Testing LTB Void Models Without the Cosmic Microwave Background or Large Scale Structure: New Constraints from Galaxy Ages

TL;DR

This paper evaluates inhomogeneous LTB void models against the standard LCDM model using galaxy age data, finding strong evidence favoring the homogeneous model and constraining alternatives without relying on CMB or large-scale structure data.

Contribution

It introduces new observational constraints on inhomogeneous models using galaxy ages and cosmic clocks, independent of CMB and large-scale structure.

Findings

Strong Bayesian evidence supports the homogeneous LCDM model over LTB void models.

New constraints based on galaxy ages and atomic physics data.

Inhomogeneous models are disfavored by current observational evidence.

Abstract

We present new observational constraints on inhomogeneous models based on observables independent of the CMB and large-scale structure. Using Bayesian evidence we find very strong evidence for the homogeneous LCDM model, thus disfavouring inhomogeneous models. Our new constraints are based on quantities independent of the growth of perturbations and rely on cosmic clocks based on atomic physics and on the local density of matter.