arXiv subjects

Stefano Camera

Publications and source records attributed to Stefano Camera.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Probing primordial non-Gaussianity via iSW measurements with SKA continuum surveys

The Planck CMB experiment has delivered the best constraints so far on primordial non-Gaussianity, ruling out early-Universe models of inflation that generate large non-Gaussianity. Although small improvements in the CMB constraints are expected, the next frontier of precision will come from future large-scale surveys of the galaxy distribution. The advantage of such surveys is that they can measure many more modes than the CMB -- in particular, forthcoming radio surveys with the SKA will cover huge volumes. Radio continuum surveys deliver the largest volumes, but with the disadvantage of no redshift information. In order to mitigate this, we use two additional observables. First, the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect -- the cross-correlation of the radio number counts with the CMB temperature anisotropies -- helps to reduce systematics on the large scales that are sensitive to non-Gaussianity. Second, optical data allows for cross-identification in order to gain some redshift information. We show that, while the single redshift bin case can provide a sigma(fNL) ~ 20, and is therefore not competitive with current and future constraints on non-Gaussianity, a tomographic analysis could improve the constraints by an order of magnitude, even with only two redshift bins. A huge improvement is provided by the addition of high-redshift sources, so having cross-ID for high-z galaxies and an even higher-z radio tail is key to enabling very precise measurements of fNL. Our results show that SKA continuum surveys could provide constraints competitive with CMB and forthcoming optical surveys, potentially allowing a measurement of sigma(fNL) ~ 1 to be made. Moreover, these measurements would act as a useful check of results obtained with other probes at other redshift ranges with other methods.

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arXiv2015

Synergy between the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array

We provide an overview of the science benefits of combining information from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). We first summarise the capabilities and timeline of the LSST and overview its science goals. We then discuss the science questions in common between the two projects, and how they can be best addressed by combining the data from both telescopes. We describe how weak gravitational lensing and galaxy clustering studies with LSST and SKA can provide improved constraints on the causes of the cosmological acceleration. We summarise the benefits to galaxy evolution studies of combining deep optical multi-band imaging with radio observations. Finally, we discuss the excellent match between one of the most unique features of the LSST, its temporal cadence in the optical waveband, and the time resolution of the SKA.

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arXiv2015

Cosmology with a SKA HI intensity mapping survey

HI intensity mapping (IM) is a novel technique capable of mapping the large-scale structure of the Universe in three dimensions and delivering exquisite constraints on cosmology, by using HI as a biased tracer of the dark matter density field. This is achieved by measuring the intensity of the redshifted 21cm line over the sky in a range of redshifts without the requirement to resolve individual galaxies. In this chapter, we investigate the potential of SKA1 to deliver HI intensity maps over a broad range of frequencies and a substantial fraction of the sky. By pinning down the baryon acoustic oscillation and redshift space distortion features in the matter power spectrum -- thus determining the expansion and growth history of the Universe -- these surveys can provide powerful tests of dark energy models and modifications to General Relativity. They can also be used to probe physics on extremely large scales, where precise measurements of spatial curvature and primordial non-Gaussianity can be used to test inflation; on small scales, by measuring the sum of neutrino masses; and at high redshifts where non-standard evolution models can be probed. We discuss the impact of foregrounds as well as various instrumental and survey design parameters on the achievable constraints. In particular we analyse the feasibility of using the SKA1 autocorrelations to probe the large-scale signal.

