https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-014-3090-1
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Reconciling the cosmic age problem in the 
universe
1
School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
2
Key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanjing University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210093, China
* e-mail: fayinwang@gmail.com
** e-mail: fayinwang@nju.edu.cn
Received:
19
April
2014
Accepted:
19
September
2014
Published online:
2
October
2014
Many dark energy models fail to pass the cosmic age test. In this paper, we investigate the cosmic age problem associated with nine extremely old Global Clusters (GCs) and the old quasar APM 08279+5255 in the universe. The age data of these oldest GCs in M31 are acquired from the Beijing–Arizona–Taiwan–Connecticut system with up-to-date theoretical synthesis models. They have not been used to test the cosmic age problem in the universe in previous literature. By evaluating the age of the universe with the observational constraints from the type Ia supernovae and the Hubble parameter, we find that the universe can accommodate five GCs and the quasar APM 08279+5255 at redshift 
. But for other models, such as 
CDM, the interacting dark energy model, the generalized Chaplygin gas model, and holographic dark energy model, cannot accommodate all GCs and the quasar APM 08279+5255. It is worthwhile to note that the age estimates of some GCs are controversial. So, unlike other cosmological models, the universe can marginally solve the cosmic age problem, especially at high redshift.
© SIF and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2014
