arXiv subjects

Samuel R. Hinton

Publications and source records attributed to Samuel R. Hinton.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Candidate Periodically Variable Quasars from the Dark Energy Survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Periodically variable quasars have been suggested as close binary supermassive black holes. We present a systematic search for periodic light curves in 625 spectroscopically confirmed quasars with a median redshift of 1.8 in a 4.6 deg$^2$ overlapping region of the Dark Energy Survey Supernova (DES-SN) fields and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82 (SDSS-S82). Our sample has a unique 20-year long multi-color ($griz$) light curve enabled by combining DES-SN Y6 observations with archival SDSS-S82 data. The deep imaging allows us to search for periodic light curves in less luminous quasars (down to $r{\sim}$23.5 mag) powered by less massive black holes (with masses $\gtrsim10^{8.5}M_{\odot}$) at high redshift for the first time. We find five candidates with significant (at $>$99.74% single-frequency significance in at least two bands with a global p-value of $\sim$7$\times10^{-4}$--3$\times10^{-3}$ accounting for the look-elsewhere effect) periodicity with observed periods of $\sim$3--5 years (i.e., 1--2 years in rest frame) having $\sim$4--6 cycles spanned by the observations. If all five candidates are periodically variable quasars, this translates into a detection rate of ${\sim}0.8^{+0.5}_{-0.3}$% or ${\sim}1.1^{+0.7}_{-0.5}$ quasar per deg$^2$. Our detection rate is 4--80 times larger than those found by previous searches using shallower surveys over larger areas. This discrepancy is likely caused by differences in the quasar populations probed and the survey data qualities. We discuss implications on the future direct detection of low-frequency gravitational waves. Continued photometric monitoring will further assess the robustness and characteristics of these candidate periodic quasars to determine their physical origins.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Probing galaxy evolution in massive clusters using ACT and DES: splashback as a cosmic clock

We measure the projected number density profiles of galaxies and the splashback feature in clusters selected by the Sunyaev--Zeldovich (SZ) effect from the Advanced Atacama Cosmology Telescope (AdvACT) survey using galaxies observed by the Dark Energy Survey (DES). The splashback radius for the complete galaxy sample is consistent with theoretical measurements from CDM-only simulations, and is located at $2.4^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$ Mpc $h^{-1}$. We split the sample based on galaxy color and find significant differences in the profile shapes. Red galaxies and those in the green valley show a splashback-like minimum in their slope profile consistent with theoretical predictions, while the bluest galaxies show a weak feature that appears at a smaller radius. We develop a mapping of galaxies to subhalos in $N$-body simulations by splitting subhalos based on infall time onto the cluster halos. We find that the location of the steepest slope and differences in the shapes of the profiles can be mapped to differences in the average time of infall of galaxies of different colors. The minima of the slope in the galaxy profiles trace a discontinuity in the phase space of dark matter halos. By relating spatial profiles to infall time for galaxies of different colours, we can use splashback as a clock to understand galaxy quenching. We find that red galaxies have on average been in their clusters for over $3.2 ~\rm Gyrs$, green galaxies about $2.2 ~\rm Gyrs$, while blue galaxies have been accreted most recently and have not reached apocenter. Using the information from the complete radial profiles, we fit a simple quenching model and find that the onset of galaxy quenching in clusters occurs after a delay of about a gigayear, and that galaxies quench rapidly thereafter with an exponential timescale of $0.6$ Gyr.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Dark Energy Survey Identification of A Low-Mass Active Galactic Nucleus at Redshift 0.823 from Optical Variability

We report the identification of a low-mass AGN, DES J0218$-$0430, in a redshift $z = 0.823$ galaxy in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Supernova field. We select DES J0218$-$0430 as an AGN candidate by characterizing its long-term optical variability alone based on DES optical broad-band light curves spanning over 6 years. An archival optical spectrum from the fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey shows both broad Mg II and broad H$β$ lines, confirming its nature as a broad-line AGN. Archival XMM-Newton X-ray observations suggest an intrinsic hard X-ray luminosity of $L_{\rm 2-12\,keV}\sim7.6\pm0.4\times10^{43}$ erg s$^{-1}$, which exceeds those of the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies, in support of an AGN driving the optical variability. Based on the broad H$β$ from SDSS spectrum, we estimate a virial BH mass of $M_{\bullet}\approx10^{6.43}$-$10^{6.72}M_{\odot}$ (with the error denoting 1$σ$ statistical uncertainties only), consistent with the estimation from OzDES, making it the lowest mass AGN with redshift $>$ 0.4 detected in optical. We estimate the host galaxy stellar mass to be $M_{\ast}\sim10^{10.5\pm0.3}M_{\odot}$ based on modeling the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution. DES J0218$-$0430 extends the $M_{\bullet}$-$M_{\ast}$ relation observed in luminous AGNs at $z\sim1$ to masses lower than being probed by previous work. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using optical variability to identify low-mass AGNs at higher redshift in deeper synoptic surveys with direct implications for the upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time at Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

