arXiv subjects

Roy Maartens

Publications and source records attributed to Roy Maartens.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

A wide-angle formulation of foreground filters for HI intensity mapping

Neutral hydrogen intensity mapping can in principle deliver rapid and large-volume cosmological surveys with exquisitely accurate redshifts that are determined directly from imaging. However, intensity maps suffer from very strong foreground contamination. Future surveys will require efficient data pipelines to remove the foregrounds and reveal the cosmological signal. It is expected that this cleaning will not remove the signal in substantial parts of the available Fourier space and that significant loss of signal due to imperfect cleaning will be confined to specific regions of Fourier space. This suggests a strategy which is useful for simplified estimates and rapid computations -- i.e., to apply foreground filters that avoid the regions where loss of signal is significant. The standard Fourier-space power spectrum and foreground filters use a flat-sky approximation and thus exclude wide-angle correlations. We provide a new geometrical formulation of foreground filters in harmonic space, which naturally includes all wide-angle effects in the power spectrum. Foreground filtering leads to a loss of isotropy in Fourier space. In harmonic space this produces off-diagonal correlations. We derive analytical expressions for the generalised HI power spectrum and its cross-power with CMB lensing, for both single-dish and interferometer mode surveys. We show numerically that the off-diagonal contributions are negligible for the auto power. In the cross power, there is a non-negligible off-diagonal contribution, but only for a small interval of the largest available scales. For auto and cross power, the signal loss due to foreground avoidance decreases with increasing multipole (i.e. smaller scales), and the loss in interferometer mode is equal to, or slightly greater than, in single-dish mode. We find that the cross power in single-dish mode vanishes below a critical multipole, ...

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Multi-tracer power spectra and bispectra: Formalism

The power spectrum and bispectrum of dark matter tracers are key and complementary probes of the Universe. Next-generation surveys will deliver good measurements of the bispectrum, opening the door to improved cosmological constraints and the breaking of parameter degeneracies, from the combination of the power spectrum and bispectrum. Multi-tracer power spectra have been used to suppress cosmic variance and mitigate the effects of nuisance parameters and systematics. We present a bispectrum multi-tracer formalism that can be applied to next-generation survey data. Then we perform a simple Fisher analysis to illustrate qualitatively the improved precision on primordial non-Gaussianity that is expected to come from the bispectrum multi-tracer. In addition, we investigate the parametric dependence of conditional errors from multi-tracer power spectra and multi-tracer bispectra, on the differences between the biases and the number densities of two tracers. Our results suggest that optimal constraints arise from maximising the ratio of number densities, the difference between the linear biases, the difference between the quadratic biases, and the difference between the products $b_1\,b_Φ$ for each tracer, where $b_Φ$ is the bias for the primordial potential.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Radio-optical synergies at high redshift to constrain primordial non-Gaussianity

We apply the multi-tracer technique to test the possibility of improved constraints on the amplitude of local primordial non-Gaussianity, $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$, in the cosmic large-scale structure. A precise measurement of $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ is difficult because the effects of non-Gaussianity mostly arise on the largest scales, which are heavily affected by the low statistical sampling commonly referred to as cosmic variance. The multi-tracer approach suppresses cosmic variance and we implement it by combining the information from next-generation galaxy surveys in the optical/near-infrared band and neutral hydrogen (HI) intensity mapping surveys in the radio band. High-redshift surveys enhance the precision on $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$, due to the larger available volume, and HI intensity mapping surveys can naturally reach high redshifts. In order to extend the redshift coverage of a galaxy survey, we consider different emission-line galaxy populations, focusing on the H$α$ line at low redshift and on oxygen lines at higher redshift. By doing so, we cover a wide redshift range $1 \lesssim z \lesssim 4$. To assess the capability of our approach, we implement a synthetic-data analysis by means of Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling of the (cosmological+nuisance) parameter posterior, to evaluate the constraints on $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ obtained in different survey configurations. We find significant improvements from the multi-tracer technique: the full data set leads to a precision of $σ(f_{\mathrm{NL}}) < 1$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Constraining the growth rate on linear scales by combining SKAO and DESI surveys

