arXiv subjects

H. Hildebrandt

Publications and source records attributed to H. Hildebrandt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

KiDS-1000 catalogue: Redshift distributions and their calibration

We present redshift distribution estimates of galaxies selected from the fourth data release of the Kilo-Degree Survey over an area of $\sim1000$ deg$^2$ (KiDS-1000). These redshift distributions represent one of the crucial ingredients for weak gravitational lensing measurements with the KiDS-1000 data. The primary estimate is based on deep spectroscopic reference catalogues that are re-weighted with the help of a self-organising map (SOM) to closely resemble the KiDS-1000 sources, split into five tomographic redshift bins in the photometric redshift range $0.1<z_\mathrm{B}\le1.2$. Sources are selected such that they only occupy that volume of nine-dimensional magnitude-space that is also covered by the reference samples (`gold' selection). Residual biases in the mean redshifts determined from this calibration are estimated from mock catalogues to be $\lesssim0.01$ for all five bins with uncertainties of $\sim 0.01$. This primary SOM estimate of the KiDS-1000 redshift distributions is complemented with an independent clustering redshift approach. After validation of the clustering-$z$ on the same mock catalogues and a careful assessment of systematic errors, we find no significant bias of the SOM redshift distributions with respect to the clustering-$z$ measurements. The SOM redshift distributions re-calibrated by the clustering-$z$ represent an alternative calibration of the redshift distributions with only slightly larger uncertainties in the mean redshifts of $\sim 0.01-0.02$ to be used in KiDS-1000 cosmological weak lensing analyses. As this includes the SOM uncertainty, clustering-$z$ are shown to be fully competitive on KiDS-1000 data.

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arXiv2021

Euclid preparation: XI. Mean redshift determination from galaxy redshift probabilities for cosmic shear tomography

The analysis of weak gravitational lensing in wide-field imaging surveys is considered to be a major cosmological probe of dark energy. Our capacity to constrain the dark energy equation of state relies on the accurate knowledge of the galaxy mean redshift $\langle z \rangle$. We investigate the possibility of measuring $\langle z \rangle$ with an accuracy better than $0.002\,(1+z)$, in ten tomographic bins spanning the redshift interval $0.2 99.8\%$. The zPDF approach could also be successful if we debias the zPDF using a spectroscopic training sample. This approach requires deep imaging data, but is weakly sensitive to spectroscopic redshift failures in the training sample. We improve the debiasing method and confirm our finding by applying it to real-world weak-lensing data sets (COSMOS and KiDS+VIKING-450).

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arXiv2020

KiDS-1000 Methodology: Modelling and inference for joint weak gravitational lensing and spectroscopic galaxy clustering analysis

We present the methodology for a joint cosmological analysis of weak gravitational lensing from the fourth data release of the ESO Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS-1000) and galaxy clustering from the partially overlapping BOSS and 2dFLenS surveys. Cross-correlations between galaxy positions and ellipticities have been incorporated into the analysis, necessitating a hybrid model of non-linear scales that blends perturbative and non-perturbative approaches, and an assessment of contributions by astrophysical effects. All weak lensing signals are measured consistently via Fourier-space statistics that are insensitive to the survey mask and display low levels of mode mixing. The calibration of photometric redshift distributions and multiplicative gravitational shear bias has been updated, and a more complete tally of residual calibration uncertainties is propagated into the likelihood. A dedicated suite of more than 20000 mocks is used to assess the performance of covariance models and to quantify the impact of survey geometry and spatial variations of survey depth on signals and their errors. The sampling distributions for the likelihood and the $χ^2$ goodness-of-fit statistic have been validated, with proposed changes to the number of degrees of freedom. Standard weak lensing point estimates on $S_8=σ_8\,(Ω_{\rm m}/0.3)^{1/2}$ derived from its marginal posterior are easily misinterpreted to be biased low, and an alternative estimator and associated credible interval have been proposed. Known systematic effects pertaining to weak lensing modelling and inference are shown to bias $S_8$ by no more than 0.1 standard deviations, with the caveat that no conclusive validation data exist for models of intrinsic galaxy alignments. Compared to the previous KiDS analyses, $S_8$ constraints are expected to improve by 20% for weak lensing alone and by 29% for the joint analysis. [abridged]

