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We observationally examine cosmological models based on primordial power spectra with quantized wavevectors. Introducing a linearly quantized power spectrum with $k_0=3.225\times10^{-4}\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ and spacing $\Delta k = 2.257 \times…
The form of the primordial power spectrum has the potential to differentiate strongly between competing models of perturbation generation in the early universe and so is of considerable importance. The recent release of five years of WMAP…
The preferred shape for the primordial spectrum of curvature perturbations is determined by performing a Bayesian model selection analysis of cosmological observations. We first reconstruct the spectrum modelled as piecewise linear in \log…
Detailed knowledge of the primordial power spectrum of curvature perturbations is essential both in order to elucidate the physical mechanism (`inflation') which generated it, and for estimating the cosmological parameters from observations…
We derive the full set of second-order equations governing the evolution of cosmological perturbations, including the effects of the first-order electron number density perturbations, \delta_e. We provide a detailed analysis of the…
Concordance $\Lambda$CDM universe is the simplest model that is consistent with a large variety of cosmological observations till date. But few recent observations indicate inconsistencies in $\Lambda$CDM model. In this paper, we consider…
Physical models for the hemispherical power asymmetry in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) reported by the Planck Collaboration must satisfy CMB constraints to the homogeneity of the Universe and quasar constraints to power asymmetries.…
We present a minimally-parametric reconstruction of the primordial power spectrum using the most recent cosmic microwave background and large scale structure data sets. Our goal is to constrain the shape of the power spectrum while…
We have constrained the extended (delayed and accelerated) models of hydrogen recombination, by investigating associated changes of the position and the width of the last scattering surface. Using the recent CMB and SDSS data, we find that…
Over the next decade, improvements in cosmological parameter constraints will be driven by surveys of large-scale structure. Its inherent non-linearity suggests that significant information will be embedded in higher correlations beyond the…
We reconstruct the shape of the primordial power spectrum from the latest cosmic microwave background data, including the new results from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), and large scale structure data from the two degree…
The Planck experiment has measured the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) angular spectrum with unprecedented accuracy, and these results are likely to remain the state-of-the art for a decade or more. Since these measurements are going to…
We point out that polarization measurements as planned for the upcoming PLANCK mission can significantly enhance the accuracy of cosmic parameter estimation compared to the temperature anisotropy spectrum alone. In order to illustrate this,…
Extensions to the $\Lambda\textrm{CDM}$ model prior to recombination can modify the growth of perturbations around radiation-matter equality, leaving a distinct signature in the matter power spectrum. Upcoming large-scale structure surveys…
The latest cosmological data seem to indicate a significant deviation from scale invariance of the primordial power spectrum when parameterized either by a power law or by a spectral index with non-zero "running". This deviation, by itself,…
Reconstructing the shape of the primordial power spectrum in a model independent way from cosmological data is a useful consistency check on what is usually assumed regarding early universe physics. It is also our primary window to unknown…
We develop a method to reconstruct the primordial power spectrum, P(k), using both temperature and polarisation data from the joint analysis of a number of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations. The method is an extension of the…
In order to reconstruct the initial conditions of the universe it is important to devise a method that can efficiently constrain the shape of the power spectrum of primordial matter density fluctuations in a model-independent way from data.…
Reconstruction of the linear power spectrum from observational data provides a way to compare cosmological models to a large amount of data, as Peacock & Dodds (1994, 1996) have shown. By applying the appropriate corrections to the…
We examine cosmic microwave background constraints on variations in the recombination history of the universe. We use a very general extension to the standard model of recombination characterized by two parameters, a and b, which multiply…