In the pursuit of understanding the large-scale structure of the Universe, the synergy between complementary cosmological surveys has proven to be a powerful tool. Using multiple tracers of the large-scale structure can significantly improve the constraints on cosmological parameters. We explore the potential of combining the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) spectroscopic surveys to enhance precision on the growth rate of cosmic structures. We employ a multitracer Fisher analysis to estimate precision on the growth rate when using pairs of mock surveys that are based on SKAO and DESI specifications. The pairs are at both low and high redshifts. For SKA-MID, we use the HI galaxy and the HI intensity mapping samples. In order to avoid the complexities and uncertainties at small scales, we confine the analysis to scales where linear perturbations are reliable. The consequent loss of signal in each individual survey is mitigated by the gains from the multi-tracer. After marginalising over cosmological and nuisance parameters, we find a significant improvement in the precision on the growth rate.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Theoretical systematics in testing the Cosmological Principle with the kinematic quasar dipole

The Cosmological Principle is part of the foundation that underpins the standard model of the Universe. In the era of precision cosmology, when stress tests of the standard model are uncovering various tensions and possible anomalies, it is critical to check the viability of this principle. A key test is the consistency between the kinematic dipoles of the cosmic microwave background and of the large-scale matter distribution. Results using radio continuum and quasar samples indicate a rough agreement in the directions of the two dipoles, but a larger than expected amplitude of the matter dipole. The resulting tension with the radiation dipole has been estimated at $\sim 5σ$ for some cases, suggesting a potential new cosmological tension and a possible violation of the CP. However, the standard formalism for predicting the dipole in the two-dimensional projection of sources overlooks possible evolution effects in the luminosity function. In fact, radial information from the luminosity function is necessary for a correct projection of the three-dimensional source distribution. Using a variety of current models of the quasar luminosity function, we show that neglecting redshift evolution can significantly overestimate the relative velocity amplitude. While the models we investigate are consistent with each other and with current data, the dipole derived from these, which depends on derivatives of the luminosity function, can disagree by more than $3σ$. This theoretical systematic bias needs to be resolved before robust conclusions can be made about a new cosmic tension.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Paarl Africa Underground Laboratory (PAUL)

Establishing a deep underground physics laboratory to study, amongst others, double beta decay, geoneutrinos, reactor neutrinos and dark matter has been discussed for more than a decade within the austral African physicists' community. PAUL, the Paarl Africa Underground Laboratory, is an initiative foreseeing an open international laboratory devoted to the development of competitive science in the austral region. It has the advantage that the location, the Huguenot tunnel, exists already and the geology and the environment of the site is appropriate for an experimental facility. The paper describes the PAUL initiative, presents the physics prospects and discusses the capacity for building the future experimental facility.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Wide-angle effects in multi-tracer power spectra with Doppler corrections

We examine the computation of wide-angle corrections to the galaxy power spectrum including redshift-space distortions and relativistic Doppler corrections, and also including multiple tracers with differing clustering, magnification and evolution biases. We show that the inclusion of the relativistic Doppler contribution, as well as radial derivative terms, are crucial for a consistent wide-angle expansion for large-scale surveys, both in the single and multi-tracer cases. We also give for the first time the wide-angle cross-power spectrum associated with the Doppler magnification-galaxy cross correlation, which has been shown to be a new way to test general relativity. In the full-sky power spectrum, the wide-angle expansion allows integrals over products of spherical Bessel functions to be computed analytically as distributional functions, which are then relatively simple to integrate over. We give for the first time a complete discussion and new derivation of the finite part of the divergent integrals of the form $\int_{0}^{\infty} \mathrm{d} r r^{n} j_{\ell}(k r) j_{\ell^{\prime}}(q r)$, which are necessary to compute the wide-angle corrections when a general window function is included. This facilitates a novel method for integrating a general analytic function against a pair of spherical Bessel functions.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Constraining primordial non-Gaussianity by combining next-generation galaxy and 21 cm intensity mapping surveys

