The Local Perspective on the Hubble Tension: Local Structure Does Not Impact Measurement of the Hubble Constant

We use the largest sample to date of spectroscopic supernova (SN) Ia distances and redshifts to look for evidence in the Hubble diagram of large-scale outflows caused by local voids suggested to exist at z < 0.15. Our sample combines data from the Pantheon sample with the Foundation survey, and the most recent release of light curves from the Carnegie Supernova Project, to create a sample of 1295 SNe over a redshift range of 0.01 < z < 2.26. We make use of an inhomogeneous and isotropic Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi metric to model a void in the SN Ia distance-redshift relation. We conclude that the SN luminosity distance-redshift relation is inconsistent at the 4-5σ confidence level with large local underdensities (|δ| > 20%, where the density contrast δ = Δρ/ρ) proposed in some galaxy count studies, and find no evidence of a change in the Hubble constant corresponding to a void with a sharp edge in the redshift range 0.023 < z < 0.15. With an empirical precision of , we conclude that the distance ladder measurement is not affected by local density contrasts, in agreement with a cosmic variance of , predicted from simulations of large-scale structure. Given that uncertainty in the distance ladder value is , this does not affect the Hubble tension. We derive a 5σ constraint on local density contrasts on scales larger than 69 Mpc h-1 of |δ| < 27%. The presence of local structure does not appear to impede the possibility of measuring the Hubble constant to 1% precision.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel M. Scolnic Physics