arXiv subjects

M. Douspis

Publications and source records attributed to M. Douspis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation. LXXIV. Euclidised observations of Hubble Frontier Fields and CLASH galaxy clusters

We present HST2EUCLID, a novel Python code to generate Euclid realistic mock images in the $H_{\rm E}$, $J_{\rm E}$, $Y_{\rm E}$, and $I_{\rm E}$ photometric bands based on panchromatic Hubble Space Telescope observations. The software was used to create a simulated database of Euclid images for the 27 galaxy clusters observed during the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) and the Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) program. Since the mock images were generated from real observations, they incorporate, by construction, all the complexity of the observed galaxy clusters. The simulated Euclid data of the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1$-$2403 were then used to explore the possibility of developing strong lensing models based on the Euclid data. In this context, complementary photometric or spectroscopic follow-up campaigns are required to measure the redshifts of multiple images and cluster member galaxies. By Euclidising six parallel blank fields obtained during the HFF program, we provide an estimate of the number of galaxies detectable in Euclid images per ${\rm deg}^2$ per magnitude bin (number counts) and the distribution of the galaxy sizes. Finally, we present a preview of the Chandra Deep Field South that will be observed during the Euclid Deep Survey and two examples of galaxy-scale strong lensing systems residing in regions of the sky covered by the Euclid Wide Survey. The methodology developed in this work lends itself to several additional applications, as simulated Euclid fields based on HST (or JWST) imaging with extensive spectroscopic information can be used to validate the feasibility of legacy science cases or to train deep learning techniques in advance, thus preparing for a timely exploitation of the Euclid Survey data.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation: Expected constraints on initial conditions

The Euclid mission of the European Space Agency will deliver galaxy and cosmic shear surveys, which will be used to constrain initial conditions and statistics of primordial fluctuations. We present highlights for the Euclid scientific capability to test initial conditions beyond LCDM with the main probes, i.e. 3D galaxy clustering from the spectroscopic survey, the tomographic approach to 3x2pt statistics from photometric galaxy survey, and their combination. We provide Fisher forecasts from the combination of Euclid spectroscopic and photometric surveys for spatial curvature, running of the spectral index of the power spectrum of curvature perturbations, isocurvature perturbations, and primordial features. For the parameters of these models we also provide the combination of Euclid forecasts (pessimistic and optimistic) with current and future measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies., i.e. Planck, the Simons Observatory (SO), and CMB-S4. We provide Fisher forecasts for how the power spectrum and bispectrum from the Euclid spectroscopic survey will constrain the local, equilateral, and orthogonal shapes of primordial non-Gaussianity. We also review how Bayesian field-level inference of primordial non-Gaussianity can constrain local primordial non-Gaussianity. We show how Euclid, with its unique combination of the main probes, will provide the tightest constraints on low redshift to date. By targeting a markedly different range in redshift and scale, Euclid's expected uncertainties are complementary to those obtained by CMB primary anisotropy, returning the tightest combined constraints on the physics of the early Universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation. Overview of Euclid infrared detector performance from ground tests

The paper describes the objectives, design and findings of the pre-launch ground characterisation campaigns of the Euclid infrared detectors. The pixel properties, including baseline, bad pixels, quantum efficiency, inter pixel capacitance, quantum efficiency, dark current, readout noise, conversion gain, response nonlinearity, and image persistence were measured and characterised for each pixel. We describe in detail the test flow definition that allows us to derive the pixel properties and we present the data acquisition and data quality check software implemented for this purpose. We also outline the measurement protocols of all the pixel properties presented and we provide a comprehensive overview of the performance of the Euclid infrared detectors as derived after tuning the operating parameters of the detectors. The main conclusion of this work is that the performance of the infrared detectors Euclid meets the requirements. Pixels classified as non-functioning accounted for less than 0.2% of all science pixels. IPC coupling is minimal and crosstalk between adjacent pixels is less than 1% between adjacent pixels. 95% of the pixels show a QE greater than 80% across the entire spectral range of the Euclid mission. The conversion gain is approximately 0.52 ADU/e-, with a variation less than 1% between channels of the same detector. The reset noise is approximately equal to 23 ADU after reference pixels correction. The readout noise of a single frame is approximately 13 $e^-$ while the signal estimator noise is measured at 7 $e^-$ in photometric mode and 9 $e^-$ in spectroscopic acquisition mode. The deviation from linear response at signal levels up to 80 k$e^-$ is less than 5% for 95% of the pixels. Median persistence amplitudes are less than 0.3% of the signal, though persistence exhibits significant spatial variation and differences between detectors.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Euclid: Early Release Observations. A combined strong and weak lensing solution for Abell 2390 beyond its virial radius

