8253626
The non-Gaussianity of the cosmic shear likelihood or How odd is the Chandra Deep Field South?
Aims. We study the validity of the approximation of a Gaussian cosmic shear likelihood. We estimate the true likelihood for a fiducial cosmological model from a large set of ray-tracing simulations and investigate the impact of non-Gaussianity on cosmological parameter estimation. We investigate how odd the recently reported very low value of σ8 really is as derived from the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS) using cosmic shear by taking the non-Gaussianity of the likelihood into account, as well as the possibility of biases coming from the way the CDFS was selected. Methods. A brute force approach to estimating the likelihood from simulations must fail because of the high dimensionality of the problem. We therefore use independent component analysis to transform the cosmic shear correlation functions to a new basis, in which the likelihood approximately factorises into a product of one-dimensional distributions. Results. We find that the cosmic shear likelihood is significantly non-Gaussian. This leads to both a shift of the maximum of the posterior distribution and a significantly smaller credible region compared to the Gaussian case. We re-analyse the CDFS cosmic shear data using the non-Gaussian likelihood in combination with conservative galaxy selection criteria that minimise calibration uncertainties. Assuming that the CDFS is a random pointing, we find σ8 = 0.68 +0.09 −0.16 for fixed Ωm = 0.25. In a WMAP5-like cosmology, a value equal to or lower than this would be expected in ≈5% of the times. Taking biases into account arising from the way the CDFS was selected, which we model as being dependent on the number of haloes in the CDFS, we obtain σ8 = 0.71 +0.10 −0.15 . Combining the CDFS data with the parameter constraints from WMAP5 yields Ωm = 0.26 +0.03 −0.02 and σ8 = 0.79 +0.04 −0.03 for a flat universe.
119100161
CFHTLenS: the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey - imaging data and catalogue products
We present data products from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS). CFHTLenS is based on the Wide component of the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). It encompasses 154 deg^2 of deep, optical, high-quality, sub-arcsecond imaging data in the five optical filters u*g′r′i′z′. The scientific aims of the CFHTLenS team are weak gravitational lensing studies supported by photometric redshift estimates for the galaxies. This paper presents our data processing of the complete CFHTLenS data set. We were able to obtain a data set with very good image quality and high-quality astrometric and photometric calibration. Our external astrometric accuracy is between 60 and 70 mas with respect to Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, and the internal alignment in all filters is around 30 mas. Our average photometric calibration shows a dispersion of the order of 0.01–0.03 mag for g′r′i′z′ and about 0.04 mag for u* with respect to SDSS sources down to i_(SDSS) ≤ 21. We demonstrate in accompanying papers that our data meet necessary requirements to fully exploit the survey for weak gravitational lensing analyses in connection with photometric redshift studies. In the spirit of the CFHTLS, all our data products are released to the astronomical community via the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre at http://www.cadc-ccda.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/community/CFHTLens/query.html. We give a description and how-to manuals of the public products which include image pixel data, source catalogues with photometric redshift estimates and all relevant quantities to perform weak lensing studies.
17068714
Signatures in a Giant Radio Galaxy of a Cosmological Shock Wave at Intersecting Filaments of Galaxies
Sensitive images of low-level, megaparsec-sized radio cocoons offer new opportunities to probe large-scale intergalactic gas flows outside clusters of galaxies. New radio images of high surface brightness sensitivity at strategically chosen wavelengths of the giant radio galaxy NGC 315 reveal significant asymmetries and particularities in the morphology, radio spectrum, and polarization of the ejected radio plasma. We argue that the combination of these signatures provides a sensitive probe of an environmental shock wave. Analysis of optical redshifts in NGC 315's vicinity confirms its location to be near, or at, a site of large-scale flow collisions in the 100 Mpc sized Pisces-Perseus supercluster region. NGC 315 resides at the intersection of several galaxy filaments, and its radio plasma serves there as a "weather station," probing the flow of the elusive and previously invisible intergalactic medium gas. If our interpretation is correct, this is the first indication for a shock wave in flows caused by the cosmological large-scale structure formation, which is located in a filament of galaxies. The possibility that the putative shock wave is a source of gamma rays and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays is briefly discussed.
119257565
CFHTLenS: cosmological constraints from a combination of cosmic shear two-point and three-point correlations
Higher order, non-Gaussian aspects of the large-scale structure carry valuable information on structure formation and cosmology, which is complementary to second-order statistics. In this work, we measure second- and third-order weak-lensing aperture-mass moments from the Canada–France–Hawaii Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) and combine those with cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy probes. The third moment is measured with a significance of 2σ. The combined constraint on � 8 = σ8(� m/0.27) α is improved by 10 per cent,
119103864
The bispectrum covariance beyond Gaussianity - A log-normal approach
Context. To investigate and specify the statistical properties of cosmological fields with particular attention to possible non-Gaussian features, accurate formulae for the bispectrum and the bispectrum covariance are required. The bispectrum is the lowest-order statistic providing an estimate for non-Gaussianities of a distribution, and the bispectrum covariance depicts the errors of the bispectrum measurement and their correlation on different scales. Currently, there do exist fitting formulae for the bispectrum and an analytical expression for the bispectrum covariance, but the former is not very accurate and the latter contains several intricate terms and only one of them can be readily evaluated from the power spectrum of the studied field. Neglecting all higher-order terms results in the Gaussian approximation of the bispectrum covariance. Aims. We study the range of validity of this Gaussian approximation for two-dimensional non-Gaussian random fields. Methods. For this purpose, we simulate Gaussian and non-Gaussian random fields, the latter represented by log-normal fields and obtained directly from the former by a simple transformation. From the simulated fields, we calculate the power spectra, the bispectra, and the covariance from the sample variance of the bispectra, for different degrees of non-Gaussianity α, which is equivalent to the skewness on a given angular scale θg. In doing so, we minimize sample variance by selecting the same “phases” of the Gaussian and non-Gaussian fields. Results. We find that the Gaussian approximation of the bispectrum covariance provides a good approximation for degrees of nonGaussianity α ≤ 0.5 and a reasonably accurate approximation for α ≤ 1, both on scales >8θg. For larger values of α, the Gaussian approximation clearly breaks down. Using results from cosmic shear simulations, we estimate that the cosmic shear convergence fields are described by α < 0. 7a tθg ∼ 4 �� . Conclusions. We therefore conclude that the Gaussian approximation for the bispectrum covariance is likely to be applicable in ongoing and future cosmic shear studies.
