Combining size and shape in weak lensing
File(s)1302.1584v2.pdf (623.45 KB) slt045.pdf (285.87 KB)
Accepted version
Published version
Author(s)
Heavens, A
Alsing, J
Jaffe, AH
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Weak lensing alters the size of images with a similar magnitude to the distortion due to shear. Galaxy size probes the convergence field and shapes the shear field, both of which contain cosmological information. We show the gains expected in the dark energy figure of merit if galaxy size information is used in combination with galaxy shape. In any normal analysis of cosmic shear, galaxy sizes are also studied, so this is extra statistical information that comes for free and is currently unused. There are two main results in this Letter: first, we show that size measurement can be made uncorrelated with ellipticity measurement, thus allowing the full statistical gain from the combination, provided that √area is used as a size indicator; secondly, as a proof of concept, we show that when the relevant modes are noise dominated, as is the norm for lensing surveys, the gains are substantial, with improvements of about 68 per cent in the figure of merit expected when systematic errors are ignored. An approximate treatment of such systematics such as intrinsic alignments and size–magnitude correlations, respectively, suggests that a much better improvement in the dark energy figure of merit of even a factor of ∼4 may be achieved.
Date Issued
2013-04-26
Date Acceptance
2013-03-27
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2013, 433 (1), pp.L6-L10
ISSN
1745-3933
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
L6
End Page
L10
Journal / Book Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Volume
433
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2013 The Authors
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Imperial College Trust
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council [2006-2012]
Grant Number
ST/G001901/1
N/A
ST/K001051/1
ST/K001051/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
gravitational lensing: weak
cosmological parameters
dark energy
EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES
COSMIC SHEAR
MAGNIFICATION
COSMOLOGY
CLUSTER
MASS
Publication Status
Published