Euclid is presently mapping the distribution of matter in the Universe in detail via the weak lensing (WL) signature of billions of distant galaxies. The WL signal is most prominent around galaxy clusters, and can extend up to distances well beyond their virial radius, thus constraining their total mass. Near the centre of clusters, where contamination by member galaxies is an issue, the WL data can be complemented with strong lensing (SL) data which can diminish the uncertainty due to the mass-sheet degeneracy and provide high-resolution information about the distribution of matter in the centre of clusters. Here we present a joint SL and WL analysis of the Euclid Early Release Observations of the cluster Abell 2390 at z=0.228. Thanks to Euclid's wide field of view of 0.5 deg$^$2, combined with its angular resolution in the visible band of 0."13 and sampling of 0."1 per pixel, we constrain the density profile in a wide range of radii, 30 kpc < r < 2000 kpc, from the inner region near the brightest cluster galaxy to beyond the virial radius of the cluster. We find consistency with earlier X-ray results based on assumptions of hydrostatic equilibrium, thus indirectly confirming the nearly relaxed state of this cluster. We also find consistency with previous results based on weak lensing data and ground-based observations of this cluster. From the combined SL+WL profile, we derive the values of the viral mass $M_{200} = (1.48 \pm 0.29)\times10^{15}\, \Msun$, and virial radius $r_{200} =(2.05\pm0.13 \, {\rm Mpc}$), with error bars representing one standard deviation. The profile is well described by an NFW model with concentration c=6.5 and a small-scale radius of 230 kpc in the 30\,kpc $< r <$ 2000\,kpc range that is best constrained by SL and WL data. Abell 2390 is the first of many examples where Euclid data will play a crucial role in providing masses for clusters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid: Early Release Observations. Weak gravitational lensing analysis of Abell 2390

The Euclid space telescope of the European Space Agency (ESA) is designed to provide sensitive and accurate measurements of weak gravitational lensing distortions over wide areas on the sky. Here we present a weak gravitational lensing analysis of early Euclid observations obtained for the field around the massive galaxy cluster Abell 2390 as part of the Euclid Early Release Observations programme. We conduct galaxy shape measurements using three independent algorithms (LensMC, KSB+, and SourceXtractor++). Incorporating multi-band photometry from Euclid and Subaru/Suprime-Cam, we estimate photometric redshifts to preferentially select background sources from tomographic redshift bins, for which we calibrate the redshift distributions using the self-organising map approach and data from the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS). We quantify the residual cluster member contamination and correct for it in bins of photometric redshift and magnitude using their source density profiles, including corrections for source obscuration and magnification. We reconstruct the cluster mass distribution and jointly fit the tangential reduced shear profiles of the different tomographic bins with spherical Navarro--Frenk--White profile predictions to constrain the cluster mass, finding consistent results for the three shape catalogues and good agreement with earlier measurements. As an important validation test we compare these joint constraints to mass measurements obtained individually for the different tomographic bins, finding good consistency. More detailed constraints on the cluster properties are presented in a companion paper that additionally incorporates strong lensing measurements. Our analysis provides a first demonstration of the outstanding capabilities of Euclid for tomographic weak lensing measurements.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation. Full-shape modelling of 2-point and 3-point correlation functions in real space