119192831
Towards an understanding of third-order galaxy-galaxy lensing
Context. Third-order galaxy-galaxy lensing (G3L) is a next generation galaxy-galaxy lensing (GGL) technique that either measures the excess shear about lens pairs or the excess shear-shear correlations about lenses. From their definition it is clear that these statistics assess the three-point correlations between galaxy positions and projected matter density. Aims. For future applications of these novel statistics, we aim at a more intuitive understanding of G3L to isolate the main features that possibly can be measured. Methods. We construct a toy model (“isolated lens model”; ILM) for the distribution of galaxies and associated matter to determine the measured quantities of the two G3L correlation functions and traditional GGL in a simplified context. The ILM presumes single lens galaxies to be embedded inside arbitrary matter haloes that, however, are statistically independent (“isolated”) from any other halo or lens position. Clusters of galaxies and their common cluster matter haloes are a consequence of clustering smaller haloes. In particular, the average mass-to-galaxy number ratio of clusters of any size cannot change in the ILM. Results. GGL and galaxy clustering alone cannot distinguish an ILM from any more complex scenario. The lens-lens-shear correlator in combination with second-order statistics enables us to detect deviations from a ILM, though. This can be quantified by a difference signal defined in the paper. We demonstrate with the ILM that this correlator picks up the excess matter distribution about galaxy pairs inside clusters, whereas pairs with lenses well separated in redshift only suppress the overall amplitude of the correlator. The amplitude suppression can be normalised. The lens-lens-shear correlator is sensitive to variations among matter haloes. In principle, it could be devised to constrain the ellipticities of haloes, without the need for luminous tracers, or maybe even random halo substructure.
16157496
Universal amplitude ratios of the renormalization group: two-dimensional tricritical Ising model.
The scaling form of the free energy near a critical point allows for the definition of various thermodynamical amplitudes and the determination of their dependence on the microscopic nonuniversal scales. Universal quantities can be obtained by considering special combinations of the amplitudes. Together with the critical exponents they characterize the universality classes and may be useful quantities for their experimental identification. We compute the universal amplitude ratios for the tricritical Ising model in two dimensions by using several theoretical methods from perturbed conformal field theory and scattering integrable quantum field theory. The theoretical approaches are further supported and integrated by results coming from a numerical determination of the energy eigenvalues and eigenvectors of off-critical systems in an infinite cylinder.
118873533
From Andreev bound states to Majorana fermions in topological wires on superconducting substrates: A story of mutation
We study the proximity effect in a topological nanowire tunnel coupled to an s-wave superconducting substrate. We use a general Green's function approach that allows us to study the evolution of the Andreev bound states in the wire into Majorana fermions. We show that the strength of the tunnel coupling induces a topological transition in which the Majorana fermionic states can be destroyed when the coupling is very strong. Moreover, we provide a phenomenologial study of the effects of disorder in the superconductor on the formation of Majorana fermions. We note a non-trivial effect of a quasiparticle broadening term which can take the wire from a topological into a non-topological phase in certain ranges of parameters. Our results have also direct consequences for a nanowire coupled to an inhomogenous superconductor.
17405363
Coupled Ising models with disorder
In this paper we study the phase diagram of two Ising planes coupled by a standard spin-spin interaction with bond randomness in each plane. The whole phase diagram is analysed with the help of Monte Carlo simulations and field theory arguments.
117969814
Mutation of Andreev into Majorana bound states in long superconductor-normal and superconductor-normal-superconductor junctions
We study one-dimensional topological SN and SNS long junctions obtained by placing a topological insulating nanowire in the proximity of either one or two SC finite-size leads. Using the Majorana Polarization order parameter (MP) introduced in Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 096802 (2012)(arxiv:1109.5697) we find that the extended Andreev bound states (ABS) of the normal part of the wire acquire a finite MP: for a finite-size SN junction the ABS spectrum exhibits a zero-energy extended state which carries a full Majorana fermion, while the ABS of long SNS junctions with phase difference $\pi$ transform into two zero-energy states carrying two Majorana fermions with the same MP. Given their extended character inside the whole normal link, and not only close to an interface, these Majorana-Andreev states can be directly detected in tunneling spectroscopy experiments.
124148859
2-D fractional supersymmetry: From rational to irrational conformal field theory