English

Does DESI DR2 challenge $\Lambda$CDM paradigm ?

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2025-10-17 v3 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

Although debate on DESI DR1 systematics remains, DESI DR2 is consistent with DR1 and strengthens its trends. In our analysis, the LRG1 point at zeff=0.510z_{\mathrm{eff}}=0.510 and the LRG3+ELG1 point at zeff=0.934z_{\mathrm{eff}}=0.934 are in tension with the Λ\LambdaCDM-anchored Ωm\Omega_m inferred from Planck and SNe Ia (Pantheon+^{+}, Union3, DES-SN5YR): for LRG1 the tensions are 2.42σ2.42\sigma, 1.91σ1.91\sigma, 2.19σ2.19\sigma, and 2.99σ2.99\sigma; for LRG3+ELG1 they are 2.60σ2.60\sigma, 2.24σ2.24\sigma, 2.51σ2.51\sigma, and 2.96σ2.96\sigma. Across redshift bins DR2 shows improved agreement relative to DR1, with the Ωm\Omega_m tension dropping from 2.20σ2.20\sigma to 1.84σ1.84\sigma. Nevertheless, DR2 alone is not decisive against Λ\LambdaCDM, and the apparent deviation is driven mainly by LRG1 and LRG2. In a ω0ωa\omega_0\omega_aCDM fit using all tracers we find a posterior mean with w0>1w_0>-1, consistent with dynamical dark energy and nominally challenging Λ\LambdaCDM. Removing LRG1 and/or LRG2 restores Λ\LambdaCDM concordance (ω01\omega_0\to-1); moreover, ω0(LRG2)>w0(LRG1)\omega_0^{\mathrm{(LRG2)}}>w_0^{\mathrm{(LRG1)}}, indicating that LRG2 drives the trend more strongly. Model selection via the natural-log Bayes factor lnBFln(ZΛCDM/Zω0ωaCDM)\ln\mathrm{BF}\equiv\ln(Z_{\Lambda\mathrm{CDM}}/Z_{\omega_0\omega_a\mathrm{CDM}}) yields weak evidence for Λ\LambdaCDM when LRG1, LRG2, or both are removed, and is inconclusive for the full sample. Hence the data do not require the extra ωa\omega_a freedom, and the apparent ω0>1\omega_0>-1 preference should be interpreted cautiously as a reflection of the ω0\omega_0ωa\omega_a degeneracy with limited per-tracer information.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2507.21607,
  title  = {Does DESI DR2 challenge $\Lambda$CDM paradigm ?},
  author = {Himanshu Chaudhary and Salvatore Capozziello and Vipin Kumar Sharma and Ghulam Mustafa},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.21607},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

13 pages, 6 figures, Published in The Astrophysical Journal

R2 v1 2026-07-01T04:23:37.711Z