REVIEW 3 major objections 4 minor 46 references
The ISW effect is detected at 2.8σ in Quaia quasar–Planck CMB cross-correlations, with amplitude 1.69 ± 0.61, and the evolving-dark-energy models preferred by recent BAO and lensing data cannot explain the excess.
Reviewed by Pith at T0; open to challenge. T0 means a machine referee read the full paper against a public rubric. the ladder, T0–T4 →
A 2.8σ detection of the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect in the Quaia×Planck cross-correlation gives A_ISW = 1.69 ± 0.61, moderately above ΛCDM and unexplained by current CPL dark-energy models.
T0 review reviewed 2026-08-01 challenge →
load-bearing objection A careful new ISW measurement from Quaia, but the headline 2.8σ is softer than it looks — the linear-regime cut gives 2.1σ, and the amplitude is sensitive to the bias model; still worth sending to a referee. the 3 major comments →
Probing dark energy evolution with Quaia quasars through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect
The pith
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
The reading
Core claim
The paper's central claim is that the ISW cross-correlation signal is present in the Quaia × Planck data at 2.8σ significance, with best-fit amplitude A_ISW ≈ 1.69 ± 0.61 relative to the fiducial Planck ΛCDM template. Split by redshift, the low-z bin (z̄ ≈ 0.97) gives 1.19 ± 0.56, the high-z bin (z̄ ≈ 2.10) gives 2.86 ± 1.62, and a joint fit over both bins gives 1.38 ± 0.53. The w0waCDM models used in the analysis, with parameters taken from recent baryon-acoustic-oscillation and weak-lensing constraints, predict ISW spectra lower than ΛCDM by at most about 20%, and fitting them to the data does not improve χ²; in fact the data prefer an amplitude above the ΛCDM template, in the opposite dir
What carries the argument
The central object is the tomographic angular cross-power spectrum C^{Tg}_ℓ between Planck temperature and Quaia quasar overdensity maps, computed with a standard pseudo-Cℓ spherical-harmonic mode-coupling estimator on a common sky mask and fitted by a single amplitude A_ISW. The theoretical template combines an ISW kernel W_ISW(χ) ∝ H(z) [1 - f(z)]—the rate at which gravitational potentials decay with time—with a quasar kernel b(z) dN/dz, where the quasar bias is assumed to follow b(z) = b0 / D(z) with b0 = 1.26. The covariance is estimated from 2000 correlated Gaussian mock realizations of the CMB and quasar density fields, so the fit accounts for cosmic variance and shot noise. This machi
Load-bearing premise
The load-bearing assumption is the fixed quasar clustering bias, b0 = 1.26 in the model b(z) = b0 / D(z); if the true bias differs, the fitted signal amplitude shifts by the inverse factor and the dark-energy comparison changes, even though the detection significance does not.
What would settle it
Measure the actual large-scale bias of the Quaia z≈0.97 bin from its autocorrelation or from cross-correlation with CMB lensing, and compare with 1.26; if the true b0 were, say, 1.5, the central amplitude would fall to about 1.4, within 1σ of ΛCDM. A bias-independent high-redshift ISW measurement using a different tracer with precisely known bias at z≈2 would settle whether the 2.86 ± 1.62 amplitude is physical.
If this is right
- If the central claim is right, the ISW effect is detected in the largest-volume quasar sample to date, providing an independent, growth-based confirmation that gravitational potentials decay at late times as ΛCDM predicts.
- The tomographic split indicates the signal is not carried only by low redshift: the high-z bin (z̄≈2.10) yields A_ISW = 2.86 ± 1.62, consistent with previous quasar-ISW estimates, though with large uncertainty.
- The measured amplitude exceeds ΛCDM by about 1.1σ, so the result is not evidence against ΛCDM, but it narrows the room for models, like the w0waCDM ones used here, that predict a weaker ISW signal.
- The robustness tests—three CMB maps, an alternative bias model, hemisphere splits, and varying ℓmax and bin count—all keep A_ISW within 1σ of the baseline, supporting the interpretation that the cross-correlation is not dominated by a particular analysis choice.
- Future wide-area surveys with higher quasar densities will reduce shot noise and can test whether the excess grows or shrinks, which the paper identifies as the path to distinguishing dark-energy models.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- A direct measurement of Quaia's quasar bias normalization at low redshift would be the fastest check: since the fitted amplitude scales as 1/b0, an upward correction to b0 would pull A_ISW toward 1 and the excess would largely dissolve; a downward correction would strengthen it.
- The high-z bin is where the excess is most pronounced (2.86 ± 1.62) and where shot noise is largest; a dedicated wide-area sample at z≈2 with much higher tracer density could separate a genuine high-z ISW excess from a statistical outlier.
