Forecasting Cosmic Parameter Errors from Microwave Background Anisotropy Experiments

TL;DR

This paper predicts how well future microwave background experiments like MAP and Planck can measure key cosmological parameters with high precision, considering theoretical and observational factors.

Contribution

It provides detailed forecasts of parameter estimation accuracy for upcoming CMB satellites within inflationary cold dark matter models.

Findings

MAP and Planck can determine baryon and dark matter densities to percent accuracy.

Inclusion of prior knowledge improves parameter constraints.

Derivative calculations of the CMB power spectrum are crucial for forecasting.

Abstract

Accurate measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies with an angular resolution of a few arcminutes can be used to determine fundamental cosmological parameters such as the densities of baryons, cold and hot dark matter, and certain combinations of the cosmological constant and the curvature of the Universe to percent-level precision. Assuming the true theory is a variant of inflationary cold dark matter cosmologies, we calculate the accuracy with which cosmological parameters can be determined by the next generation of CMB satellites, MAP and Planck. We pay special attention to: (a) the accuracy of the computed derivatives of the CMB power spectrum C_L; (b) the number and choices of parameters; (c) the inclusion of prior knowledge of the values of various parameters.