K-LOCR v3.2: Planck 2018 TT Data Shows >5σ Preference for Phantom Dark Energy with w = -1.03 over ΛCDM

Note:

This is an independent work in progress by a high-school student from Pakistan.

All errors are my own.

The nature of dark energy remains one of the most significant open questions in modern cosmology. The standard ΛCDM model assumes a cosmological constant with equation of state w = -1.0. We test this assumption against Planck 2018 CMB temperature (TT) data using a phantom dark energy parameterization.

Employing CAMB with baseline Planck 2018 parameters, we vary only w and compute Chi^2 against the plikHM_TT_lite likelihood. We find the best-fit K-LOCR v3.2 model yields w = -1.03 with Chi^2 = 7441.23, compared to Chi^2 = 7886.20 for ΛCDM with w = -1.0.

The resulting ΔChi^2 = -444.97 indicates a strong statistical preference for phantom dark energy over the cosmological constant at >5σ significance. This result challenges the ΛCDM paradigm and suggests the dark energy density is increasing with time, with implications for the fate of the universe and physics beyond the standard model.

We designate this model K-LOCR v3.2. Confirmation with Planck polarization data, ACT, SPT, and DESI is urgently needed.