5,243 research outputs found
Propagating Residual Biases in Cosmic Shear Power Spectra
In this paper we derive a full expression for the propagation of
multiplicative and additive shape measurement biases into the cosmic shear
power spectrum. In doing so we identify several new terms that are associated
with selection effects, as well as cross-correlation terms between the
multiplicative and additive biases and the shear field. The computation of the
resulting bias in the shear power spectrum scales as the fifth power of the
maximum multipole considered. Consequently the calculation is unfeasible for
large l-modes, and the only tractable way to assess the full impact of shape
measurement biases on cosmic shear power spectrum is through forward modelling
of the effects. To linear order in bias parameters the shear power spectrum is
only affected by the mean of the multiplicative bias field over a survey and
the cross correlation between the additive bias field and the shear field. If
the mean multiplicative bias is zero then second order convolutive terms are
expected to be orders of magnitude smaller.Comment: 10 pages, accepted to the Open Journal of Astrophysic
First detection of galaxy-galaxy-galaxy lensing in RCS. A new tool for studying the matter environment of galaxy pairs
The weak gravitational lensing effect, small coherent distortions of galaxy
images by means of a gravitational tidal field, can be used to study the
relation between the matter and galaxy distribution. In this context, weak
lensing has so far only been used for considering a second-order correlation
function that relates the matter density and galaxy number density as a
function of separation. We implement two new, third-order correlation functions
that have recently been suggested in the literature, and apply them to the
Red-Sequence Cluster Survey. We demonstrate that it is possible, even with
already existing data, to make significant measurements of third-order lensing
correlations. We develop an optimised computer code for the correlation
functions. To test its reliability a set of tests are performed. The
correlation functions are transformed to aperture statistics, which allow easy
tests for remaining systematics in the data. In order to further verify the
robustness of our measurement, the signal is shown to vanish when randomising
the source ellipticities. Finally, the lensing signal is compared to crude
predictions based on the halo-model. On angular scales between roughly 1 arcmin
and 11 arcmin a significant third-order correlation between two lens positions
and one source ellipticity is found. We discuss this correlation function as a
novel tool to study the average matter environment of pairs of galaxies.
Correlating two source ellipticities and one lens position yields a less
significant but nevertheless detectable signal on a scale of 4 arcmin. Both
signals lie roughly within the range expected by theory which supports their
cosmological origin.[ABRIDGED]Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A&A; minor change
Bias-Free Shear Estimation using Artificial Neural Networks
Bias due to imperfect shear calibration is the biggest obstacle when
constraints on cosmological parameters are to be extracted from large area weak
lensing surveys such as Pan-STARRS-3pi, DES or future satellite missions like
Euclid. We demonstrate that bias present in existing shear measurement
pipelines (e.g. KSB) can be almost entirely removed by means of neural
networks. In this way, bias correction can depend on the properties of the
individual galaxy instead on being a single global value. We present a
procedure to train neural networks for shear estimation and apply this to
subsets of simulated GREAT08 RealNoise data. We also show that circularization
of the PSF before measuring the shear reduces the scatter related to the PSF
anisotropy correction and thus leads to improved measurements, particularly on
low and medium signal-to-noise data. Our results are competitive with the best
performers in the GREAT08 competition, especially for the medium and higher
signal-to-noise sets. Expressed in terms of the quality parameter defined by
GREAT08 we achieve a Q = 40, 140 and 1300 without and 50, 200 and 1300 with
circularization for low, medium and high signal-to-noise data sets,
respectively.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures; accepted for publication in Ap
A Dark Core in Abell 520
The rich cluster Abell 520 (z=0.201) exhibits truly extreme and puzzling
multi-wavelength characteristics. It may best be described as a "cosmic train
wreck." It is a major merger showing abundant evidence for ram pressure
stripping, with a clear offset in the gas distribution compared to the galaxies
(as in the bullet cluster 1E 0657-558). However, the most striking feature is a
massive dark core (721 h_70 M_sun/L_sun) in our weak lensing mass
reconstruction. The core coincides with the central X-ray emission peak, but is
largely devoid of galaxies. An unusually low mass to light ratio region lies
500 kpc to the east, and coincides with a shock feature visible in radio
observations of the cluster. Although a displacement between the X-ray gas and
the galaxy/dark matter distributions may be expected in a merger, a mass peak
without galaxies cannot be easily explained within the current collisionless
dark matter paradigm. Interestingly, the integrated gas mass fraction (~0.15),
mass-to-light ratio (220 h_70 M_sun/L_sun), and position on the X-ray
luminosity-temperature and mass-temperature relations are unremarkable. Thus
gross properties and scaling relations are not always useful indicators of the
dynamical state of clusters.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal, higher resolution version at http://visav.phys.uvic.ca/~amahdav
Stable Food Crops Turning Into Commercial Crops: Case Studies Of Teff, Wheat And Rice In Ethiopia
Teff, wheat and rice are becoming important market oriented crops in Ethiopia. This study aims at measuring the level of market orientation of households in these crops, identifying the important market places and market outlets used by producers, and analyzing the determinants of market orientation in these crops. Results are based on analysis of data collected from community (peasant association) and household surveys in three districts in three regional states of the country in 2005. Analysis of descriptive information and econometric analysis are used. About 65 - 77% of households produce these market oriented commodities in the study areas, on about 27 – 44% of the total cultivated land. About 47 – 60% of the produce of these market oriented commodities is sold. The important market places for producers of these commodities are the district town markets and markets located at the peasant associations within the district. Wholesalers and retailers are the most important buyers from producers. Average distance to market places for these commodities is about two walking hours. Econometric analyses show that market orientation of households is affected by a host of factors related to household demographics, household endowments of human and physical capital, access to institutional services, and village level factors. Size of cultivable land and traction power, and household labor supply are important factors that induce households to be market oriented. While household size tends to favor food security objectives, number of dependents is associated with market orientation. Population control measures could contribute to market orientation through their effect of reducing household subsistence requirements. Our results also imply that interventions to improvements markets operations in order to benefit producers need to consider the operation of district level markets. Improving the operations of factor markets of land, traction and farm labor could contribute to enhancing market orientation of farm households. Special attention is needed to female headed households in the process of commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture. The development and institutionalization of marketing extension warrants due consideration
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