Role of Spatial Curvature in a Dark Energy Interacting Model

TL;DR

This study examines how spatial curvature influences an interacting dark energy model, showing it affects key cosmological parameters and may help resolve observational tensions, with data favoring an open universe.

Contribution

It is the first comprehensive analysis of spatial curvature effects in an interacting dark energy model using diverse observational datasets.

Findings

Curvature impacts H_0 and S_8 estimates.

Inclusion of curvature alleviates some observational tensions.

Data indicates a preference for an open universe.

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of spatial curvature in a model where dark matter and dark energy interact. The analysis employs a range of datasets, including CMB, BAO, Type Ia Supernova, $H(z)$ from cosmic chronometers, $H_0$ measurements from Megamasers and SH0ES, growth rate data and strong lensing time delay measurements, to assess the model's fit and explore the late-time dynamics of the interacting dark sector in a non-flat cosmological framework. The study indicates that introducing curvature does affect the Hubble constant ($H_0$) and the structure growth parameter ($S_8$), and also helps in alleviating the tensions between early and late universe observations to some extent. The observational data shows an indication for an open universe. This implies that the presence of curvature and its influence on Universe's evolution cannot be neglected entirely.