The effect of inhomogeneities on dark energy constraints

Understand

Constraints on models of the late time acceleration of the universe assume the cosmological principle of homogeneity and isotropy on large scales.

• However, small scale inhomogeneities can alter observational and dynamical relations, affecting the inferred cosmological parameters.
• For precision constraints on the properties of dark energy, it is important to assess the potential systematic effects arising from these inhomogeneities.
• In this study, we use the Type Ia supernova magnitude-redshift relation to constrain the inhomogeneities as described by the Dyer-Roeder distance relation and the effect they have on the dark energy equation of state ($w$), together with priors derived from the most recent results of the measurements of the power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.