We investigate the accuracy and range of validity of the perturbative model for the 2-point (2PCF) and 3-point (3PCF) correlation functions in real space in view of the forthcoming analysis of the Euclid mission spectroscopic sample. We take advantage of clustering measurements from four snapshots of the Flagship I N-body simulations at z = {0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8}, which mimic the expected galaxy population in the ideal case of absence of observational effects such as purity and completeness. For the 3PCF we consider all available triangle configurations given a minimal separation. First, we assess the model performance by fixing the cosmological parameters and evaluating the goodness-of-fit provided by the perturbative bias expansion in the joint analysis of the two statistics, finding overall agreement with the data down to separations of 20 Mpc/h. Subsequently, we build on the state-of-the-art and extend the analysis to include the dependence on three cosmological parameters: the amplitude of scalar perturbations As, the matter density ωcdm and the Hubble parameter h. To achieve this goal, we develop an emulator capable of generating fast and robust modelling predictions for the two summary statistics, allowing efficient sampling of the joint likelihood function. We therefore present the first joint full-shape analysis of the real-space 2PCF and 3PCF, testing the consistency and constraining power of the perturbative model across both probes, and assessing its performance in a combined likelihood framework. We explore possible systematic uncertainties induced by the perturbative model at small scales finding an optimal scale cut of rmin = 30 Mpc/h for the 3PCF, when imposing an additional limitation on nearly isosceles triangular configurations included in the data vector. This work is part of a Euclid Preparation series validating theoretical models for galaxy clustering.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1): From images to multiwavelength catalogues: the Euclid MERge Processing Function

The Euclid satellite is an ESA mission that was launched in July 2023. \Euclid is working in its regular observing mode with the target of observing an area of $14\,000~\text{deg}^2$ with two instruments, the Visible Camera (VIS) and the Near IR Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) down to $I_{\rm E} = 24.5~\text{mag}$ ($10\, σ$) in the Euclid Wide Survey. Ground-based imaging data in the \textit{ugriz} bands complement the \Euclid data to enable photo-$z$ determination and VIS PSF modeling for week lensing analysis. Euclid investigates the distance-redshift relation and the evolution of cosmic structures by measuring shapes and redshifts of galaxies and clusters of galaxies out to $z\sim 2$. Generating the multi-wavelength catalogues from \Euclid and ground-based data is an essential part of the \Euclid data processing system. In the framework of the \Euclid Science Ground Segment (SGS), the aim of the MER Processing Function (PF) pipeline is to detect objects in the \Euclid imaging data, measure their properties, and MERge them into a single multi-wavelength catalogue. The MER PF pipeline performs source detection on both visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) images and offers four different photometric measurements: Kron total flux, aperture photometry on PSF-matched images, template fitting photometry, and Sérsic fitting photometry. Furthermore, the MER PF pipeline measures a set of ancillary quantities, spanning from morphology to quality flags, to better characterise all detected sources. In this paper, we show how the MER PF pipeline is designed, detailing its main steps, and we show that the pipeline products meet the tight requirements that Euclid aims to achieve on photometric accuracy. We also present the other measurements (e.g. morphology) that are included in the OU-MER output catalogues and we list all output products coming out of the MER PF pipeline.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Euclid: Early Release Observations of ram-pressure stripping in the Perseus cluster. Detection of parsec scale star formation with in the low surface brightness stripped tails of UGC 2665 and MCG +07-07-070

Euclid is delivering optical and near-infrared imaging data over 14,000 deg$^2$ on the sky at spatial resolution and surface brightness levels that can be used to understand the morphological transformation of galaxies within groups and clusters. Using the Early Release Observations (ERO) of the Perseus cluster, we demonstrate the capability offered by Euclid in studying the nature of perturbations for galaxies in clusters. Filamentary structures are observed along the discs of two spiral galaxies with no extended diffuse emission expected from tidal interactions at surface brightness levels of $\sim$ $30\,{\rm mag}\,{\rm arcsec}^{-2}$. The detected features exhibit a good correspondence in morphology between optical and near-infrared wavelengths, with a surface brightness of $\sim$ $25\,{\rm mag}\,{\rm arcsec}^{-2}$, and the knots within the features have sizes of $\sim$ 100 pc, as observed through $I_E$ imaging. Using the Euclid, CFHT, UVIT, and LOFAR $144\,{\rm MHz}$ radio continuum observations, we conduct a detailed analysis to understand the origin of the detected features. We constructed the \textit{Euclid} $I_E-Y_E$, $Y_E-H_E$, and CFHT $u - r$, $g - i$ colour-colour plane and showed that these features contain recent star formation events, which are also indicated by their H$α$ and NUV emissions. Euclid colours alone are insufficient for studying stellar population ages in unresolved star-forming regions, which require multi-wavelength optical imaging data. The morphological shape, orientation, and mean age of the stellar population, combined with the presence of extended radio continuum cometary tails can be consistently explained if these features have been formed during a recent ram-pressure stripping event. This result further confirms the exceptional qualities of Euclid in the study of galaxy evolution in dense environments.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation LXXI. Simulations and nonlinearities beyond $\mathsfΛ$CDM. 3. Constraints on $f(R)$ models from the photometric primary probes

