A structured analysis of Hubble tension

Abstract

As observations of the Hubble parameter from both early and late sources have improved, the tension between these has increased to be well above the 5$\sigma$ threshold. Given this, the need for an explanation of such a tension has grown. In this paper, we explore a set of 7 assumptions, and show that, in order to alleviate the Hubble tension, a model needs to break at least one of these 7, providing a quick and easy to apply check for new model proposals. We also use this framework to make a rough categorisation of current proposed models, and show the existence of at least one under-explored avenue of alleviating the Hubble tension.