Joint Cosmic Microwave Background and Weak Lensing Analysis: Constraints on Cosmological Parameters
Abstract
We use cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations together with the red-sequence cluster survey weak lensing results to derive constraints on a range of cosmological parameters. This particular choice of observations is motivated by their robust physical interpretation and complementarity. Our combined analysis, including a weak nucleosynthesis constraint, yields accurate determinations of a number of parameters including the amplitude of fluctuations ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{8}=0.89\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ and matter density ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{m}=0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$. We also find a value for the Hubble parameter of ${H}_{0}=70\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3\text{ }\mathrm{k}\mathrm{m}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\text{ }{\mathrm{M}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{c}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, in good agreement with the Hubble Space Telescope key-project result. We conclude that the combination of CMB and weak lensing data provides some of the most powerful constraints available in cosmology today.