337 research outputs found
Probing CDM cosmology with the Evolutionary Map of the Universe survey
The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) is an all-sky survey in
radio-continuum which uses the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP). Using galaxy
angular power spectrum and the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, we study the
potential of EMU to constrain models beyond CDM (i.e., local
primordial non-Gaussianity, dynamical dark energy, spatial curvature and
deviations from general relativity), for different design sensitivities. We
also include a multi-tracer analysis, distinguishing between star-forming
galaxies and galaxies with an active galactic nucleus, to further improve EMU's
potential. We find that EMU could measure the dark energy equation of state
parameters around 35\% more precisely than existing constraints, and that the
constraints on and modified gravity parameters will improve up to
a factor with respect to Planck and redshift space distortions
measurements. With this work we demonstrate the promising potential of EMU to
contribute to our understanding of the Universe.Comment: 15 pages (29 with references and appendices), 6 figures and 10
tables. Matches the published version. Minimal changes from previous versio
Photometric Selection of Emission Line Galaxies, Clustering Analysis and a Search for the ISW effect
We investigate the use of simple colour cuts applied to the SDSS optical
imaging to perform photometric selections of emission line galaxies out to z<1.
From colour-cuts using the SDSS g, r and i bands, we obtain mean photometric
redshifts of z=0.32+-0.08, z=0.44+-0.12 and z=0.65+-0.21. We further calibrate
our high redshift selection using spectroscopic observations with the AAOmega
spectrograph on the 4m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), observing ~50-200
galaxy candidates in 4 separate fields. With just 1-hour of integration time
and with seeing of ~1.6", we successfully determined redshifts for ~65% of the
targeted candidates. We calculate the angular correlation functions of the
samples and find correlation lengths of r0=2.64 h-1 Mpc, r0=3.62 h-1 Mpc and
r0=5.88 h-1 Mpc for the low, mid and high redshift samples respectively.
Comparing these results with predicted dark matter clustering, we estimate the
bias parameter for each sample to be b=0.70, b=0.92 and b=1.46. We calculate
the 2-point redshift-space correlation function at z~0.6 and find a clustering
amplitude of s0=6.4 h-1 Mpc. Finally, we use our photometric sample to search
for the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe signal in the WMAP 5yr data. We cross-correlate
our three redshift samples with the WMAP W, V, Q and K bands and find an
overall trend for a positive signal similar to that expected from models.
However, the signal in each is relatively weak. Combining all three galaxy
samples we find a signal of wTg(<100')=0.20+-0.12 microK in the WMAP W-band, a
significance of 1.7sigma.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figures, submitted to MNRA
The WiggleZ Dark Energy Survey: the transition to large-scale cosmic homogeneity
We have made the largest-volume measurement to date of the transition to
large-scale homogeneity in the distribution of galaxies. We use the WiggleZ
survey, a spectroscopic survey of over 200,000 blue galaxies in a cosmic volume
of ~1 (Gpc/h)^3. A new method of defining the 'homogeneity scale' is presented,
which is more robust than methods previously used in the literature, and which
can be easily compared between different surveys. Due to the large cosmic depth
of WiggleZ (up to z=1) we are able to make the first measurement of the
transition to homogeneity over a range of cosmic epochs. The mean number of
galaxies N(<r) in spheres of comoving radius r is proportional to r^3 within
1%, or equivalently the fractal dimension of the sample is within 1% of D_2=3,
at radii larger than 71 \pm 8 Mpc/h at z~0.2, 70 \pm 5 Mpc/h at z~0.4, 81 \pm 5
Mpc/h at z~0.6, and 75 \pm 4 Mpc/h at z~0.8. We demonstrate the robustness of
our results against selection function effects, using a LCDM N-body simulation
and a suite of inhomogeneous fractal distributions. The results are in
excellent agreement with both the LCDM N-body simulation and an analytical LCDM
prediction. We can exclude a fractal distribution with fractal dimension below
D_2=2.97 on scales from ~80 Mpc/h up to the largest scales probed by our
measurement, ~300 Mpc/h, at 99.99% confidence.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
A study of the kinematics and binary-induced shaping of the planetary nebula HaTr 4
We present the first detailed spatio-kinematical analysis and modelling of
the planetary nebula HaTr 4, one of few known to contain a post-common-envelope
central star system. Common envelope evolution is believed to play an important
role in the shaping of planetary nebulae, but the exact nature of this role is
yet to be understood. High spatial- and spectral- resolution spectroscopy of
the [OIII]5007 nebular line obtained with VLT-UVES are presented alongside deep
narrowband Ha+[NII]6584 imagery obtained using EMMI-NTT, and together the two
are used to derive the three-dimensional morphology of HaTr 4. The nebula is
