Verlinde formula is affected by viscosity.

Viscous Cosmology for Early- and Late-Time Universe

We use type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) data in combination with recent baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) and cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations to constrain a kink-like parametrization of the deceleration parameter (q). This q-parametrization can be written in terms of the initial (qi) and present (q0) values of the deceleration parameter, the redshift of the cosmic transition from deceleration to acceleration (zt) and the redshift width of such transition (τ). By assuming a flat space geometry, qi = 1/2 and adopting a likelihood approach to deal with the SN Ia data we obtain, at the 68% confidence level (C.L.), that: zt = 0.56+0.13−0.10, τ = 0.47+0.16−0.20 and q0 = −0.31+0.11−0.11 when we combine BAO/CMB observations with SN Ia data processed with the MLCS2k2 light-curve fitter. When in this combination we use the SALT2 fitter we get instead, at the same C.L.: zt = 0.64+0.13−0.07, τ = 0.36+0.11−0.17 and q0 = −0.53+0.17−0.13. Our results indicate, with a quite general and model independent approach, that MLCS2k2 favors Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati-like cosmological models, while SALT2 favors ΛCDM-like ones. Progress in determining the transition redshift and/or the present value of the deceleration parameter depends crucially on solving the issue of the difference obtained when using these two light-curve fitters.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1475-7516/2012/03/027/pdf

From cosmic deceleration to acceleration: new constraints from SN Ia and BAO/CMB

We revisit the kink-like parametrization of the deceleration parameter (q(z)) [1], which considers a transition, at redshift zt, from cosmic deceleration to acceleration. In this parametrization the initial (z zt) value of the q-parameter is qi, its nal ( z = 1) value is qf and the duration of the transition is parametrized by . We obtain constraints on the free parameters of the model using recent data from type Ia supernovae (SN Ia), baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the Hubble parameter (H(z)). The use of H(z) data introduces an explicit dependence of the combined likelihood on the present value of the Hubble parameter (H0), allowing us to explore the inuence of dierent priors when marginalizing over this parameter. We also study the importance of the CMB information in the results by considering data from WMAP7, WMAP9 (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe - 7 and 9 years) and the Planck satellite. Assuming a at space geometry, qi = 1=2 and expressing the present value of the deceleration parameter (q0) as a function of the others three free parameters, we obtain zt = 0:68 +0:10

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1475-7516/2016/02/066/pdf

Constraining the cosmic deceleration-acceleration transition with type Ia supernova, BAO/CMB and H(z) data

We use type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) data in combination with recent baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) and cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations to constrain a kink-like parametrization of the deceleration parameter ($q$). This $q$-parametrization can be written in terms of the initial ($q_i$) and present ($q_0$) values of the deceleration parameter, the redshift of the cosmic transition from deceleration to acceleration ($z_t$) and the redshift width of such transition ($\tau$). By assuming a flat space geometry, $q_i=1/2$ and adopting a likelihood approach to deal with the SN Ia data we obtain, at the 68% confidence level (C.L.), that: $z_t=0.56^{+0.13}_{-0.10}$, $\tau=0.47^{+0.16}_{-0.20}$ and $q_0=-0.31^{+0.11}_{-0.11}$ when we combine BAO/CMB observations with SN Ia data processed with the MLCS2k2 light-curve fitter. When in this combination we use the SALT2 fitter we get instead, at the same C.L.: $z_t=0.64^{+0.13}_{-0.07}$, $\tau=0.36^{+0.11}_{-0.17}$ and $q_0=-0.53^{+0.17}_{-0.13}$. Our results indicate, with a quite general and model independent approach, that MLCS2k2 favors Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati-like cosmological models, while SALT2 favors $\Lambda$CDM-like ones. Progress in determining the transition redshift and/or the present value of the deceleration parameter depends crucially on solving the issue of the difference obtained when using these two light-curve fitters.

Neutrino and Antineutrino captures on 
              
                
              
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M. Vargas dos Santos

Papers

From cosmic deceleration to acceleration: new constraints from SN Ia and BAO/CMB

Constraining the cosmic deceleration-acceleration transition with type Ia supernova, BAO/CMB and H(z) data

From cosmic deceleration to acceleration: new constraints from SN Ia and BAO/CMB

Neutrino and Antineutrino captures on $$^{18}$$ 18 O within QRPA models