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arXiv2020

Barry and the BAO Model Comparison

We compare the performance of four state-of-the-art models for extracting isotropic measurements of the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) scale. To do this, we created a new, public, modular code Barry, which contains datasets, model fitting tools, and model implementations incorporating different descriptions of non-linear physics and algorithms for isolating the BAO feature. These are then evaluated for bias, correlation, and fitting strength using mock power spectra and correlation functions developed for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12. Our main findings are as follows: 1) All of the models can recover unbiased constraints when fit to the pre- and post-reconstruction simulations. 2) Models that provide physical descriptions of the damping of the BAO feature (using e.g., standard perturbation or effective-field theory arguments) report smaller errors on average, although the distribution of mock $χ^{2}$ values indicates these are underestimated. 3) Allowing the BAO damping scale to vary can provide tighter constraints for some mocks, but is an artificial improvement that only arises when noise randomly sharpens the BAO peak. 4) Unlike recent claims in the literature when utilising a BAO Extractor technique, we find no improvement in the accuracy of the recovered BAO scale. 5) We implement a procedure for combining all models into a single consensus result that improves over the standard method without obviously underestimating the uncertainties. Overall, Barry provides an excellent framework for performing the cosmological analyses for upcoming surveys, and for rapidly testing and validating new models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: Final Data Release and the Metallicity of UV-Luminous Galaxies

The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey measured the redshifts of over 200,000 UV-selected (NUV<22.8 mag) galaxies on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The survey detected the baryon acoustic oscillation signal in the large scale distribution of galaxies over the redshift range 0.2<z<1.0, confirming the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe and measuring the rate of structure growth within it. Here we present the final data release of the survey: a catalogue of 225415 galaxies and individual files of the galaxy spectra. We analyse the emission-line properties of these UV-luminous Lyman-break galaxies by stacking the spectra in bins of luminosity, redshift, and stellar mass. The most luminous (-25 mag < MFUV <-22 mag) galaxies have very broad H-beta emission from active nuclei, as well as a broad second component to the [OIII] (495.9 nm, 500.7 nm) doublet lines that is blue shifted by 100 km/s, indicating the presence of gas outflows in these galaxies. The composite spectra allow us to detect and measure the temperature-sensitive [OIII] (436.3 nm) line and obtain metallicities using the direct method. The metallicities of intermediate stellar mass (8.8<log(M*/Msun)<10) WiggleZ galaxies are consistent with normal emission-line galaxies at the same masses. In contrast, the metallicities of high stellar mass (10<log(M*/Msun)<12) WiggleZ galaxies are significantly lower than for normal emission-line galaxies at the same masses. This is not an effect of evolution as the metallicities do not vary with redshift; it is most likely a property specific to the extremely UV-luminous WiggleZ galaxies.

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arXiv2019

Can redshift errors bias measurements of the Hubble Constant?

Redshifts have been so easy to measure for so long that we tend to neglect the fact that they too have uncertainties and are susceptible to systematic error. As we strive to measure cosmological parameters to better than 1% it is worth reviewing the accuracy of our redshift measurements. Surprisingly small systematic redshift errors, as low as 0.0001, can have a significant impact on the cosmological parameters we infer, such as $H_0$. Here we investigate an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of ways in which redshift estimation can go systematically astray. We review common theoretical errors, such as adding redshifts instead of multiplying by (1+z); using v=cz; and using only cosmological redshift in the estimates of luminosity and angular-diameter distances. We consider potential observational errors, such as rest wavelength precision, air to vacuum conversion at altitude, and spectrograph wavelength calibration. Finally, we explore physical effects, such as peculiar velocity corrections, galaxy internal velocities, gravitational redshifts, and overcorrecting within a bulk flow. We conclude that it would be quite easy for small systematic redshift errors to have infiltrated our data and be impacting our cosmological results. While it is unlikely that these errors are large enough to resolve the current $H_0$ tension, it remains possible, and redshift accuracy may become a limiting factor in near future experiments. With the enormous efforts going into calibrating the vertical axis of our plots (standard candles, rulers, clocks, and sirens) we argue that it is now worth paying a little more attention to the horizontal axis (redshifts).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

The Taipan Galaxy Survey: Scientific Goals and Observing Strategy

Taipan is a multi-object spectroscopic galaxy survey starting in 2017 that will cover 2pi steradians over the southern sky, and obtain optical spectra for about two million galaxies out to z<0.4. Taipan will use the newly-refurbished 1.2m UK Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory with the new TAIPAN instrument, which includes an innovative 'Starbugs' positioning system capable of rapidly and simultaneously deploying up to 150 spectroscopic fibres (and up to 300 with a proposed upgrade) over the 6-deg diameter focal plane, and a purpose-built spectrograph operating from 370 to 870nm with resolving power R>2000. The main scientific goals of Taipan are: (i) to measure the distance scale of the Universe (primarily governed by the local expansion rate, H_0) to 1% precision, and the structure growth rate of structure to 5%; (ii) to make the most extensive map yet constructed of the mass distribution and motions in the local Universe, using peculiar velocities based on improved Fundamental Plane distances, which will enable sensitive tests of gravitational physics; and (iii) to deliver a legacy sample of low-redshift galaxies as a unique laboratory for studying galaxy evolution as a function of mass and environment. The final survey, which will be completed within 5 years, will consist of a complete magnitude-limited sample (i<17) of about 1.2x10^6 galaxies, supplemented by an extension to higher redshifts and fainter magnitudes (i<18.1) of a luminous red galaxy sample of about 0.8x10^6 galaxies. Observations and data processing will be carried out remotely and in a fully-automated way, using a purpose-built automated 'virtual observer' software and an automated data reduction pipeline. The Taipan survey is deliberately designed to maximise its legacy value, by complementing and enhancing current and planned surveys of the southern sky at wavelengths from the optical to the radio.