We study the constraint on $f(R)$ gravity that can be obtained by photometric primary probes of the Euclid mission. Our focus is the dependence of the constraint on the theoretical modelling of the nonlinear matter power spectrum. In the Hu-Sawicki $f(R)$ gravity model, we consider four different predictions for the ratio between the power spectrum in $f(R)$ and that in $Λ$CDM: a fitting formula, the halo model reaction approach, ReACT and two emulators based on dark matter only $N$-body simulations, FORGE and e-Mantis. These predictions are added to the MontePython implementation to predict the angular power spectra for weak lensing (WL), photometric galaxy clustering and their cross-correlation. By running Markov Chain Monte Carlo, we compare constraints on parameters and investigate the bias of the recovered $f(R)$ parameter if the data are created by a different model. For the pessimistic setting of WL, one dimensional bias for the $f(R)$ parameter, $\log_{10}|f_{R0}|$, is found to be $0.5 σ$ when FORGE is used to create the synthetic data with $\log_{10}|f_{R0}| =-5.301$ and fitted by e-Mantis. The impact of baryonic physics on WL is studied by using a baryonification emulator BCemu. For the optimistic setting, the $f(R)$ parameter and two main baryon parameters are well constrained despite the degeneracies among these parameters. However, the difference in the nonlinear dark matter prediction can be compensated by the adjustment of baryon parameters, and the one-dimensional marginalised constraint on $\log_{10}|f_{R0}|$ is biased. This bias can be avoided in the pessimistic setting at the expense of weaker constraints. For the pessimistic setting, using the $Λ$CDM synthetic data for WL, we obtain the prior-independent upper limit of $\log_{10}|f_{R0}|< -5.6$. Finally, we implement a method to include theoretical errors to avoid the bias.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation. LXVIII. Extracting physical parameters from galaxies with machine learning

The Euclid mission is generating a vast amount of imaging data in four broadband filters at high angular resolution. This will allow the detailed study of mass, metallicity, and stellar populations across galaxies, which will constrain their formation and evolutionary pathways. Transforming the Euclid imaging for large samples of galaxies into maps of physical parameters in an efficient and reliable manner is an outstanding challenge. We investigate the power and reliability of machine learning techniques to extract the distribution of physical parameters within well-resolved galaxies. We focus on estimating stellar mass surface density, mass-averaged stellar metallicity and age. We generate noise-free, synthetic high-resolution imaging data in the Euclid photometric bands for a set of 1154 galaxies from the TNG50 cosmological simulation. The images are generated with the SKIRT radiative transfer code, taking into account the complex 3D distribution of stellar populations and interstellar dust attenuation. We use a machine learning framework to map the idealised mock observational data to the physical parameters on a pixel-by-pixel basis. We find that stellar mass surface density can be accurately recovered with a $\leq 0.130 {\rm \,dex}$ scatter. Conversely, stellar metallicity and age estimates are, as expected, less robust, but still contain significant information which originates from underlying correlations at a sub-kpc scale between stellar mass surface density and stellar population properties.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1) Ultracool dwarfs in the Euclid Deep Field North

