BAO signatures in the 2-point angular correlations and the Hubble tension

TL;DR

This study uses model-independent measurements of BAO, BBN, gravitational lensing, and cosmic chronometers to estimate the Hubble constant and sound horizon, showing potential to resolve the Hubble tension.

Contribution

It provides new, independent estimates of H0 and r_d using transversal BAO data combined with other model-independent measurements, addressing the Hubble tension.

Findings

H0 estimates align with local measurements.

r_d estimates are independent of CMB data.

Results suggest the Hubble tension can be alleviated.

Abstract

An observational tension on estimates of the Hubble parameter, $H_0$, using early and late Universe information, is being of intense discussion in the literature. Additionally, it is of great importance to measure $H_0$ independently of CMB data and local distance ladder method. In this sense, we analyze 15 measurements of the transversal BAO scale, $\theta_{\rm BAO}$, obtained in a weakly model-dependent approach, in combination with other data sets obtained in a model-independent way, namely, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) information, 6 gravitationally lensed quasars with measured time delays by the H0LiCOW team, and measures of cosmic chronometers (CC). We find $H_0 = 74.88_{-2.1}^{+1.9}$ km s${}^{-1}$ Mpc${}^{-1}$ and $H_0 = 72.06_{-1.3}^{+1.2}$ km s${}^{-1}$ Mpc${}^{-1}$ from $\theta_{BAO}$+BBN+H0LiCOW and $\theta_{BAO}$+BBN+CC, respectively, in fully accordance with local measurements. Moreover, we estimate the sound horizon at drag epoch, $r_{\rm d}$, independent of CMB data, and find $r_{\rm d}=144.1_{-5.5}^{+5.3}$ Mpc (from $\theta_{BAO}$+BBN+H0LiCOW) and $r_{\rm d} =150.4_{-3.3}^{+2.7}$ Mpc (from $\theta_{BAO}$+BBN+CC). In a second round of analysis, we test how the presence of a possible spatial curvature, $\Omega_k$, can influence the main results. We compare our constraints on $H_0$ and $r_{\rm d}$ with other reported values. Our results show that it is possible to use a robust compilation of transversal BAO data, $\theta_{BAO}$, jointly with other model-independent measurements, in such a way that the tension on the Hubble parameter can be alleviated.