- If the excess persists after bias and systematics are controlled, it points toward models that produce faster late-time potential decay than ΛCDM (for example higher Ωm or σ8, or w > -1), the opposite direction from the w0waCDM fits favoured by current BAO and lensing data; this would be a tension worth pursuing, though the paper does not draw that conclusion.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper presents a tomographic cross-correlation analysis between the Quaia quasar catalogue and Planck 2018 CMB temperature maps, measuring the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect. Using a pseudo-Cℓ pipeline with 2000 mock-based covariances, the authors report a best-fit ISW amplitude A_ISW = 1.69 ± 0.61 (2.78σ) relative to the Planck ΛCDM prediction for the total quasar sample, with low-z and high-z bin amplitudes of 1.19 ± 0.56 and 2.86 ± 1.62, respectively. They also compare against two w0waCDM models favoured by recent DESI/DES data and find these models do not explain the mildly elevated amplitude. Robustness tests include alternative CMB component-separation maps, a second quasar bias model, North/South sky splits, and variations of multipole binning and ℓmax. The central claim is an ISW detection at ~2.8σ with an amplitude consistent with ΛCDM at 1.1σ, and the paper argues that current data cannot distinguish ΛCDM from the CPL models but prefer an amplitude above both.
Significance. If taken at face value, the result provides one of the most extensive tomographic ISW measurements to date, using the Quaia catalogue's large sky area and redshift depth. The analysis is methodologically transparent: it uses the public NaMaster pseudo-Cℓ estimator, a covariance from 2000 correlated Gaussian mocks with Hartlap correction, and external cosmological parameters from Planck and DESI/DES, avoiding circular use of the ISW amplitude. The robustness tests, especially the use of NILC and SEVEM CMB maps and the alternative bias model, strengthen confidence in the amplitude stability. The paper also gives a useful comparison with w0waCDM models motivated by recent dark-energy hints. However, the headline significance is scale-dependent—dropping to 2.1σ when ℓmax is restricted to the linear regime—and the fixed quasar bias normalization adds unquantified systematic uncertainty to the amplitude. These issues must be addressed before the detection claim is fully supported.
major comments (3)
- [§3.1, §3.3, Fig. 4] The headline detection significance of 2.8σ (abstract, §3.1) is not stable under the choice of ℓmax: restricting to ℓmax=100 with 5 bins gives A_ISW=1.30±0.61, i.e. S/N=2.13σ, while the fiducial ℓmax=300 yields 2.78σ. The paper states in §3.3 that results are 'robust', but this robustness applies to the amplitude, not to the significance. Since the central claim is a detection at 2.8σ, this scale dependence is load-bearing. Please report the linear-regime significance as a primary result, or provide a quantitative justification for including multipoles 100–300 (e.g., validation of the template and covariance on those scales) rather than relying on a 1σ amplitude consistency.
- [§2.2, Eq. (2); §3.3] The quasar bias normalization b0=1.26 is fixed from Piccirilli et al. without propagating its uncertainty. The ISW cross-spectrum template is proportional to b(z), so A_ISW scales inversely with b0. The alternative bias model of Laurent et al. shifts A_ISW from 1.69 to 2.02 (§3.3), illustrating the sensitivity. Since the paper uses A_ISW to assess dark-energy models, the error on A_ISW should include the bias uncertainty. Please marginalize over b0 with a prior informed by Piccirilli et al., or at least quote a systematic error from the allowed b0 range. Without this, the reported 1σ error is underestimated.
- [§3.3, Fig. 3] The increase in significance from ℓmax=100 to ℓmax=300 appears driven by multipoles 100–300, where the ISW template is small relative to the error bars and where the paper notes 'an outlier data point ... at ℓ≈200' even for the total sample. The text dismisses this as a statistical fluctuation, but no explicit test is shown—e.g., removing that bin from the fit, comparing with a map without the outlier, or examining known foreground residuals (CIB, tSZ) on those scales. Given that this outlier contributes to the 2.8σ claim, its nature should be tested rather than assumed, and the resulting significance change should be reported.
minor comments (4)
- [§4] Typo: 'comsic maps' should be 'cosmic maps'.
- [Fig. 2] The y-axis label 'Custume Normalized dN/dz' appears to be a typo; should likely be 'Custom Normalized dN/dz' or simply 'Normalized dN/dz'.
- [§2.5] The description of the mask construction is clear, but it would help to state the total unmasked sky fraction for the joint masks used in the fiducial analysis, as this affects cosmic variance and the interpretation of the significance.
- [§3.2] The wCDM model with w=−0.65 is mentioned as 'ad-hoc' and likely ruled out by other constraints; consider removing it or explicitly labeling it as an illustrative exercise, since it could be mistaken for a viable scenario.