found to display an extended ovoid morphology with an enhanced equatorial
region consistent with a toroidal waist - a feature believed to be typical
amongst planetary nebulae with post-common-envelope central stars. The nebular
symmetry axis is found to lie perpendicular to the orbital plane of the central
binary, concordant with the idea that the formation and evolution of HaTr 4 has
been strongly influenced by its central binary.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Effect of different ionic profiles of inland saline water on growth and agar characteristics of gracilaria cliftonii (Withell, Miller & Kraft, 1994)
Salinity caused by the mobilisation of geologically stored salt through rising water tables is a major problem in Western Australia. Damage is occurring to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, affecting the profitability of agricultural land. However, the resultant inland saline water-bodies with an ionic composition similar to ocean water have the potential to be used for seaweed cultivation. Seaweed cultivation can mitigate the cost of land rehabilitation by making profitable use of saline wastewaters.A series of laboratory trials were conducted to identify the conditions necessary for successful Gracilaria cliftonii cultivation in inland saline water (ISW) and modify the agar extraction process for G. cliftonii to optimise agar yield and properties. This was accomplished by culturing G. cliftonii with different nutrients in ISW, with or without K[superscript]+ fortification and investigating the respective effects on chemical composition, physicochemical properties and agar characteristics. To identify the process required for optimum agar yield and quality from G. cliftonii, the effect of modifying some extraction process variables such as alkali concentration, soaking time and temperature, heating time, seaweed-water ratio, extraction time and temperature was investigated.These trials demonstrated that with the selection of appropriate nutrient media and culture conditions G. cliftonii can be successfully grown in ISW. To achieve higher growth rates of G. cliftonii, it is necessary to fortify ISW with K[superscript]+. The addition of nutrients to ISW and different ionic profiles of ISW had significant positive effects on chemical composition, physicochemical properties and agar characteristics. Agar yield, gel strength, melting point, gelling temperature and sulphate content were found to be a function of G. cliftonii life stages. Modification of alkali treatment with variable alkali concentration (0.3 to 5 %), soaking time and heating time had detrimental effect on agar yield resulting in significant agar loss but improved agar quality from G. cliftonii. However, agar quality can be improved by modifying extraction process variables like soaking time and temperature, seaweed to water ratio, extraction time and temperature without agar loss
Technical Feasibility of Cultivating Local Seaweed Species in Inland Saline Water of Western Australia
This research investigated the technical feasibility of cultivating local seaweed species from Perth region in potassium-fortified inland saline waters (ISW). Different levels of potassium fortification into the ISW were essential for their culture and out of six seaweed species studied, Ulva lactuca, Lomentaria catenata and two Sargassum spp. could successfully be cultured in 33 to 100% potassium-fortified ISW. Seasonality, nutrient enrichments, pH and temperature were able to influence different seaweed species to different degrees
How CMB and large-scale structure constrain chameleon interacting dark energy
We explore a chameleon type of interacting dark matter-dark energy scenario
in which a scalar field adiabatically traces the minimum of an effective
potential sourced by the dark matter density. We discuss extensively the effect
of this coupling on cosmological observables, especially the parameter
degeneracies expected to arise between the model parameters and other
cosmological parameters, and then test the model against observations of the
cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies and other cosmological probes.
We find that the chameleon parameters and , which determine
respectively the slope of the scalar field potential and the dark matter-dark
energy coupling strength, can be constrained to and using CMB data alone. The latter parameter in particular is constrained
only by the late Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. Adding measurements of the
local Hubble expansion rate tightens the bound on by a factor of
two, although this apparent improvement is arguably an artefact of the tension
between the local measurement and the value inferred from Planck data in
the minimal CDM model. The same argument also precludes chameleon
models from mimicking a dark radiation component, despite a passing similarity
between the two scenarios in that they both delay the epoch of matter-radiation
equality. Based on the derived parameter constraints, we discuss possible
signatures of the model for ongoing and future large-scale structure surveys.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure
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