Clusternets: a deep learning approach to probe clustering dark energy

Machine learning (ML) algorithms are becoming popular in cosmology for extracting valuable information from cosmological data. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on matter density snapshots to distinguish clustering dark energy (DE) from the cosmological constant scenario and to detect the speed of sound (cs) associated with clustering DE. We compare the CNN results with those from a Random Forest (RF) algorithm trained on power spectra. Varying the DE equation of state parameter wDE within the range of −0.7 to −0.99 while keeping cₛ² = 1, we find that the CNN approach results in a significant improvement in accuracy over the RF algorithm. The improvement in classification accuracy can be as high as 40 per cent depending on the physical scales involved. We also investigate the ML algorithms’ ability to detect the impact of the speed of sound by choosing cₛ² from the set {1, 10−2, 10−4, 10−7} while maintaining a constant wDE for three different cases: wDE ∈ {−0.7, −0.8, −0.9}. Our results suggest that distinguishing between various values of cₛ² and the case where cₛ²=1 is challenging, particularly at small scales and when wDE ≈ −1. However, as we consider larger scales, the accuracy of cₛ² detection improves. Notably, the CNN algorithm consistently outperforms the RF algorithm, leading to an approximate 20 per cent enhancement in cₛ² detection accuracy in some cases.