Combining Planck with Large Scale Structure gives strong neutrino mass constraint

TL;DR

This paper combines Planck cosmic microwave background data with large-scale structure observations to set the most stringent cosmological upper limit on the sum of neutrino masses, reaching below 0.18 eV at 95% confidence.

Contribution

It provides the strongest cosmological neutrino mass constraint by integrating multiple observational datasets and exploring various neutrino mass scenarios.

Findings

Upper limit on neutrino mass is < 0.18 eV (95% confidence).

Combining CMB, large-scale structure, and BAO data enhances constraint strength.

Results are sensitive to priors and assumptions about neutrino properties.

Abstract

We present the strongest current cosmological upper limit on the sum of neutrino masses of < 0.18 (95% confidence). It is obtained by adding observations of the large-scale matter power spectrum from the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey to observations of the cosmic microwave background data from the Planck surveyor, and measurements of the baryon acoustic oscillation scale. The limit is highly sensitive to the priors and assumptions about the neutrino scenario. We explore scenarios with neutrino masses close to the upper limit (degenerate masses), neutrino masses close to the lower limit where the hierarchy plays a role, and addition of massive or massless sterile species.