Does DESI DR2 challenge $\Lambda$CDM paradigm ?
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 and the LRG3+ELG1 point at are in tension with the CDM-anchored inferred from Planck and SNe Ia (Pantheon, Union3, DES-SN5YR): for LRG1 the tensions are , , , and ; for LRG3+ELG1 they are , , , and . Across redshift bins DR2 shows improved agreement relative to DR1, with the tension dropping from to . Nevertheless, DR2 alone is not decisive against CDM, and the apparent deviation is driven mainly by LRG1 and LRG2. In a CDM fit using all tracers we find a posterior mean with , consistent with dynamical dark energy and nominally challenging CDM. Removing LRG1 and/or LRG2 restores CDM concordance (); moreover, , indicating that LRG2 drives the trend more strongly. Model selection via the natural-log Bayes factor yields weak evidence for CDM when LRG1, LRG2, or both are removed, and is inconclusive for the full sample. Hence the data do not require the extra freedom, and the apparent preference should be interpreted cautiously as a reflection of the 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