Surveys of the matter distribution contain `fossil' information on possible non-Gaussianity that is generated in the primordial Universe. This primordial signal survives only on the largest scales where cosmic variance is strongest. By combining different surveys in a multi-tracer approach, we can suppress the cosmic variance and significantly improve the precision on the level of primordial non-Gaussianity. We consider a combination of an optical galaxy survey, like the recently initiated DESI survey, together with a new and very different type of survey, a 21 cm intensity mapping survey, like the upcoming SKAO survey. A Fisher forecast of the precision on the local primordial non-Gaussianity parameter $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$, shows that this multi-tracer combination, together with non-overlap single-tracer information, can deliver precision comparable to that from the CMB. Taking account of the largest systematic, i.e. foreground contamination in intensity mapping, we find that $σ(f_{\mathrm{NL}}) \sim 4$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Cosmological constraints from the power spectrum and bispectrum of 21cm intensity maps

The 21cm emission of neutral hydrogen is a potential probe of the matter distribution in the Universe after reionisation. Cosmological surveys of this line intensity will be conducted in the coming years by the SKAO and HIRAX experiments, complementary to upcoming galaxy surveys. We present the first forecasts of the cosmological constraints from the combination of the 21cm power spectrum and bispectrum. Fisher forecasts are computed for the constraining power of these surveys on cosmological parameters, the BAO distance functions and the growth function. We also estimate the constraining power on dynamical dark energy and modified gravity. Finally we investigate the constraints on the 21cm clustering bias, up to second order. We consider the effects on the 21cm correlators of the telescope beam, instrumental noise, foreground avoidance, the Alcock-Paczynski effect and theoretical errors in the modelling of the correlators. Adding Planck priors, and marginalising over nuisance parameters, HIRAX achieves sub-percent precision on the $Λ$CDM parameters, with SKAO delivering slightly lower precision. The modified gravity parameter $γ$ is constrained at 1% (HIRAX) and 5% (SKAO). For the dark energy parameters $w_0,w_a$, HIRAX delivers percent-level precision while SKAO constraints are weaker. HIRAX achieves sub-percent precision on the BAO distance functions $D_A,H$, while SKAO reaches 1-2% for $0.6\lesssim z\lesssim 1$. The growth rate $f$ is constrained at a few-percent level for the whole redshift range of HIRAX and for $0.6\lesssim z\lesssim 1$ by SKAO. The different performances arise mainly since HIRAX is a packed inteferometer that is optimised for BAO measurements, while SKAO is not optimised for interferometer cosmology and operates better in single-dish mode, where the telescope beam limits access to the smaller scales that are covered by an interferometer.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Constraining spatial curvature with large-scale structure

We analyse the clustering of matter on large scales in an extension of the concordance model that allows for spatial curvature. We develop a consistent approach to curvature and wide-angle effects on the galaxy 2-point correlation function in redshift space. In particular we derive the Alcock-Paczynski distortion of $fσ_{8}$, which differs significantly from empirical models in the literature. A key innovation is the use of the `Clustering Ratio', which probes clustering in a different way to redshift-space distortions, so that their combination delivers more powerful cosmological constraints. We use this combination to constrain cosmological parameters, without CMB information. In a curved Universe, we find that $Ω_{{\rm m}, 0}=0.26\pm 0.04$ (68\% CL). When the clustering probes are combined with low-redshift background probes -- BAO and SNIa -- we obtain a CMB-independent constraint on curvature: $Ω_{K,0} = 0.0041\,_{-0.0504}^{+0.0500}$. We find no Bayesian evidence that the flat concordance model can be rejected. In addition we show that the sound horizon at decoupling is $r_{\rm d} = 144.57 \pm 2.34 \; {\rm Mpc}$, in agreement with its measurement from CMB anisotropies. As a consequence, the late-time Universe is compatible with flat $Λ$CDM and a standard sound horizon, leading to a small value of $H_{0}$, {\em without} assuming any CMB information. Clustering Ratio measurements produce the only low-redshift clustering data set that is not in disagreement with the CMB, and combining the two data sets we obtain $Ω_{K,0}= -0.023 \pm 0.010$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Measuring dark energy with expansion and growth