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arXiv2015

Cosmology from HI galaxy surveys with the SKA

The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) has the potential to produce galaxy redshift surveys which will be competitive with other state of the art cosmological experiments in the next decade. In this chapter we summarise what capabilities the first and the second phases of the SKA will be able to achieve in its current state of design. We summarise the different cosmological experiments which are outlined in further detail in other chapters of this Science Book. The SKA will be able to produce competitive Baryonic Oscillation (BAOs) measurements in both its phases. The first phase of the SKA will provide similar measurements as optical and IR experiments with completely different systematic effects whereas the second phase being transformational in terms of its statistical power. The SKA will produce very accurate Redshift Space Distortions (RSD) measurements, being superior to other experiments at lower redshifts, due to the large number of galaxies. Cross correlations of the galaxy redshift data from the SKA with radio continuum surveys and optical surveys will provide extremely good calibration of photometric redshifts as well as extremely good bounds on modifications of gravity. Basing on a Principle Component Analysis (PCA) approach, we find that the SKA will be able to provide competitive constraints on dark energy and modified gravity models. Due to the large area covered the SKA it will be a transformational experiment in measuring physics from the largest scales such as non-Gaussian signals from $\textrm{f}_{\textrm{nl}}$. Finally, the SKA might produce the first real time measurement of the redshift drift. The SKA will be a transformational machine for cosmology as it grows from an early Phase 1 to its full power.

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arXiv2015

Measuring baryon acoustic oscillations with future SKA surveys

The imprint of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in large-scale structure can be used as a standard ruler for mapping out the cosmic expansion history, and hence for testing cosmological models. In this article we briefly describe the scientific background to the BAO technique, and forecast the potential of the Phase 1 and 2 SKA telescopes to perform BAO surveys using both galaxy catalogues and intensity mapping, assessing their competitiveness with current and future optical galaxy surveys. We find that a 25,000 sq. deg. intensity mapping survey on a Phase 1 array will preferentially constrain the radial BAO, providing a highly competitive 2% constraint on the expansion rate at z ~ 2. A 30,000 sq. deg. galaxy redshift survey on SKA2 will outperform all other planned experiments for z < 1.4.

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arXiv2015

Measuring redshift-space distortions with future SKA surveys

The peculiar motion of galaxies can be a particularly sensitive probe of gravitational collapse. As such, it can be used to measure the dynamics of dark matter and dark energy as well the nature of the gravitational laws at play on cosmological scales. Peculiar motions manifest themselves as an overall anisotropy in the measured clustering signal as a function of the angle to the line-of-sight, known as redshift-space distortion (RSD). Limiting factors in this measurement include our ability to model non-linear galaxy motions on small scales and the complexities of galaxy bias. The anisotropy in the measured clustering pattern in redshift-space is also driven by the unknown distance factors at the redshift in question, the Alcock-Paczynski distortion. This weakens growth rate measurements, but permits an extra geometric probe of the Hubble expansion rate. In this chapter we will briefly describe the scientific background to the RSD technique, and forecast the potential of the SKA phase 1 and the SKA2 to measure the growth rate using both galaxy catalogues and intensity mapping, assessing their competitiveness with current and future optical galaxy surveys.

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arXiv2014

Detectability of Torsion Gravity via Galaxy Clustering and Cosmic Shear Measurements

Alterations of the gravity Lagrangian introduced in modified torsion gravity theories---also referred to as $f(T)$ gravity---allows for an accelerated expansion in a matter dominated Universe. In this framework, the cosmic speed up is driven by an effective `torsion fluid'. Besides the background evolution of the Universe, structure formation is also modified because of a time dependent effective gravitational constant. Here, we investigate the imprints of $f(T)$ gravity on galaxy clustering and weak gravitational lensing to the aim of understanding whether future galaxy surveys could constrain torsion gravity and discriminate amongst it and standard general relativity. Specifically, we compute Fisher matrix forecasts for two viable $f(T)$ models to both infer the accuracy on the measurement of the model parameters and evaluate the power that a combined clustering and shear analysis will have as a tool for model selection. We find that with such a combination of probes it will indeed be possible to tightly constrain $f(T)$ model parameters. Moreover, the Occam's razor provided by the Bayes factor will allow us to confirm an $f(T)$ power-law extension of the concordance $Λ{\rm CDM}$ model, were a value larger than 0.02 of its power-law slope measured, whereas in $Λ{\rm CDM}$ it is exactly 0.