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arXiv2017

Accounting for sample selection in Bayesian analyses

Astronomers are often confronted with funky populations and distributions of objects: brighter objects are more likely to be detected; targets are selected based on colour cuts; imperfect classification yields impure samples. Failing to account for these effects leads to biased analyses. In this paper we present a simple overview of a Bayesian consideration of sample selection, giving solutions to both analytically tractable and intractable models. This is accomplished via a combination of analytic approximations and Monte Carlo integration, in which dataset simulation is efficiently used to correct for issues in the observed dataset. This methodology is also applicable for data truncation, such as requiring densities to be strictly positive. Toy models are included for demonstration, along with discussions of numerical considerations and how to optimise for implementation. We provide sample code to demonstrate the techniques. The methods in this paper should be widely applicable in fields beyond astronomy, wherever sample selection effects occur.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Measuring the 2D Baryon Acoustic Oscillation signal of galaxies in WiggleZ: Cosmological constraints

We present results from the 2D anisotropic Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) signal present in the final dataset from the WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey. We analyse the WiggleZ data in two ways: firstly using the full shape of the 2D correlation function and secondly focussing only on the position of the BAO peak in the reconstructed data set. When fitting for the full shape of the 2D correlation function we use a multipole expansion to compare with theory. When we use the reconstructed data we marginalise over the shape and just measure the position of the BAO peak, analysing the data in wedges separating the signal along the line of sight from that parallel to the line of sight. We verify our method with mock data and find the results to be free of bias or systematic offsets. We also redo the pre-reconstruction angle averaged (1D) WiggleZ BAO analysis with an improved covariance and present an updated result. The final results are presented in the form of $Ω_c h^2$, $H(z)$, and $D_A(z)$ for three redshift bins with effective redshifts $z = 0.44$, $0.60$, and $0.73$. Within these bins and methodologies, we recover constraints between 5% and 22% error. Our cosmological constraints are consistent with Flat $Λ$CDM cosmology and agree with results from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

The 2-degree Field Lensing Survey: design and clustering measurements

We present the 2-degree Field Lensing Survey (2dFLenS), a new galaxy redshift survey performed at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. 2dFLenS is the first wide-area spectroscopic survey specifically targeting the area mapped by deep-imaging gravitational lensing fields, in this case the Kilo-Degree Survey. 2dFLenS obtained 70,079 redshifts in the range z < 0.9 over an area of 731 sq deg, and is designed to extend the datasets available for testing gravitational physics and promote the development of relevant algorithms for joint imaging and spectroscopic analysis. The redshift sample consists first of 40,531 Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs), which enable analyses of galaxy-galaxy lensing, redshift-space distortion, and the overlapping source redshift distribution by cross-correlation. An additional 28,269 redshifts form a magnitude-limited (r < 19.5) nearly-complete sub-sample, allowing direct source classification and photometric-redshift calibration. In this paper, we describe the motivation, target selection, spectroscopic observations, and clustering analysis of 2dFLenS. We use power spectrum multipole measurements to fit the redshift-space distortion parameter of the LRG sample in two redshift ranges 0.15 < z < 0.43 and 0.43 < z < 0.7 as beta = 0.49 +/- 0.15 and beta = 0.26 +/- 0.09, respectively. These values are consistent with those obtained from LRGs in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey. 2dFLenS data products will be released via our website http://2dflens.swin.edu.au.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

MARZ: Manual and Automatic Redshifting Software

The Australian Dark Energy Survey (OzDES) is a 100-night spectroscopic survey underway on the Anglo-Australian Telescope using the fibre-fed 2-degree-field (2dF) spectrograph. We have developed a new redshifting application Marz with greater usability, flexibility, and the capacity to analyse a wider range of object types than the Runz software package previously used for redshifting spectra from 2dF. Marz is an open-source, client-based, Javascript web-application which provides an intuitive interface and powerful automatic matching capabilities on spectra generated from the AAOmega spectrograph to produce high quality spectroscopic redshift measurements. The software can be run interactively or via the command line, and is easily adaptable to other instruments and pipelines if conforming to the current FITS file standard is not possible. Behind the scenes, a modified version of the Autoz cross-correlation algorithm is used to match input spectra against a variety of stellar and galaxy templates, and automatic matching performance for OzDES spectra has increased from 54% (Runz) to 91% (Marz). Spectra not matched correctly by the automatic algorithm can be easily redshifted manually by cycling automatic results, manual template comparison, or marking spectral features.

astro-ph.IM↗