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Issue A&A
Volume 371, Number 1, May III 2001
Page(s) 1 - 10
Section Cosmology
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20010314



A&A 371, 1-10 (2001)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20010314

Incompatibility of a comoving Ly$\alpha$ forest with supernova-Ia luminosity distances

J. Thomas and H. Schulz

Astronomisches Institut der Ruhr-Universität, 44780 Bochum, Germany
    e-mail: jens.thomas@ruhr-uni-bochum.de, hschulz@astro.ruhr-uni-bochum.de

(Received 30 November 2000 / Accepted 28 February 2001)

Abstract
Recently, Perlmutter et al. (1999) suggested a positive value of Einstein's cosmological constant $\Lambda$ on the basis of luminosity distances from type-Ia supernovae (the "SN-method"). However, $\Lambda$ world models had earlier been proposed by Hoell & Priester (1991) and Liebscher et al. (1992a,b) on the basis of quasar absorption-line data (the "Q-method"). Employing more general repulsive fluids ("dark energy") encompassing the $\Lambda$ component, we quantitatively compare both approaches. Fitting the SN-data by a minimum-component model consisting of dark energy + dust (pressureless matter) yields a closed universe with a large amount of dust exceeding the baryonic content constrained by big-bang nucleosynthesis. The nature of the dark energy is hardly constrained. Only when enforcing a flat universe is there a clear tendency to a dark-energy $\Lambda$ fluid and the "canonical"value $\Omega_{\rm M}\approx 0.3$ for dust. Conversely, a minimum-component Q-method fit yields a sharply defined, slightly closed model with a low dust density ruling out significant pressureless dark matter. The dark-energy component obtains an equation-of-state ${\cal P}=-0.96 \epsilon$ close to that of a $\Lambda$-fluid ( ${\cal P}=- \epsilon$). $\Omega_{\rm M} =0.3$ or a precisely flat spatial geometry are inconsistent with minimum-component models. It is found that quasar and supernova data sets cannot be reconciled with each other via (repulsive ideal fluid+incoherent matter+radiation)-world models. Compatibility could be reached by drastic expansion of the parameter space with at least two exotic fluids added to dust and radiation as world constituents. If considering such solutions as far-fetched, one has to conclude that the Q-method and the SN-Ia constraints are incompatible.


Key words: cosmology: miscellaneous -- cosmology: theory

Offprint request: H. Schulz



© ESO 2001


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