J-PAS: Forecasting constraints on Neutrino Masses

TL;DR

The paper forecasts J-PAS's potential to constrain neutrino masses using galaxy clustering data, showing significant improvements when combined with Planck and supernova data, thus aiding neutrino physics research.

Contribution

It adapts the Fisher matrix method to forecast J-PAS's sensitivity to neutrino masses across different models and data combinations, highlighting its potential impact.

Findings

J-PAS alone constrains neutrino mass sum to <0.32 eV (ΛCDM)

Combined with Planck, constraints improve to <0.061 eV

Further combined with Pantheon Plus, constraints reach <0.12 eV

Abstract

The large-scale structure survey J-PAS is taking data since October 2023. In this work, we present a forecast based on the Fisher matrix method to establish its sensitivity to the sum of the neutrino masses. We adapt the Fisher Galaxy Survey Code (FARO) to account for the neutrino mass under various configurations applied to galaxy clustering measurements. This approach allows us to test the sensitivity of J-PAS to the neutrino mass across different tracers, with and without non-linear corrections, and under varying sky coverage. We perform our forecast for two cosmological models: $\Lambda CDM + \sum m_\nu$ and $w_0w_a CDM + \sum m_\nu$. We combine our J-PAS forecast with Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data from the Planck Collaboration and Type Ia supernova (SN) data from Pantheon Plus. Our analysis shows that, for a sky coverage of 8,500 square degrees, J-PAS galaxy clustering data alone will constrain the sum of the neutrino masses to an upper limit at 95% C.L of $\sum m_\nu < 0.32$ eV for the $\Lambda CDM + \sum m_\nu$ model, and $\sum m_\nu < 0.36$ eV for the $w_0w_a CDM + \sum m_\nu$ model. When combined with Planck data, the upper limit improves significantly. For J-PAS+Planck at 95% C.L, we find $\sum m_\nu < 0.061$ eV for the $\Lambda CDM + \sum m_\nu$ model, and for J-PAS+Planck+Pantheon Plus, we obtain $\sum m_\nu < 0.12$ eV for the $w_0w_a CDM + \sum m_\nu$ model. These results demonstrate that J-PAS clustering measurements can play a crucial role in addressing challenges in the neutrino sector, including potential tensions between cosmological and terrestrial measurements of the neutrino mass, as well as in determining the mass ordering.