We combine cosmic chronometer and growth of structure data to derive the redshift evolution of the dark energy equation of state $w$, using a novel agnostic approach. The background and perturbation equations lead to two expressions for $w$, one purely background-based and the other relying also on the growth rate of large-scale structure. We compare the features and performance of the growth-based $w$ to the background $w$, using Gaussian Processes for the reconstructions. We find that current data is not precise enough for robust reconstruction of the two forms of $w$. By using mock data expected from next-generation surveys, we show that the reconstructions will be robust enough and that the growth-based $w$ will out-perform the background $w$. Furthermore, any disagreement between the two forms of $w$ will provide a new test for deviations from the standard model of cosmology.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Magnification and evolution biases in large-scale structure surveys

Measurements of galaxy clustering in upcoming surveys such as those planned for the Euclid and Roman satellites, and the SKA Observatory, will be sensitive to distortions from lensing magnification and Doppler effects, beyond the standard redshift-space distortions. The amplitude of these contributions depends sensitively on magnification bias and evolution bias in the galaxy number density. Magnification bias quantifies the change in the observed number of galaxies gained or lost by lensing magnification, while evolution bias quantifies the physical change in the galaxy number density relative to the conserved case. These biases are given by derivatives of the number density, and consequently are very sensitive to the form of the luminosity function. We give a careful derivation of the magnification and evolution biases, clarifying a number of results in the literature. We then examine the biases for a variety of surveys, encompassing galaxy surveys and line intensity mapping at radio and optical/near-infrared wavelengths.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

The Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment: 256-Element Array Status and Overview

The Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX) is a radio interferometer array currently in development, with an initial 256-element array to be deployed at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) Square Kilometer Array (SKA) site in South Africa. Each of the 6m, $f/0.23$ dishes will be instrumented with dual-polarisation feeds operating over a frequency range of 400-800 MHz. Through intensity mapping of the 21 cm emission line of neutral hydrogen, HIRAX will provide a cosmological survey of the distribution of large-scale structure over the redshift range of $0.775 < z < 2.55$ over $\sim$15,000 square degrees of the southern sky. The statistical power of such a survey is sufficient to produce $\sim$7 percent constraints on the dark energy equation of state parameter when combined with measurements from the Planck satellite. Additionally, HIRAX will provide a highly competitive platform for radio transient and HI absorber science while enabling a multitude of cross-correlation studies. In this paper, we describe the science goals of the experiment, overview of the design and status of the sub-components of the telescope system, and describe the expected performance of the initial 256-element array as well as the planned future expansion to the final, 1024-element array.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Multi-wavelength spectroscopic probes: biases from neglecting light-cone effects

Next-generation cosmological surveys will observe larger cosmic volumes than ever before, enabling us to access information on the primordial Universe, as well as on relativistic effects. In a companion paper, we applied a Fisher analysis to forecast the expected precision on $f_{\rm NL}$ and the detectability of the lensing magnification and Doppler contributions to the power spectrum. Here we assess the bias on the best-fit values of $f_{\rm NL}$ and other parameters, from neglecting these light-cone effects. We consider forthcoming 21cm intensity mapping surveys (SKAO) and optical galaxy surveys (DESI and Euclid), both individually and combined together. We conclude that lensing magnification at higher redshifts must be included in the modelling of spectroscopic surveys. If lensing is neglected in the analysis, this produces a bias of more than 1$σ$ - not only on $f_{\rm NL}$, but also on the standard cosmological parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Constraining the neutrino mass using a multi-tracer combination of two galaxy surveys and CMB lensing

