Large scale distribution of total mass versus luminous matter from Baryon Acoustic Oscillations: First search in the SDSS-III BOSS Data Release 10

Abstract

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) in the early Universe are predicted to leave an as yet undetected signature on the relative clustering of total mass versus luminous matter. A detection of this effect would provide an important confirmation of the standard cosmological paradigm and constrain alternatives to dark matter as well as non-standard fluctuations such as Compensated Isocurvature Perturbations (CIPs). We conduct the first observational search for this effect, by comparing the number-weighted and luminosity-weighted correlation functions, using the SDSS-III BOSS Data Release 10 CMASS sample. When including CIPs in our model, we formally obtain evidence at $3.2\sigma$ of the relative clustering signature and a limit that matches the existing upper limits on the amplitude of CIPs. However, various tests suggest that these results are not yet robust, perhaps due to systematic biases in the data. The method developed in this Letter, used with more accurate future data such as that from DESI, is likely to confirm or disprove our preliminary evidence.

6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in PRL

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• Baryon-CDM isocurvature galaxy bias with IllustrisTNG
• Power Spectra Based Planck Constraints on Compensated Isocurvature, and Forecasts for LiteBIRD and CORE Space Missions
• Baryons still trace dark matter: probing CMB lensing maps for hidden isocurvature
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Constraint on Baryonic Isocurvature Perturbations
• BAO Modulation as a Probe of Compensated Isocurvature Perturbations
• Exploring compensated isocurvature perturbations with CMB spectral distortion anisotropies
• Uncorrelated Compensated Isocurvature Perturbations from kSZ Tomography
• Large scale distribution of mass versus light from Baryon Acoustic Oscillations: Measurement in the final SDSS-III BOSS Data Release 12
• Cosmological Constraints on the Global Star Formation Law of Galaxies: Insights From Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Intensity Mapping
• Magnetic Fields from Compensated Isocurvature Perturbations
• Probing small-scale baryon and dark matter isocurvature perturbations with cosmic microwave background anisotropies