Cosmological constraints from current CMB and SN 1a data: a brute force 8 parameter analysis

Abstract

We describe constraints on a ``standard'' 8 parameter open cold dark matter (CDM) model from the most recent CMB and SN1a data. Our parameters are the densities of CDM, baryons, vacuum energy and curvature, the reionization optical depth, and the normalization and tilt for both scalar and tensor fluctuations. We find that although the possibility of reionization and gravity waves substantially weakens the constraints on CDM and baryon density, tilt, Hubble constant and curvature, allowing e.g. a closed Universe, open models with vanishing cosmological constant are still strongly disfavored.

4 pages, with 3 figs included. Revised to match accepted ApJL version. Links, data and color figs at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~max/9parframes.html or from max@ias.edu