Smoothing the $H_0$ tension with a dynamical dark energy model

TL;DR

This paper explores a dynamical dark energy model to address the H_0 and S_8 tensions in cosmology, showing it can reduce these discrepancies compared to the standard Lambda-CDM model.

Contribution

It introduces a phantom dynamical dark energy model with an extra parameter, demonstrating its potential to alleviate the H_0 and S_8 tensions.

Findings

H_0 tension reduced to 2.27σ with the new model

S_8 tension reduced to 2.37σ with the new model

Strong positive correlation between H_0 and the dark energy parameter

Abstract

The discrepancy between Planck data and direct measurements of the current expansion rate $H_0$ and the matter fluctuation amplitude $S_8$ has become one of the most intriguing puzzles in cosmology nowadays. The $H_0$ tension has reached $4.2\sigma$ in the context of standard cosmology i.e $\Lambda$CDM. Therefore, explanations to this issue are mandatory to unveil its secrets. Despite its success, $\Lambda$CDM is unable to give a satisfying explanation to the tension problem. Unless some systematic errors might be hidden in the observable measurements, physics beyond the standard model of cosmology must be advocated. In this perspective, we study a phantom dynamical dark energy model as an alternative to $\Lambda$CDM in order to explain the aforementioned issues. This phantom model is characterised by one extra parameter, $\Omega_{pdde}$, compared to $\Lambda$CDM. We obtain a strong positive correlation between $H_0$ and $\Omega_{pdde}$, for all data combinations. Using Planck measurements together with BAO and Pantheon, we find that the $H_0$ and the $S_8$ tensions are $3\sigma$ and $2.6\sigma$, respectively. By introducing a prior on the absolute magnitude, $M_B$, of the SN Ia, the $H_0$ tension decreases to $2.27\sigma$ with $H_0 = 69.76_{-0.82}^{+0.75}$ km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ and the $S_8$ tension reaches the value $2.37\sigma$ with $S_8 =0.8269_{-0.012}^{+0.011}$.