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arXiv2020

Discovery of two Einstein crosses from massive post--blue nugget galaxies at z>1 in KiDS

We report the discovery of two Einstein Crosses (ECs) in the footprint of the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS): KIDS J232940-340922 and KIDS J122456+005048. Using integral field spectroscopy from MUSE@VLT, we confirm their gravitational-lens nature. In both cases, the four spectra of the source clearly show a prominence of absorption features, hence revealing an evolved stellar population with little star formation. The lensing model of the two systems, assuming a singular isothermal ellipsoid (SIE) with external shear, shows that: 1) the two crosses, located at redshift $z=0.38$ and 0.24, have Einstein radius $R_{\rm E}=5.2$ kpc and 5.4 kpc, respectively; 2) their projected dark matter fractions inside the half effective radius are 0.60 and 0.56 (Chabrier IMF); 3) the sources are ultra-compact galaxies, $R_{\rm e}\sim0.9$ kpc (at redshift $z_{\rm s}=1.59$) and $R_{\rm e}\sim0.5$ kpc ($z_{\rm s}=1.10$), respectively. These results are unaffected by the underlying mass density assumption. Due to size, blue color and absorption-dominated spectra, corroborated by low specific star-formation rates derived from optical-NIR spectral energy distribution fitting, we argue that the two lensed sources in these ECs are blue nuggets migrating toward their quenching phase.

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arXiv2020

The PAU Survey: Photometric redshifts using transfer learning from simulations

In this paper we introduce the \textsc{Deepz} deep learning photometric redshift (photo-$z$) code. As a test case, we apply the code to the PAU survey (PAUS) data in the COSMOS field. \textsc{Deepz} reduces the $σ_{68}$ scatter statistic by 50\% at $i_{\rm AB}=22.5$ compared to existing algorithms. This improvement is achieved through various methods, including transfer learning from simulations where the training set consists of simulations as well as observations, which reduces the need for training data. The redshift probability distribution is estimated with a mixture density network (MDN), which produces accurate redshift distributions. Our code includes an autoencoder to reduce noise and extract features from the galaxy SEDs. It also benefits from combining multiple networks, which lowers the photo-$z$ scatter by 10 percent. Furthermore, training with randomly constructed coadded fluxes adds information about individual exposures, reducing the impact of photometric outliers. In addition to opening up the route for higher redshift precision with narrow bands, these machine learning techniques can also be valuable for broad-band surveys.

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arXiv2020

Euclid preparation: VIII. The Complete Calibration of the Colour-Redshift Relation survey: VLT/KMOS observations and data release

The Complete Calibration of the Colour-Redshift Relation survey (C3R2) is a spectroscopic effort involving ESO and Keck facilities designed to empirically calibrate the galaxy colour-redshift relation - P(z|C) to the Euclid depth (i_AB=24.5) and is intimately linked to upcoming Stage IV dark energy missions based on weak lensing cosmology. The aim is to build a spectroscopic calibration sample that is as representative as possible of the galaxies of the Euclid weak lensing sample. In order to minimise the number of spectroscopic observations to fill the gaps in current knowledge of the P(z|C), self-organising map (SOM) representations of the galaxy colour space have been constructed. Here we present the first results of an ESO@ VLT Large Programme approved in the context of C3R2, which makes use of the two VLT optical and near-infrared multi-object spectrographs, FORS2 and KMOS. This paper focuses on high-quality spectroscopic redshifts of high-z galaxies observed with the KMOS spectrograph in the H- and K-bands. A total of 424 highly-reliable z are measured in the 1.3<=z<=2.5 range, with total success rates of 60.7% in the H-band and 32.8% in the K-band. The newly determined z fill 55% of high and 35% of lower priority empty SOM grid cells. We measured Halpha fluxes in a 1."2 radius aperture from the spectra of the spectroscopically confirmed galaxies and converted them into star formation rates. In addition, we performed an SED fitting analysis on the same sample in order to derive stellar masses, E(B-V), total magnitudes, and SFRs. We combine the results obtained from the spectra with those derived via SED fitting, and we show that the spectroscopic failures come from either weakly star-forming galaxies (at z<1.7, i.e. in the H-band) or low S/N spectra (in the K-band) of z>2 galaxies.

