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Neutrino masses and beyond- ΛCDM cosmology with LSST and future CMB experiments

Siddharth Mishra-Sharma, David Alonso, Joanna Dunkley · 2018 · 65 citationsRead the paper

Cosmological measurements over the next decade will enable us to shed light on the content and evolution of the Universe. Complementary measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and baryon acoustic oscillations are expected to allow an indirect determination of the sum of neutrino masses, within the framework of the flat $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ model. However, possible deviations from $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\mathrm{CDM}$ such as a nonzero cosmological curvature or a dark energy equation of state with $w\ensuremath{\ne}\ensuremath{-}1$ would leave similar imprints on the expansion rate of the Universe and clustering of matter. We show how future CMB measurements can be combined with late-time measurements of galaxy clustering and cosmic shear from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope to alleviate this degeneracy. Together, they are projected to reduce the uncertainty on the neutrino mass sum to 30 meV within this more general cosmological model. Achieving a $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ measurement of the minimal 60 meV mass sum (or $4\ensuremath{\sigma}$ assuming $w=\ensuremath{-}1$) will require a fivefold improved measurement of the optical depth to reionization, obtainable through a large-scale CMB polarization measurement.

What the full text shows

Theory or simulation
  • Combination of future CMB measurements with LSST galaxy clustering and cosmic shear reduces uncertainty on the neutrino mass sum. — 30 meV (Within a general cosmological model allowing non-zero curvature and dark energy equation of state w != -1)
  • A 3-sigma measurement of the minimal neutrino mass sum requires a significant improvement in optical depth to reionization measurement. — 5-fold improvement (Minimal mass sum of 60 meV)
  • A 4-sigma measurement of the minimal neutrino mass sum is possible with improved optical depth measurements. — 4-sigma (Assuming w = -1)
Setup
Forecasts based on CMB-S4 (half-sky, 1 uK-arcmin noise), Planck, LSST (3x2-pt analysis with red/blue galaxy samples), and DESI BAO distance scales.
How
The authors used a Fisher forecasting method (via GoFish code) to project constraints on ten cosmological parameters using angular power spectra from primary CMB anisotropies, CMB lensing, and LSST shear and galaxy clustering.
Limitations
Does not consider cluster counts calibrated through CMB lensing · Does not explore redshift-space distortions or supernova measurements · Results are forecasts based on nominal proposed specifications, not official experiment results

Summarized by Gemma 4 from the open-access full text · 7 Oct 2026. Read it