Optimization of spectroscopic surveys for testing non-Gaussianity

We investigate optimization strategies to measure primordial non-Gaussianity with future spectroscopic surveys. We forecast measurements coming from the 3D galaxy power spectrum and compute constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity parameters f_NL and n_NG. After studying the dependence on those parameters upon survey specifications such as redshift range, area, number density, we assume a reference mock survey and investigate the trade-off between number density and area surveyed. We then define the observational requirements to reach the detection of f_NL of order 1. Our results show that while power spectrum constraints on non-Gaussianity from future spectroscopic surveys can be competitive with current CMB limits, measurements from higher-order statistics will be needed to reach a sub unity precision in the measurements of the non-Gaussianity parameter f_NL.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Interloper bias in future large-scale structure surveys

Next-generation spectroscopic surveys will map the large-scale structure of the observable universe, using emission line galaxies as tracers. While each survey will map the sky with a specific emission line, interloping emission lines can masquerade as the survey's intended emission line at different redshifts. Interloping lines from galaxies that are not removed can contaminate the power spectrum measurement, mixing correlations from various redshifts and diluting the true signal. We assess the potential for power spectrum contamination, finding that an interloper fraction worse than 0.2% could bias power spectrum measurements for future surveys by more than 10% of statistical errors, while also biasing power spectrum inferences. We also construct a formalism for predicting cosmological parameter bias, demonstrating that a 0.15%-0.3% interloper fraction could bias the growth rate by more than 10% of the error, which can affect constraints on gravity upcoming surveys. We use the COSMOS Mock Catalog (CMC), with the emission lines re-scaled to better reproduce recent data, to predict potential interloper fractions for the Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) and the Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST). We find that secondary line identification, or confirming galaxy redshifts by finding correlated emission lines, can remove interlopers for PFS. For WFIRST, we use the CMC to predict that the 0.2% target can be reached for the WFIRST H$\alpha$ survey, but sensitive optical and near-infrared photometry will be required. For the WFIRST [OIII] survey, the predicted interloper fractions reach several percent and their effects will have to be estimated and removed statistically (e.g. with deep training samples). (Abridged)Comment: Matches version accepted by PAS

Freezing Out Early Dark Energy

A phenomenological model of dark energy that tracks the baryonic and cold dark matter at early times but resembles a cosmological constant at late times is explored. In the transition between these two regimes, the dark energy density drops rapidly as if it were a relic species that freezes out, during which time the equation of state peaks at +1. Such an adjustment in the dark energy density, as it shifts from scaling to potential-domination, could be the signature of a trigger mechanism that helps explain the late-time cosmic acceleration. We show that the non-negligible dark energy density at early times, and the subsequent peak in the equation of state at the transition, leave an imprint on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy pattern and the rate of growth of large scale structure. The model introduces two new parameters, consisting of the present-day equation of state and the redshift of the freeze-out transition. A Monte Carlo Markov Chain analysis of a ten-dimensional parameter space is performed to compare the model with pre-Planck cosmic microwave background, large scale structure and supernova data and measurements of the Hubble constant. We find that the transition described by this model could have taken place as late as a redshift z~400. We explore the capability of future cosmic microwave background and weak lensing experiments to put tighter constraints on this model. The viability of this model may suggest new directions in dark-energy model building that address the coincidence problem.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figure

Measuring fNLf_{\mathrm{NL}} with the SPHEREx Multi-tracer Redshift Space Bispectrum

The bispectrum is an important statistics helpful for measuring the primordial non-Gaussianity parameter $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ to less than order unity in error, which would allow us to distinguish between single and multi-field inflation models. The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) mission is particularly well-suited for making this measurement with its $\sim$100-band all-sky observations in the near-infrared. Consequently, the SPHEREx data will contain galaxies with spectroscopic-like redshift measurements as well as those with much larger errors. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of photometric redshift errors on $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ constraints in the context of an updated multi-tracer forecast for SPHEREx, finding that the azimuthal averages of the first three even bispectrum multipoles are no longer sufficient for capturing most of the information (as opposed to the case of spectroscopic surveys shown in the literature). The final SPHEREx result with all five galaxy samples and six redshift bins is however not severely impacted because the total result is dominated by the samples with the best redshift errors, while the worse samples serve to reduce cosmic variance. Our fiducial result of $\sigma_{f_{\mathrm{NL}}} = 0.7$ from bispectrum alone is increased by $18\%$ and $3\%$ when using $l_{\mathrm{max}}=0$ and 2 respectively. We also explore the impact on parameter constraints when varying the fiducial redshift errors, as well as using subsets of multi-tracer combinations or triangles with different squeezing factors. Note that the fiducial result here is not the final SPHEREx capability, which is still on target for being $\sigma_{f_{\mathrm{NL}}} = 0.5$ once the power spectrum will be included.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Investigation of the release of particles from a nanocoated product

International audienceManufactured products are being coated with nanoparticles in order to functionalize them with antibacterial or self-cleaning properties or to improve their durability etc. As the (eco-) toxicological effects of the nanoparticles are not well known yet, their use could lead to new potential risks for the workers, the consumers and the environment. This study focuses on the release of the nanoparticles during the operations related to the handling and processing of an automotive part. The part is made up of a metallic alloy and, in order to reduce friction, the part is nano-coated with inorganic fullerenes. The mechanical stresses appearing during these operations are reproduced in a nano-secured facility. The release of nanoparticles is found to be increasing with the wear energy applied on the surface