Searching for a cosmological preferred axis: Union2 data analysis and comparison with other probes

We review, compare and extend recent studies searching for evidence for a preferred cosmological axis. We start from the Union2 SnIa dataset and use the hemisphere comparison method to search for a preferred axis in the data. We find that the hemisphere of maximum accelerating expansion rate is in the direction (l, b) = (309 degrees(+23 degrees)(-3 degrees), 18 degrees(+11 degrees)(-10 degrees)) (Omega(0m) = 0.19) while the hemisphere of minimum acceleration is in the opposite direction (l, b) = (129 degrees(+23 degrees)(-3 degrees), -18 degrees(+10 degrees)(-11 degrees))(Omega(0m) = 0.30). The level of anisotropy is described by the normalized difference of the best fit values of Omega(0m) between the two hemispheres in the context of Lambda CDM fits. We find a maximum anisotropy level in the Union2 data of Delta Omega(0m) (max)/Omega(0m) - 0.43+/-0.06. Such a level does not necessarily correspond to statistically significant anisotropy because it is reproduced by about 30% of simulated isotropic data mimicking the best fit Union2 dataset. However, when combined with the axes directions of other cosmological observations (bulk velocity flow axis, three axes of CMB low multipole moments and quasar optical polarization alignment axis), the statistical evidence for a cosmological anisotropy increases dramatically. We estimate the probability that the above independent six axes directions would be so close in the sky to be less than 1%. Thus either the relative coincidence of these six axes is a very large statistical fluctuation or there is an underlying physical or systematic reason that leads to their correlation.