Measuring the total neutrino mass is one of the most exciting opportunities available with next-generation cosmological data sets. We study the possibility of detecting the total neutrino mass using large-scale clustering in 21cm intensity mapping and photometric galaxy surveys, together with CMB information. We include the scale-dependent halo bias contribution due to the presence of massive neutrinos, and use a multi-tracer analysis in order to reduce cosmic variance. The multi-tracer combination of an SKAO-MID 21cm intensity map with Stage~4 CMB dramatically shrinks the uncertainty on total neutrino mass to $σ(M_ν) \simeq 45\,$meV, using only linear clustering information ($k_{\rm max} = 0.1\, h/$Mpc) and without a prior on optical depth. When we add to the multi-tracer the clustering information expected from LSST, the forecast is $σ(M_ν) \simeq 12\,$meV.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Multi-wavelength spectroscopic probes: prospects for primordial non-Gaussianity and relativistic effects

Next-generation cosmological surveys will observe larger cosmic volumes than ever before, enabling us to access information on the primordial Universe, as well as on relativistic effects. We consider forthcoming 21cm intensity mapping surveys (SKAO) and optical galaxy surveys (DESI and Euclid), combining the information via multi-tracer cross-correlations that suppress cosmic variance on ultra-large scales. In order to fully incorporate wide-angle effects and redshift-bin cross-correlations, together with lensing magnification and other relativistic effects, we use the angular power spectra, $C_\ell(z_i,z_j)$. Applying a Fisher analysis, we forecast the expected precision on $f_{\rm NL}$ and the detectability of lensing and other relativistic effects. We find that the full combination of two pairs of 21cm and galaxy surveys, one pair at low redshift and one at high redshift, could deliver $σ(f_{\rm NL})\sim 1.5$, detect the Doppler effect with a signal-to-noise ratio $\sim$8 and measure the lensing convergence contribution at $\sim$2\% precision. In a companion paper, we show that the best-fit values of $f_{\rm NL}$ and of standard cosmological parameters are significantly biased if the lensing contribution neglected.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Multi-tasking the growth of cosmological structures

Next-generation large-scale structure surveys will deliver a significant increase in the precision of growth data, allowing us to use `agnostic' methods to study the evolution of perturbations without the assumption of a cosmological model. We focus on a particular machine learning tool, Gaussian processes, to reconstruct the growth rate $f$, the root mean square of matter fluctuations $σ_8$, and their product $fσ_8$. We apply this method to simulated data, representing the precision of upcoming Stage IV galaxy surveys. We extend the standard single-task approach to a multi-task approach that reconstructs the three functions simultaneously, thereby taking into account their inter-dependence. We find that this multi-task approach outperforms the single-task approach for future surveys and will allow us to detect departures from the standard model with higher significance. By contrast, the limited sensitivity of current data severely hinders the use of agnostic methods, since the Gaussian processes parameters need to be fine tuned in order to obtain robust reconstructions.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Detecting the relativistic galaxy bispectrum

The Fourier-space galaxy bispectrum is complex, with the imaginary part arising from leading-order relativistic corrections, due to Doppler, gravitational redshift and related line-of-sight effects in redshift space. The detection of the imaginary part of the bispectrum is potentially a smoking gun signal of relativistic contributions. We investigate whether next-generation spectroscopic surveys could make such a detection. For a Stage IV spectroscopic $Hα$ survey similar to Euclid, we find that the cumulative signal to noise of this relativistic signature is $\mathcal{O}(10)$. Long-mode relativistic effects couple to short-mode Newtonian effects in the galaxy bispectrum, but not in the galaxy power spectrum. This is the basis for detectability of relativistic effects in the bispectrum of a single galaxy survey, whereas the power spectrum requires multiple galaxy surveys to detect the corresponding signal.

astro-ph.CO↗