Ultracool dwarfs (UCDs) encompass the lowest mass stars and brown dwarfs, defining the stellar substellar boundary. They have significant potential for advancing the understanding of substellar physics; however, these objects are challenging to detect due to their low luminosity. The wide coverage and deep sensitivity of the Euclid survey will increase the number of confirmed and well characterised UCDs by several orders of magnitude. In this study, we take advantage of the Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1) and in particular we look in detail at the known and new UCDs in the Euclid Deep Field North (22.9 deg2 down to JE = 24.5 mag), to understand the advantages of using the slitless Euclid spectroscopy. We compile a comparison sample of known UCDs and use their spectra to demonstrate the capability of Euclid to derive spectral types using a template matching method. This method is then applied to the spectra of the newly identified candidates. We confirm that 33 of these candidates are new UCDs, with spectral types ranging from M7 to T1 and JE = 17 to 21 mag. We look at their locus in colour colour diagrams and compare them with the expected colours of QSOs. A machine readable catalogue is provided for further study, containing both the comparison sample and the newly identified UCDs, along with their spectral classifications where the Q1 spectra quality allows for confident determination

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation LXIII. Simulations and nonlinearities beyond $Λ$CDM. 2. Results from non-standard simulations

The Euclid mission will measure cosmological parameters with unprecedented precision. To distinguish between cosmological models, it is essential to generate realistic mock observables from cosmological simulations that were run in both the standard $Λ$-cold-dark-matter ($Λ$CDM) paradigm and in many non-standard models beyond $Λ$CDM. We present the scientific results from a suite of cosmological N-body simulations using non-standard models including dynamical dark energy, k-essence, interacting dark energy, modified gravity, massive neutrinos, and primordial non-Gaussianities. We investigate how these models affect the large-scale-structure formation and evolution in addition to providing synthetic observables that can be used to test and constrain these models with Euclid data. We developed a custom pipeline based on the Rockstar halo finder and the nbodykit large-scale structure toolkit to analyse the particle output of non-standard simulations and generate mock observables such as halo and void catalogues, mass density fields, and power spectra in a consistent way. We compare these observables with those from the standard $Λ$CDM model and quantify the deviations. We find that non-standard cosmological models can leave significant imprints on the synthetic observables that we have generated. Our results demonstrate that non-standard cosmological N-body simulations provide valuable insights into the physics of dark energy and dark matter, which is essential to maximising the scientific return of Euclid.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid preparation. LXVII. Deep learning true galaxy morphologies for weak lensing shear bias calibration

To date, galaxy image simulations for weak lensing surveys usually approximate the light profiles of all galaxies as a single or double Sérsic profile, neglecting the influence of galaxy substructures and morphologies deviating from such a simplified parametric characterization. While this approximation may be sufficient for previous data sets, the stringent cosmic shear calibration requirements and the high quality of the data in the upcoming Euclid survey demand a consideration of the effects that realistic galaxy substructures have on shear measurement biases. Here we present a novel deep learning-based method to create such simulated galaxies directly from HST data. We first build and validate a convolutional neural network based on the wavelet scattering transform to learn noise-free representations independent of the point-spread function of HST galaxy images that can be injected into simulations of images from Euclid's optical instrument VIS without introducing noise correlations during PSF convolution or shearing. Then, we demonstrate the generation of new galaxy images by sampling from the model randomly and conditionally. Next, we quantify the cosmic shear bias from complex galaxy shapes in Euclid-like simulations by comparing the shear measurement biases between a sample of model objects and their best-fit double-Sérsic counterparts. Using the KSB shape measurement algorithm, we find a multiplicative bias difference between these branches with realistic morphologies and parametric profiles on the order of $6.9\times 10^{-3}$ for a realistic magnitude-Sérsic index distribution. Moreover, we find clear detection bias differences between full image scenes simulated with parametric and realistic galaxies, leading to a bias difference of $4.0\times 10^{-3}$ independent of the shape measurement method. This makes it relevant for stage IV weak lensing surveys such as Euclid.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1). Combined Euclid and Spitzer galaxy density catalogues at $z>$ 1.3 and detection of significant Euclid passive galaxy overdensities in Spitzer overdense regions