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arXiv2020

Testing the accuracy of 3D-HST photometric redshift estimates as reference samples for deep weak lensing studies

Accurate weak lensing mass estimates of clusters are needed in order to calibrate mass proxies for the cosmological exploitation of galaxy cluster surveys. Such measurements require accurate knowledge of the redshift distribution of the weak lensing source galaxies. In this context, we investigate the accuracy of photometric redshifts (photo-$z$s) computed by the 3D-HST team for the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey fields, which provide a relevant photometric reference data set for deep weak lensing studies. Through the comparison to spectroscopic redshifts and photo-$z$s based on very deep data from the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, we identify catastrophic redshift outliers in the 3D-HST/CANDELS catalogue. These would significantly bias weak lensing results if not accounted for. We investigate the cause of these outliers and demonstrate that the interpolation of spectral energy distribution (SED) templates and a well-selected combination of photometric data can reduce the net impact for weak lensing studies.

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arXiv2020

KiDS+VIKING-450 and DES-Y1 combined: Cosmology with cosmic shear

We present a combined tomographic weak gravitational lensing analysis of the Kilo Degree Survey (KV450) and the Dark Energy Survey (DES-Y1). We homogenize the analysis of these two public cosmic shear datasets by adopting consistent priors and modeling of nonlinear scales, and determine new redshift distributions for DES-Y1 based on deep public spectroscopic surveys. Adopting these revised redshifts results in a $0.8σ$ reduction in the DES-inferred value for $S_8$, which decreases to a $0.5σ$ reduction when including a systematic redshift calibration error model from mock DES data based on the MICE2 simulation. The combined KV450 + DES-Y1 constraint on $S_8 = 0.762^{+0.025}_{-0.024}$ is in tension with the Planck 2018 constraint from the cosmic microwave background at the level of $2.5σ$. This result highlights the importance of developing methods to provide accurate redshift calibration for current and future weak lensing surveys.

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arXiv2019

KiDS+VIKING-450: Cosmic shear tomography with optical+infrared data

We present a tomographic cosmic shear analysis of the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) combined with the VISTA Kilo-Degree Infrared Galaxy Survey (VIKING). This is the first time that a full optical to near-infrared data set has been used for a wide-field cosmological weak lensing experiment. This unprecedented data, spanning $450~$deg$^2$, allows us to improve significantly the estimation of photometric redshifts, such that we are able to include robustly higher-redshift sources for the lensing measurement, and - most importantly - solidify our knowledge of the redshift distributions of the sources. Based on a flat $Λ$CDM model we find $S_8\equivσ_8\sqrt{Ω_{\rm m}/0.3}=0.737_{-0.036}^{+0.040}$ in a blind analysis from cosmic shear alone. The tension between KiDS cosmic shear and the Planck-Legacy CMB measurements remains in this systematically more robust analysis, with $S_8$ differing by $2.3σ$. This result is insensitive to changes in the priors on nuisance parameters for intrinsic alignment, baryon feedback, and neutrino mass. KiDS shear measurements are calibrated with a new, more realistic set of image simulations and no significant B-modes are detected in the survey, indicating that systematic errors are under control. When calibrating our redshift distributions by assuming the 30-band COSMOS-2015 photometric redshifts are correct (following the Dark Energy Survey and the Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey), we find the tension with Planck is alleviated. The robust determination of source redshift distributions remains one of the most challenging aspects for future cosmic shear surveys.