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arXiv2014

Magnification bias as a novel probe for primordial magnetic fields

In this paper we investigate magnetic fields generated in the early Universe. These fields are important candidates at explaining the origin of astrophysical magnetism observed in galaxies and galaxy clusters, whose genesis is still by and large unclear. Compared to the standard inflationary power spectrum, intermediate to small scales would experience further substantial matter clustering, were a cosmological magnetic field present prior to recombination. As a consequence, the bias and redshift distribution of galaxies would also be modified. Hitherto, primordial magnetic fields (PMFs) have been tested and constrained with a number of cosmological observables, e.g. the cosmic microwave background radiation, galaxy clustering and, more recently, weak gravitational lensing. Here, we explore the constraining potential of the density fluctuation bias induced by gravitational lensing magnification onto the galaxy-galaxy angular power spectrum. Such an effect is known as magnification bias. Compared to the usual galaxy clustering approach, magnification bias helps in lifting the pathological degeneracy present amongst power spectrum normalisation and galaxy bias. This is because magnification bias cross-correlates galaxy number density fluctuations of nearby objects with weak lensing distortions of high-redshift sources. Thus, it takes advantage of the gravitational deflection of light, which is insensitive to galaxy bias but powerful in constraining the density fluctuation amplitude. To scrutinise the potentiality of this method, we adopt a deep and wide-field spectroscopic galaxy survey. We show that magnification bias does contain important information on primordial magnetism, which will be useful in combination with galaxy clustering and shear. We find we shall be able to rule out at 95.4% CL amplitudes of PMFs larger than 0.0005 nG for values of the PMF power spectral index ~0.

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arXiv2014

Radio Galaxy populations and the multi-tracer technique: pushing the limits on primordial non-Gaussianity

We explore the use of different radio galaxy populations as tracers of different mass halos and therefore, with different bias properties, to constrain primordial non-Gaussianity of the local type. We perform a Fisher matrix analysis based on the predicted auto and cross angular power spectra of these populations, using simulated redshift distributions as a function of detection flux and the evolution of the bias for the different galaxy types (Star forming galaxies, Starburst galaxies, Radio-Quiet Quasars, FRI and FRII AGN galaxies). We show that such a multi-tracer analysis greatly improves the information on non-Gaussianity by drastically reducing the cosmic variance contribution to the overall error budget. By using this method applied to future surveys, we predict a constraint of sigma_fnl=3.6 on the local non-Gaussian parameter for a galaxy detection flux limit of 10 \muJy and sigma_fnl=2.2 for 1 \muJy. We show that this significantly improves on the constraints obtained when using the whole undifferentiated populations (sigma_fnl=48 for 10 \muJy and sigma_fnl=12 for 1 \muJy). We conclude that continuum radio surveys alone have the potential to constrain primordial non-Gaussianity to an accuracy at least a factor of two better than the present constraints obtained with Planck data on the CMB bispectrum, opening a window to obtain sigma_fnl~1 with the Square Kilometer Array.

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arXiv2013

Cosmology on Ultralarge Scales with Intensity Mapping of the Neutral Hydrogen 21 cm Emission: Limits on Primordial Non-Gaussianity

The large-scale structure of the Universe supplies crucial information about the physical processes at play at early times. Unresolved maps of the intensity of 21 cm emission from neutral hydrogen HI at redshifts z~1-5 are the best hope of accessing the ultralarge-scale information, directly related to the early Universe. A purpose-built HI intensity experiment may be used to detect the large scale effects of primordial non-Gaussianity, placing stringent bounds on different models of inflation. We argue that it may be possible to place tight constraints on the non-Gaussianity parameter f_NL, with an error close to ~1.

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arXiv2013

Beyond Concordance Cosmology with Magnification of Gravitational-Wave Standard Sirens

We show how future gravitational-wave detectors would be able of discriminating between the concordance LCDM cosmological model and up-to-date competing alternatives, e.g. dynamical dark energy models (DE) or modified gravity theories (MG). Our method consists in using the weak-lensing magnification effect that affects a standard-siren signal because of its travelling trough the Universe's large-scale structure. As a demonstration, we present constraints on DE and MG from proposed gravitational-wave detectors, namely ET and DECIGO/BBO.

