BAO cosmography

Abstract

Cosmography provides a model-independent way to map the expansion history of the Universe. In this paper we simulate a Euclid-like survey and explore cosmographic constraints from future Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) observations. We derive general expressions for the BAO transverse and radial modes and discuss the optimal order of the cosmographic expansion that provide reliable cosmological constraints. Through constraints on the deceleration and jerk parameters, we show that future BAO data have the potential to provide a model-independent check of the cosmic acceleration as well as a discrimination between the standard $\Lambda$CDM model and alternative mechanisms of cosmic acceleration.