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arXiv2019

The PAU Survey: Early demonstration of photometric redshift performance in the COSMOS field

The PAU Survey (PAUS) is an innovative photometric survey with 40 narrow bands at the William Herschel Telescope (WHT). The narrow bands are spaced at 100Å intervals covering the range 4500Å to 8500Å and, in combination with standard broad bands, enable excellent redshift precision. This paper describes the technique, galaxy templates and additional photometric calibration used to determine early photometric redshifts from PAUS. Using BCNz2, a new photometric redshift code developed for this purpose, we characterise the photometric redshift performance using PAUS data on the COSMOS field. Comparison to secure spectra from zCOSMOS DR3 shows that PAUS achieves $σ_{68} /(1+z) = 0.0037$ to $i_{\mathrm{AB}} < 22.5$ when selecting the best 50% of the sources based on a photometric redshift quality cut. Furthermore, a higher photo-z precision ($σ_{68}/(1+z) \sim 0.001$) is obtained for a bright and high quality selection, which is driven by the identification of emission lines. We conclude that PAUS meets its design goals, opening up a hitherto uncharted regime of deep, wide, and dense galaxy survey with precise redshifts that will provide unique insights into the formation, evolution and clustering of galaxies, as well as their intrinsic alignments.

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arXiv2019

The fourth data release of the Kilo-Degree Survey: ugri imaging and nine-band optical-IR photometry over 1000 square degrees

The Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) is an ongoing optical wide-field imaging survey with the OmegaCAM camera at the VLT Survey Telescope, specifically designed for measuring weak gravitational lensing by galaxies and large-scale structure. When completed it will consist of 1350 square degrees imaged in four filters (ugri). Here we present the fourth public data release which more than doubles the area of sky covered by data release 3. We also include aperture-matched ZYJHKs photometry from our partner VIKING survey on the VISTA telescope in the photometry catalogue. We illustrate the data quality and describe the catalogue content. Two dedicated pipelines are used for the production of the optical data. The Astro-WISE information system is used for the production of co-added images in the four survey bands, while a separate reduction of the r-band images using the theli pipeline is used to provide a source catalogue suitable for the core weak lensing science case. All data have been re-reduced for this data release using the latest versions of the pipelines. The VIKING photometry is obtained as forced photometry on the theli sources, using a re-reduction of the VIKING data that starts from the VISTA pawprints. Modifications to the pipelines with respect to earlier releases are described in detail. The photometry is calibrated to the Gaia DR2 G band using stellar locus regression. In this data release a total of 1006 square-degree survey tiles with stacked ugri images are made available, accompanied by weight maps, masks, and single-band source lists. We also provide a multi-band catalogue based on r-band detections, including homogenized photometry and photometric redshifts, for the whole dataset. Mean limiting magnitudes (5 sigma in a 2" aperture) are 24.23, 25.12, 25.02, 23.68 in ugri, respectively, and the mean r-band seeing is 0.70".

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arXiv2018

KiDS+2dFLenS+GAMA: Testing the cosmological model with the $E_{\rm G}$ statistic

We present a new measurement of $E_{\rm G}$, which combines measurements of weak gravitational lensing, real-space galaxy clustering and redshift space distortions. This statistic was proposed as a consistency test of General Relativity (GR) that is insensitive to linear, deterministic galaxy bias and the matter clustering amplitude. We combine deep imaging data from KiDS with overlapping spectroscopy from 2dFLenS, BOSS DR12 and GAMA and find $E_{\rm G}(\overline{z}=0.267)=0.43 \pm 0.13$ (GAMA), $E_{\rm G}(\overline{z}=0.305)=0.27 \pm 0.08$ (LOWZ+2dFLOZ) and $E_{\rm G}(\overline{z}=0.554)=0.26 \pm 0.07$ (CMASS+2dFHIZ). We demonstrate that the existing tension in the value of the matter density parameter hinders the robustness of this statistic as solely a test of GR. We find that our $E_{\rm G}$ measurements, as well as existing ones in the literature, favour a lower matter density cosmology than the Cosmic Microwave Background. For a flat $Λ$CDM Universe and assuming GR, we find $Ω_{\rm m}(z=0)=0.25\pm0.03$. With this paper we publicly release the 2dFLenS dataset at: \url{http://2dflens.swin.edu.au}.