Circularity Check
No load-bearing circularity: the ISW amplitude is a fitted output against externally computed theory templates; self-citations are methodological and peripheral.
full rationale
The central result, A_ISW = 1.69 +/- 0.61, is obtained by fitting the measured binned cross-spectrum d_b to a theoretical template t_b via a chi^2 minimization (Eqs. 9-10). The template is computed with pyCCL/CAMB using external Planck 2018 LambdaCDM parameters and external DES/DESI CPL parameters, not from the Quaia data. Thus the amplitude is a fitted output, not an input, and no self-definitional circularity is present. The mock catalogues used for the covariance are generated from the theory spectra, including the LambdaCDM cross-spectrum; this is standard practice for covariance estimation and does not force the measured amplitude, since the data vector is independent of the mocks. The fixed bias b0 = 1.26 from Piccirilli et al. (2024) is an external input and is robustly tested against an alternative bias model; any bias uncertainty affects the amplitude but does not make the derivation circular. The only self-citations are methodological or peripheral: Bermejo-Climent et al. (2026) for the power-law correction added to the galaxy auto-spectrum in mocks, and Ghodsi Yengejeh et al. (2026) for an exploratory remark about quintessence models. Neither supports the ISW detection claim itself. The paper also transparently flags outlier data points at ell ~ 200 and the reduced significance (2.13 sigma) at ell_max = 100; this is a robustness concern, not circularity. No specific reduction of a prediction to an input can be exhibited, so there is no significant circularity.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
free parameters (5)
- ISW amplitude A_ISW (total sample) =
1.69 ± 0.61
- A_ISW (low-z bin) =
1.19 ± 0.56
- A_ISW (high-z bin) =
2.86 ± 1.62
- A_ISW (joint fit) =
1.38 ± 0.53
- quasar bias normalization b0 =
1.26
axioms (9)
- domain assumption Flat ΛCDM with Planck 2018 best-fit parameters as the fiducial cosmology.
- domain assumption CPL parameterization w(a)=w0+wa(1−a) with DESI/DES best-fit parameters (w0=−0.84, wa=−0.53 for All DES+DESI BAO; w0=−0.84, wa=−0.44 for All DES).
- domain assumption Quasar linear bias evolves as b_QSO(z)=b0/D(z) with b0=1.26.
- domain assumption Magnification bias s=0.4 exactly, so the lensing-magnification contribution cancels.
- domain assumption Redshift-space distortions are negligible for the ISW cross-correlation.
- domain assumption Non-linear Rees-Sciama contribution is negligible at ℓ≤300.
- standard math Limber approximation is valid for these cross-spectra.
- domain assumption Gaussian mocks with added Poisson shot noise and Planck noise accurately estimate the covariance.
- domain assumption The ISW signal shape is fixed, with only a scale-independent amplitude free.
Cite this review
Pith. "Pith review of Probing dark energy evolution with Quaia quasars through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect." pith.science (2026). https://pith.science/paper/SYMLK2LL
@misc{pith2026260722461,
author = {Pith},
title = {Pith review of: Probing dark energy evolution with Quaia quasars through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://pith.science/paper/SYMLK2LL}},
note = {Machine review of arXiv:2607.22461}
}
abstract
The Integrated Sachs--Wolfe (ISW) effect probes the late-time evolution of gravitational potentials and provides a complementary test of the nature of dark energy. We investigate whether the redshift evolution of the ISW effect can provide new constraints on the time evolution of dark energy. We consider theoretical predictions for the standard $\Lambda$CDM cosmology and alternative $w_0w_a$CDM models favoured by recent DESI BAO and DES Y6 constraints. We perform a tomographic cross-correlation analysis of the {\it Quaia} quasar catalogue and \textit{Planck} CMB temperature maps to measure the ISW signal over a broad redshift range, spanning about $(10h^{-1}~\mathrm{Gpc})^3$ comoving volume. We assess the robustness of the inferred ISW amplitude against variations in sky coverage, multipole range, and tomographic binning. We detect the ISW effect at a significance of $2.8 \, \sigma$, corresponding to an amplitude of $A_{\rm ISW}\simeq1.69\pm0.61$ relative to the \textit{Planck} $\Lambda$CDM prediction. The inferred signal remains stable against various analysis choices, including various CMB maps (SMICA, NILC, SEVEM), different choices of $\ell_{\rm max}$ and the number of multipole bins, and an alternative quasar bias model. The measured ISW amplitude is moderately stronger than predicted by the fiducial $\Lambda$CDM cosmology, and the alternative $w_0w_a$CDM models do not account for this discrepancy. Future tomographic ISW measurements with improved quasar catalogues from {\it Gaia} and forthcoming wide-area galaxy surveys such as {\it Euclid} and DESI will help clarify the origin of this difference.
Figures
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This paper was first reviewed by deepseek-v4-flash on August 1, 2026.
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