Euclid will detect tens of thousands of clusters and protoclusters at $z$>1.3. With a total coverage of 63.1deg$^2$, the Euclid Quick Data Release 1 (Q1) is large enough to detect tens of clusters and hundreds of protoclusters at these early epochs. The Q1 photometric redshift catalogue enables us to detect clusters out to $z$ < 1.5; however, infrared imaging from Spitzer extends this limit to higher redshifts by using high local projected densities of Spitzer-selected galaxies as signposts for cluster and protocluster candidates. We use Spitzer imaging of the Euclid Deep Fields (EDFs) to derive densities for a sample of Spitzer-selected galaxies at redshifts $z$ > 1.3, building Spitzer IRAC1 and IRAC2 photometric catalogues that are 95% complete at a magnitude limit of IRAC2=22.2, 22.6, and 22.8 for the EDF-S, EDF-F, and EDF-N, respectively. We apply two complementary methods to calculate galaxy densities: (1) aperture and surface density; and (2) the Nth-nearest-neighbour method. When considering a sample selected at a magnitude limit of IRAC2 < 22.2, at which all three EDFs are 95% complete, our surface density distributions are consistent among the three EDFs and with the SpUDS blank field survey. We also considered a deeper sample (IRAC2 < 22.8), finding that 2% and 3% of the surface densities in the North and Fornax fields are 3$σ$ higher than the average field distribution and similar to densities found in the CARLA cluster survey. Our surface densities are also consistent with predictions from the GAEA semi-analytical model. Using combined Euclid and ground-based i-band photometry we show that our highest Spitzer-selected galaxy overdense regions, found at $z$~1.5, also host high densities of passive galaxies. This means that we measure densities consistent with those found in clusters and protoclusters at $z$>1.3.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Euclid: Star clusters in IC 342, NGC 2403, and Holmberg II

We examine the star cluster populations in the three nearby galaxies IC 342, NGC 2403, and Holmberg II, observed as part of the Euclid Early Release Observations programme. Our main focus is on old globular clusters (GCs), for which the wide field-of-view and excellent image quality of Euclid offer substantial advantages over previous work. For IC 342 this is the first study of stellar clusters other than its nuclear cluster. After selection based on size and magnitude criteria, followed by visual inspection, we identify 111 old (> 1 Gyr) GC candidates in IC 342, 50 in NGC 2403 (of which 15 were previously known), and 7 in Holmberg II. In addition, a number of younger and/or intermediate-age candidates are identified. The colour distributions of GC candidates in the two larger galaxies show hints of bimodality with peaks at IE-HE = 0.36 and 0.79 (IC 342) and IE-HE = 0.36 and 0.80 (NGC 2403), corresponding to metallicities of [Fe/H]=-1.5 and [Fe/H]=-0.5, similar to those of the metal-poor and metal-rich GC subpopulations in the Milky Way. The luminosity functions of our GC candidates exhibit an excess of relatively faint objects, relative to a canonical, approximately Gaussian GC luminosity function (GCLF). The excess objects may be similar to those previously identified in other galaxies. The specific frequency of classical old GCs in IC 342, as determined based on the brighter half of the GCLF, appears to be unusually low with SN=0.2-0.3. The combined luminosity function of young and intermediate-age clusters in all three galaxies is consistent with a power-law distribution, dN/dL ~ L^(-2.3+/-0.1) and the total numbers of young clusters brighter than M(IE)=-8 in NGC 2403 and Holmberg II are comparable with those found in their Local Group counterparts, that is, M33 and the Small Magellanic Cloud, respectively.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1) -- Data release overview

The first Euclid Quick Data Release, Q1, comprises 63.1 sq deg of the Euclid Deep Fields (EDFs) to nominal wide-survey depth. It encompasses visible and near-infrared space-based imaging and spectroscopic data, ground-based photometry in the u, g, r, i and z bands, as well as corresponding masks. Overall, Q1 contains about 30 million objects in three areas near the ecliptic poles around the EDF-North and EDF-South, as well as the EDF-Fornax field in the constellation of the same name. The purpose of this data release -- and its associated technical papers -- is twofold. First, it is meant to inform the community of the enormous potential of the Euclid survey data, to describe what is contained in these data, and to help prepare expectations for the forthcoming first major data release DR1. Second, it enables a wide range of initial scientific projects with wide-survey Euclid data, ranging from the early Universe to the Solar System. The Q1 data were processed with early versions of the processing pipelines, which already demonstrate good performance, with numerous improvements in implementation compared to pre-launch development. In this paper, we describe the sky areas released in Q1, the observations, a top-level view of the data processing of Euclid and associated external data, the Q1 photometric masks, and how to access the data. We also give an overview of initial scientific results obtained using the Q1 data set by Euclid Consortium scientists, and conclude with important caveats when using the data. As a complementary product, Q1 also contains observations of a star-forming area in Lynd's Dark Nebula 1641 in the Orion~A Cloud, observed for technical purposes during Euclid's performance-verification phase. This is a unique target, of a type not commonly found in Euclid's nominal sky survey.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Euclid and KiDS-1000: Quantifying the impact of source-lens clustering on cosmic shear analyses