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arXiv2018

KiDS-i-800: Comparing weak gravitational lensing measurements in same-sky surveys

We present a weak gravitational lensing analysis of 815 square degree of $i$-band imaging from the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS-$i$-800). In contrast to the deep $r$-band observations, which take priority during excellent seeing conditions and form the primary KiDS dataset (KiDS-$r$-450), the complementary yet shallower KiDS-$i$-800 spans a wide range of observing conditions. The overlapping KiDS-$i$-800 and KiDS-$r$-450 imaging therefore provides a unique opportunity to assess the robustness of weak lensing measurements. In our analysis, we introduce two new `null' tests. The `nulled' two-point shear correlation function uses a matched catalogue to show that the calibrated KiDS-$i$-800 and KiDS-$r$-450 shear measurements agree at the level of $1 \pm 4$\%. We use five galaxy lens samples to determine a `nulled' galaxy-galaxy lensing signal from the full KiDS-$i$-800 and KiDS-$r$-450 surveys and find that the measurements agree to $7 \pm 5$\% when the KiDS-$i$-800 source redshift distribution is calibrated using either spectroscopic redshifts, or the 30-band photometric redshifts from the COSMOS survey.

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arXiv2018

Cosmological Simulations for Combined-Probe Analyses: Covariance and Neighbour-Exclusion Bias

We present a public suite of weak lensing mock data, extending the Scinet Light Cone Simulations (SLICS) to simulate cross-correlation analyses with different cosmological probes. These mocks include KiDS-450- and LSST-like lensing data, cosmic microwave background lensing maps and simulated spectroscopic surveys that emulate the GAMA, BOSS and 2dFLenS galaxy surveys. With 844 independent realisations, our mocks are optimised for combined-probe covariance estimation, which we illustrate for the case of a joint measurement involving cosmic shear, galaxy-galaxy lensing and galaxy clustering from KiDS-450 and BOSS data. With their high spatial resolution, the SLICS are also optimal for predicting the signal for novel lensing estimators, for the validation of analysis pipelines, and for testing a range of systematic effects such as the impact of neighbour-exclusion bias on the measured tomographic cosmic shear signal. For surveys like KiDS and DES, where the rejection of neighbouring galaxies occurs within ~2 arcseconds, we show that the measured cosmic shear signal will be biased low, but by less than a percent on the angular scales that are typically used in cosmic shear analyses. The amplitude of the neighbour-exclusion bias doubles in deeper, LSST-like data. The simulation products described in this paper are made available at http://slics.roe.ac.uk/.

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arXiv2018

Photometric redshifts for the Kilo-Degree Survey. Machine-learning analysis with artificial neural networks

We present a machine-learning photometric redshift analysis of the Kilo-Degree Survey Data Release 3, using two neural-network based techniques: ANNz2 and MLPQNA. Despite limited coverage of spectroscopic training sets, these ML codes provide photo-zs of quality comparable to, if not better than, those from the BPZ code, at least up to zphot<0.9 and r<23.5. At the bright end of r<20, where very complete spectroscopic data overlapping with KiDS are available, the performance of the ML photo-zs clearly surpasses that of BPZ, currently the primary photo-z method for KiDS. Using the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) spectroscopic survey as calibration, we furthermore study how photo-zs improve for bright sources when photometric parameters additional to magnitudes are included in the photo-z derivation, as well as when VIKING and WISE infrared bands are added. While the fiducial four-band ugri setup gives a photo-z bias $δz=-2e-4$ and scatter $σ_z<0.022$ at mean z = 0.23, combining magnitudes, colours, and galaxy sizes reduces the scatter by ~7% and the bias by an order of magnitude. Once the ugri and IR magnitudes are joined into 12-band photometry spanning up to 12 $μ$, the scatter decreases by more than 10% over the fiducial case. Finally, using the 12 bands together with optical colours and linear sizes gives $δz<4e-5$ and $σ_z<0.019$. This paper also serves as a reference for two public photo-z catalogues accompanying KiDS DR3, both obtained using the ANNz2 code. The first one, of general purpose, includes all the 39 million KiDS sources with four-band ugri measurements in DR3. The second dataset, optimized for low-redshift studies such as galaxy-galaxy lensing, is limited to r<20, and provides photo-zs of much better quality than in the full-depth case thanks to incorporating optical magnitudes, colours, and sizes in the GAMA-calibrated photo-z derivation.