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arXiv2012

Impact of Redshift Information on Cosmological Applications with Next-Generation Radio Surveys

In this paper, we explore how the forthcoming generation of large-scale radio continuum surveys, with the inclusion of some degree of redshift information, can constrain cosmological parameters. By cross-matching these radio surveys with shallow optical to near-infrared surveys, we can essentially separate the source distribution into a low- and a high-redshift sample, thus providing a constraint on the evolution of cosmological parameters such as those related to dark energy. We examine two radio surveys, the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) and the Westerbork Observations of the Deep APERTIF Northern sky (WODAN). A crucial advantage is their combined potential to provide a deep, full-sky survey. The surveys used for the cross-identifications are SkyMapper and SDSS, for the southern and northern skies, respectively. We concentrate on the galaxy clustering angular power spectrum as our benchmark observable, and find that the possibility of including such low redshift information yields major improvements in the determination of cosmological parameters. With this approach, and provided a good knowledge of the galaxy bias evolution, we are able to put strict constraints on the dark energy parameters, i.e. w_0=-0.9+/-0.041 and w_a=-0.24+/-0.13, with type Ia supernovae and CMB priors (with a one-parameter bias in this case); this corresponds to a Figure of Merit (FoM) > 600, which is twice better than what is obtained by using only the cross-identified sources and greater than four time better than the case without any redshift information at all.

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arXiv2012

Accelerating f(T) gravity models constrained by recent cosmological data

Generalised Teleparallel gravity, also referred to as f(T) gravity, has been recently proposed as an extended theory of gravitation able to give rise to an accelerated expansion in a matter only universe. The cosmic speed up is driven by an effective torsion fluid whose equation of state depend on the f(T) function entering the modified gravity Lagrangian. We focus on two particular choices for f(T) which share the nice property to emulate a phantom divide crossing as suggested by some recent data. We check their viability contrasting the predicted background dynamics to the Hubble diagram as traced by both Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) and Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), the measurement of the rate expansion H(z), the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) at different redshifts, and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) distance priors. Both f(T) models turn out to be in very good agreement with this large dataset so that we also investigate whether it is possible to discriminate among them relying on the different growth factors.

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arXiv2012

Inclusive Constraints on Unified Dark Matter Models from Future Large-Scale Surveys

In the very last years, cosmological models where the properties of the dark components of the Universe - dark matter and dark energy - are accounted for by a single "dark fluid" have drawn increasing attention and interest. Amongst many proposals, Unified Dark Matter (UDM) cosmologies are promising candidates as effective theories. In these models, a scalar field with a non-canonical kinetic term in its Lagrangian mimics both the accelerated expansion of the Universe at late times and the clustering properties of the large-scale structure of the cosmos. However, UDM models also present peculiar behaviours, the most interesting one being the fact that the perturbations in the dark-matter component of the scalar field do have a non-negligible speed of sound. This gives rise to an effective Jeans scale for the Newtonian potential, below which the dark fluid does not cluster any more. This implies a growth of structures fairly different from that of the concordance LCDM model. In this paper, we demonstrate that forthcoming large-scale surveys will be able to discriminate between viable UDM models and LCDM to a good degree of accuracy. To this purpose, the planned Euclid satellite will be a powerful tool, since it will provide very accurate data on galaxy clustering and the weak lensing effect of cosmic shear. Finally, we also exploit the constraining power of the ongoing CMB Planck experiment. Although our approach is the most conservative, with the inclusion of only well-understood, linear dynamics, in the end we also show what could be done if some amount of non-linear information were included.

