Testing General Relativity with Current Cosmological Data

TL;DR

This paper tests Einstein's general relativity against current cosmological data, finding no significant deviations and confirming its validity within the 95% confidence level using multiple observational datasets.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of different model-independent methods for testing deviations from general relativity and applies them to current data sets.

Findings

No significant deviations from general relativity detected.

Current data are consistent with Einstein's theory at 95% confidence.

Provides a translation table for different deviation models.

Abstract

Deviations from general relativity, such as could be responsible for the cosmic acceleration, would influence the growth of large scale structure and the deflection of light by that structure. We clarify the relations between several different model independent approaches to deviations from general relativity appearing in the literature, devising a translation table. We examine current constraints on such deviations, using weak gravitational lensing data of the CFHTLS and COSMOS surveys, cosmic microwave background radiation data of WMAP5, and supernova distance data of Union2. Markov Chain Monte Carlo likelihood analysis of the parameters over various redshift ranges yields consistency with general relativity at the 95% confidence level.