Constraints on cosmic opacity and beyond the standard model physics from cosmological distance measurements

TL;DR

This paper refines constraints on cosmic opacity using recent supernova and Hubble data, limiting deviations from standard distance relations and constraining models involving photon number violation such as axion-like and mini-charged particles.

Contribution

It provides updated, tighter bounds on cosmic opacity and tests beyond standard model physics affecting photon conservation using cosmological distance measurements.

Findings

Constraint on deviation parameter ε: -0.04_{-0.07}^{+0.08} (2-σ)

Opacity limit Δτ<0.012 (95% C.L.) in 0.2-0.35 redshift range

New bounds on axion-like and mini-charged particles

Abstract

We update constraints on cosmic opacity by combining recent SN Type Ia data compilation with the latest measurements of the Hubble expansion at redshifts between 0 and 2. The new constraint on the parameter $\epsilon$ parametrising deviations from the luminosity-angular diameter distance relation ($d_L=d_A(1+z)^{2+\epsilon}$), is $\epsilon=-0.04_{-0.07}^{+0.08}$ (2-$\sigma$). For the redshift range between 0.2 and 0.35 this corresponds to an opacity $\Delta\tau<0.012$ (95% C.L.), a factor of 2 stronger than the previous constraint. Various models of beyond the standard model physics that predict violation of photon number conservation contribute to the opacity and can be equally constrained. In this paper we put new limits on axion-like particles, including chameleons, and mini-charged particles.