Constraining Cosmological Parameters Based on Relative Galaxy Ages

Abstract

We propose to use relative galaxy ages as a means of constraining cosmological parameters. By measuring the age difference between two ensembles of old galaxies at somewhat different redshifts, one could determine the derivative of redshift with respect to cosmic time, dz/dt. At high redshifts, z=1-2, this measurement would constrain the equation-of-state of the dark energy, while at low redshifts, z< 0.2, it would determine the Hubble constant, H_0. The selected galaxies need to be passively-evolving on a time much longer than their age difference.