Synthetic galaxy clusters and observations based on Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Data

T. N. Varga, D. Gruen, S. Seitz, N. Maccrann, E. Sheldon, W. G. Hartley, A. Amon, A. Choi, A. Palmese, Y. Zhang, M. R. Becker, J. McCullough, E. Rozo, E. S. Rykoff, C. To, S. Grandis, G. M. Bernstein, S. Dodelson, K. Eckert, S. EverettR. A. Gruendl, I. Harrison, K. Herner, R. P. Rollins, I. Sevilla-Noarbe, M. A. Troxel, B. Yanny, J. Zuntz, H. T. Diehl, M. Jarvis, M. Aguena, S. Allam, J. Annis, E. Bertin, S. Bhargava, D. Brooks, A. Carnero Rosell, M. Carrasco Kind, J. Carretero, M. Costanzi, L. N. Da Costa, M. E.S. Pereira, J. De Vicente, S. Desai, J. P. Dietrich, I. Ferrero, B. Flaugher, J. García-Bellido, E. Gaztanaga, D. W. Gerdes, J. Gschwend, G. Gutierrez, S. R. Hinton, K. Honscheid, T. Jeltema, K. Kuehn, N. Kuropatkin, M. A.G. Maia, M. March, P. Melchior, F. Menanteau, R. Miquel, R. Morgan, J. Myles, F. Paz-Chinchón, A. A. Plazas, A. K. Romer, E. Sanchez, V. Scarpine, M. Schubnell, S. Serrano, M. Smith, M. Soares-Santos, E. Suchyta, M. E.C. Swanson, G. Tarle, D. Thomas, J. Weller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We develop a novel data-driven method for generating synthetic optical observations of galaxy clusters. In cluster weak lensing, the interplay between analysis choices and systematic effects related to source galaxy selection, shape measurement, and photometric redshift estimation can be best characterized in end-to-end tests going from mock observations to recovered cluster masses. To create such test scenarios, we measure and model the photometric properties of galaxy clusters and their sky environments from the Dark Energy Survey Year 3 (DES Y3) data in two bins of cluster richness $\lambda \in [30; 45)$, $\lambda \in [45; 60)$ and three bins in cluster redshift ($z\in [0.3; 0.35)$, $z\in [0.45; 0.5)$ and $z\in [0.6; 0.65)$. Using deep-field imaging data, we extrapolate galaxy populations beyond the limiting magnitude of DES Y3 and calculate the properties of cluster member galaxies via statistical background subtraction. We construct mock galaxy clusters as random draws from a distribution function, and render mock clusters and line-of-sight catalogues into synthetic images in the same format as actual survey observations. Synthetic galaxy clusters are generated from real observational data, and thus are independent from the assumptions inherent to cosmological simulations. The recipe can be straightforwardly modified to incorporate extra information, and correct for survey incompleteness. New realizations of synthetic clusters can be created at minimal cost, which will allow future analyses to generate the large number of images needed to characterize systematic uncertainties in cluster mass measurements.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4865-4885
Number of pages21
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume509
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.

Keywords

  • cosmology: observations
  • galaxies: clusters: general
  • gravitational lensing: weak

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Synthetic galaxy clusters and observations based on Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Data'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this