Bayesian model selection analysis of WMAP3

被引:81
作者
Parkinson, David [1 ]
Mukherjee, Pia [1 ]
Liddle, Andrew R. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Sussex, Ctr Astron, Brighton BN1 9QH, E Sussex, England
来源
PHYSICAL REVIEW D | 2006年 / 73卷 / 12期
关键词
D O I
10.1103/PhysRevD.73.123523
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We present a Bayesian model selection analysis of WMAP3 data using our code CosmoNest. We focus on the density perturbation spectral index n(S) and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r, which define the plane of slow-roll inflationary models. We find that while the Bayesian evidence supports the conclusion that n(S)not equal 1, the data are not yet powerful enough to do so at a strong or decisive level. If tensors are assumed absent, the current odds are approximately 8 to 1 in favor of n(S)not equal 1 under our assumptions, when WMAP3 data is used together with external data sets. WMAP3 data on its own is unable to distinguish between the two models. Further, inclusion of r as a parameter weakens the conclusion against the Harrison-Zel'dovich case (n(S)=1, r=0), albeit in a prior-dependent way. In appendices we describe the CosmoNest code in detail, noting its ability to supply posterior samples as well as to accurately compute the Bayesian evidence. We make a first public release of CosmoNest, now available at www.cosmonest.org.
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页数:7
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