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arXiv2012

An updated analysis of two classes of f(R) theories of gravity

The observed accelerated cosmic expansion can be a signature of fourth\,-\,order gravity theories, where the acceleration of the Universe is a consequence of departures from Einstein General Relativity, rather than the sign of the existence of a fluid with negative pressure. In the fourth\,-\,order gravity theories, the gravity Lagrangian is described by an analytic function $f(R)$ of the scalar curvature $R$ subject to the demanding conditions that no detectable deviations from standard GR is observed on the Solar System scale. Here we consider two classes of $f(R)$ theories able to pass Solar System tests and investigate their viability on cosmological scales. To this end, we fit the theories to a large dataset including the combined Hubble diagram of Type Ia Supernovae and Gamma Ray Bursts, the Hubble parameter $H(z)$ data from passively evolving red galaxies, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations extracted from the seventh data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the distance priors from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe seven years (WMAP7) data. We find that both classes of $f(R)$ fit very well this large dataset with the present\,-\,day values of the matter density, Hubble constant and deceleration parameter in agreement with previous estimates; however, the strong degeneracy among the $f(R)$ parameters prevents us from strongly constraining their values. We also derive the growth factor $g = d\lnδ/d\ln{a}$, with $δ= δρ_M/ρ_M$ the matter density perturbation, and show that it can still be well approximated by $g(z) \propto Ω_M(z)^γ$. We finally constrain $γ$ (on some representative scales) and investigate its redshift dependence to see whether future data can discriminate between these classes of $f(R)$ theories and standard dark energy models.

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arXiv2011

Tomography from the Next Generation of Cosmic Shear Experiments for Viable f(R) Models

We present the cosmic shear signal predicted by two viable cosmological models in the framework of modified-action f(R) theories. We use f(R) models where the current accelerated expansion of the Universe is a direct consequence of the modified gravitational Lagrangian rather than Dark Energy (DE), either in the form of vacuum energy/cosmological constant or of a dynamical scalar field (e.g. quintessence). We choose Starobinsky's (St) and Hu & Sawicki's (HS) f(R) models, which are carefully designed to pass the Solar System gravity tests. In order to further support - or rule out - f(R) theories as alternative candidates to the DE hypothesis, we exploit the power of weak gravitational lensing, specifically of cosmic shear. We calculate the tomographic shear matrix as it would be measured by the upcoming ESA Cosmic Vision Euclid satellite. We find that in the St model the cosmic shear signal is almost completely degenerate with LCDM, but it is easily distinguishable in the HS model. Moreover, we compute the corresponding Fisher matrix for both the St and HS models, thus obtaining forecasts for their cosmological parameters. Finally, we show that the Bayes factor for cosmic shear will definitely favour the HS model over LCDM if Euclid measures a value larger than ~0.02 for the extra HS parameter n_HS.

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arXiv2011

The Power of Cosmic Flexion in Testing Modified Matter and Gravity

Flexion is the weak lensing effect responsible for the weakly skewed and arc-like appearance of lensed galaxies. The flexion signal-to-noise ratio can be an order of magnitude larger than that of shear. For the first time, we show how this makes flexion an invaluable tool for discriminating among alternative cosmological models. We analyse a scalar field model of unified dark matter and dark energy, a brane-world cosmology and two f(R) modified-action theories. We show that these models can be distinguished from LCDM at several standard deviations by measuring the power spectrum of cosmic flexion.

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arXiv2011

Measuring Unified Dark Matter with 3D Cosmic Shear

We present parameter estimation forecasts for future 3D cosmic shear surveys for a class of Unified Dark Matter (UDM) models, where a single scalar field mimics both Dark Matter (DM) and Dark Energy (DE). These models have the advantage that they can describe the dynamics of the Universe with a single matter component providing an explanation for structure formation and cosmic acceleration. A crucial feature of the class of UDM models we use in this work is characterised by a parameter, c_inf (in units of the speed of light c=1), that is the value of the sound speed at late times, and on which structure formation depends. We demonstrate that the properties of the DM-like behaviour of the scalar field can be estimated with very high precision with large-scale, fully 3D weak lensing surveys. We found that 3D weak lensing significantly constrains c_inf, and we find minimal errors 0.00003, for the fiducial value c_inf=0.001, and 0.000026, for c_inf=0.012. Moreover, we compute the Bayesian evidence for UDM models over the LCDM model as a function of c_inf. For this purpose, we can consider the LCDM model as a UDM model with c_inf=0. We find that the expected evidence clearly shows that the survey data would unquestionably favour UDM models over the LCDM model, for the values c_inf>0.001.

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