Abstract: We analyse the anisotropic clustering of massive galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) Data Release 9 (DR9) sample, which consists of 264-283 galaxies in the redshift range 0.43 < z < 0.7 spanning 3275 deg(2). Both peculiar velocities and errors in the assumed redshiftdistance relation (AlcockPaczynski effect) generate correlations between clustering amplitude and orientation with respect to the line of sight. Together with the sharp baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) standard ruler, our measurements of the broad-band shape of the monopole and quadrupole correlation functions simultaneously constrain the comoving angular diameter distance (2190 +/- 61 Mpc) to z = 0.57, the Hubble expansion rate at z = 0.57 (92.4 +/- 4.5 km s(-1) Mpc(-1)) and the growth rate of structure at that same redshift (d(sigma 8)/d ln a = 0.43 +/- 0.069). Our analysis provides the best current direct determination of both DA and H in galaxy clustering data using this technique. If we further assume a cold dark matter expansion history, our growth constraint tightens to d(sigma 8)/d ln a = 0.415 +/- 0.034. In combination with the cosmic microwave background, our measurements of D-A,H and d(sigma 8)/d ln a all separately require dark energy at z > 0.57, and when combined imply Omega(A) = 0.74 +/- 0.016, independent of the Universe's evolution at z < 0.57. All of these constraints assume scale-independent linear growth, and assume general relativity to compute both O(10 per cent) non-linear model corrections and our errors. In our companion paper, Samushia et al., we explore further cosmological implications of these observations.

Abstract: The simple m(2)phi(2) potential as an inflationary model is coming under increasing tension with limits on the tensor-to-scalar ratio r and measurements of the scalar spectral index n(s). Cubic Galileon interactions in the context of the Horndeski action can potentially reconcile the observables. However, we show that this cannot be achieved with only a constant Galileon mass scale because the interactions turn off too slowly, leading also to gradient instabilities after inflation ends. Allowing for a more rapid transition can reconcile the observables but moderately breaks the slow-roll approximation leading to a relatively large and negative running of the tilt alpha(s) that can be of order n(s) – 1. We show that the observables on CMB and large scale structure scales can be predicted accurately using the optimized slow-roll approach instead of the traditional slow-roll expansion. Upper limits on vertical bar alpha(s)vertical bar place a lower bound of r greater than or similar to 0.005 and, conversely, a given r places a lower bound on vertical bar alpha(s)vertical bar, both of which are potentially observable with next generation CMB and large scale structure surveys.

Abstract: A class of well-behaved modified gravity models with long enough matter domination epoch and a late-time accelerated expansion is confronted with SNIa, CMB, SDSS, BAO and H(z) galaxy ages data, as well as current measurements of the linear growth of structure. We show that the combination of geometrical probes and growth data exploited here allows to rule out f(R) gravity models, in particular, the logarithmic of curvature model. We also apply solar system tests to the models in agreement with the cosmological data. We find that the exponential of the inverse of the curvature model satisfies all the observational tests considered and we derive the allowed range of parameters. Current data still allows for small deviations of Einstein gravity. Future, high precision growth data, in combination with expansion history data, will be able to distinguish tiny modifications of standard gravity from the Lambda CDM model.