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arXiv2017

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the G02 field, Herschel-ATLAS target selection and Data Release 3

We describe data release 3 (DR3) of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. The GAMA survey is a spectroscopic redshift and multi-wavelength photometric survey in three equatorial regions each of 60.0 deg^2 (G09, G12, G15), and two southern regions of 55.7 deg^2 (G02) and 50.6 deg^2 (G23). DR3 consists of: the first release of data covering the G02 region and of data on H-ATLAS sources in the equatorial regions; and updates to data on sources released in DR2. DR3 includes 154809 sources with secure redshifts across four regions. A subset of the G02 region is 95.5% redshift complete to r<19.8 over an area of 19.5 deg^2, with 20086 galaxy redshifts, that overlaps substantially with the XXL survey (X-ray) and VIPERS (redshift survey). In the equatorial regions, the main survey has even higher completeness (98.5%), and spectra for about 75% of H-ATLAS filler targets were also obtained. This filler sample extends spectroscopic redshifts, for probable optical counterparts to H-ATLAS sub-mm sources, to 0.8 mag deeper (r<20.6) than the GAMA main survey. There are 25814 galaxy redshifts for H-ATLAS sources from the GAMA main or filler surveys. GAMA DR3 is available at the survey website (www.gama-survey.org/dr3/).

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arXiv2017

Weak lensing magnification of SpARCS galaxy clusters

Measuring and calibrating relations between cluster observables is critical for resource-limited studies. The mass-richness relation of clusters offers an observationally inexpensive way of estimating masses. Its calibration is essential for cluster and cosmological studies, especially for high-redshift clusters. Weak gravitational lensing magnification is a promising and complementary method to shear studies, that can be applied at higher redshifts. We employed the weak lensing magnification method to calibrate the mass-richness relation up to a redshift of 1.4. We used the Spitzer Adaptation of the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (SpARCS) galaxy cluster candidates ($0.2 1.0$ is 4.1$σ$; for the entire cluster sample we obtained an average M$_{200}$ of $1.28^{+0.23}_{-0.21}$ $\times 10^{14} \, \textrm{M}_{\odot}$. Our measurements demonstrated the feasibility of using weak lensing magnification as a viable tool for determining the average halo masses for samples of high redshift galaxy clusters. The results also established the success of using galaxy over-densities to select massive clusters at $z > 1$. Additional studies are necessary for further modelling of the various systematic effects we discussed.

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arXiv2017

KiDS-450: The tomographic weak lensing power spectrum and constraints on cosmological parameters

We present measurements of the weak gravitational lensing shear power spectrum based on $450$ sq. deg. of imaging data from the Kilo Degree Survey. We employ a quadratic estimator in two and three redshift bins and extract band powers of redshift auto-correlation and cross-correlation spectra in the multipole range $76 \leq \ell \leq 1310$. The cosmological interpretation of the measured shear power spectra is performed in a Bayesian framework assuming a $Λ$CDM model with spatially flat geometry, while accounting for small residual uncertainties in the shear calibration and redshift distributions as well as marginalising over intrinsic alignments, baryon feedback and an excess-noise power model. Moreover, massive neutrinos are included in the modelling. The cosmological main result is expressed in terms of the parameter combination $S_8 \equiv σ_8 \sqrt{Ω_{\rm m}/0.3}$ yielding $S_8 = \ 0.651 \pm 0.058$ (3 z-bins), confirming the recently reported tension in this parameter with constraints from Planck at $3.2σ$ (3 z-bins). We cross-check the results of the 3 z-bin analysis with the weaker constraints from the 2 z-bin analysis and find them to be consistent. The high-level data products of this analysis, such as the band power measurements, covariance matrices, redshift distributions, and likelihood evaluation chains are available at http://kids.strw.leidenuniv.nl/

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