The transition from current Stage-III surveys such as the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) to the increased area and redshift range of Stage IV surveys such as Euclid will significantly increase the precision of weak lensing analyses. However, with increasing precision, the accuracy of model assumptions needs to be evaluated. In this study, we quantify the impact of the correlated clustering of weak lensing source galaxies with the surrounding large-scale structure, known as source-lens clustering (SLC), which is commonly neglected. For this, we use simulated cosmological datasets with realistically distributed galaxies and measure shear correlation functions for both clustered and uniformly distributed source galaxies. Cosmological analyses are performed for both scenarios to quantify the impact of SLC on parameter inference for a KiDS-like and a Euclid-like setting. We find for Stage III surveys, SLC has a minor impact when accounting for nuisance parameters for intrinsic alignments and shifts of tomographic bins, as these nuisance parameters absorb the effect of SLC, thus changing their original meaning. For KiDS (Euclid), the inferred intrinsic alignment amplitude $A_{IA}$ changes from $0.11_{-0.46}^{+0.44}$ ($-0.009_{-0.080}^{+0.079}$) for data without SLC to $0.28_{-0.44}^{+0.42}$ ($0.022_{-0.082}^{+0.081}$) with SLC. However, fixed nuisance parameters lead to shifts in $S_8$ and $Ω_{m}$, emphasizing the need for including SLC in the modelling. For Euclid, we find that $σ_8$, $Ω_m$, and $w_0$ are shifted by $0.19$, $0.12$, and $0.12\, σ$, respectively, when including free nuisance parameters, and by $0.20$, $0.16$, and $0.32\,σ$ when fixing the nuisance parameters. Consequently, SLC on its own has only a small impact on the inferred parameter inference when using uninformative priors for nuisance parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

LiteBIRD Science Goals and Forecasts. Mapping the Hot Gas in the Universe

We assess the capabilities of the LiteBIRD mission to map the hot gas distribution in the Universe through the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect. Our analysis relies on comprehensive simulations incorporating various sources of Galactic and extragalactic foreground emission, while accounting for specific instrumental characteristics of LiteBIRD, such as detector sensitivities, frequency-dependent beam convolution, inhomogeneous sky scanning, and $1/f$ noise. We implement a tailored component-separation pipeline to map the thermal SZ Compton $y$-parameter over 98% of the sky. Despite lower angular resolution for galaxy cluster science, LiteBIRD provides full-sky coverage and, compared to the Planck satellite, enhanced sensitivity, as well as more frequency bands to enable the construction of an all-sky $y$-map, with reduced foreground contamination at large and intermediate angular scales. By combining LiteBIRD and Planck channels in the component-separation pipeline, we obtain an optimal $y$-map that leverages the advantages of both experiments, with the higher angular resolution of the Planck channels enabling the recovery of compact clusters beyond the LiteBIRD beam limitations, and the numerous sensitive LiteBIRD channels further mitigating foregrounds. The added value of LiteBIRD is highlighted through the examination of maps, power spectra, and one-point statistics of the various sky components. After component separation, the $1/f$ noise from LiteBIRD is effectively mitigated below the thermal SZ signal at all multipoles. Cosmological constraints on $S_8=σ_8\left(Ω_{\rm m}/0.3\right)^{0.5}$ obtained from the LiteBIRD-Planck combined $y$-map power spectrum exhibits a 15% reduction in uncertainty compared to constraints from Planck alone. This improvement can be attributed to the increased portion of uncontaminated sky available in the LiteBIRD-Planck combined $y$-map.

astro-ph.CO↗