A. A. Plazas
A5027305465- Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
- Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Gaussian Processes and Bayesian Inference
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Statistical and numerical algorithms
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Infrared Target Detection Methodologies
- History and Developments in Astronomy
Menlo School
2023-2025
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology
2023-2025
Stanford University
2023-2025
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
2023-2025
Princeton University
2019-2024
Mitchell Institute
2021-2024
Texas A&M University
2021-2024
Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia
2018-2024
Valongo Observatory
2012-2024
University of Chicago
2024
The Dark Energy Camera is a new imager with 22 diameter field of view mounted at the prime focus Victor M. Blanco 4 m telescope on Cerro Tololo near La Serena, Chile. camera was designed and constructed by Survey Collaboration meets or exceeds stringent requirements for wide-field supernova surveys which collaboration uses it. consists five-element optical corrector, seven filters, shutter 60 cm aperture, charge-coupled device (CCD) focal plane 250 μm thick fully depleted CCDs cooled inside...
We report the discovery of eight new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy candidates in second year optical imaging data from Dark Energy Survey (DES). Six these are detected at high confidence, while two lower-confidence identified regions non-uniform survey coverage. The stellar systems found by three independent automated search techniques and as overdensities stars, consistent with isochrone luminosity function an old metal-poor simple population. faint (Mv > -4.7 mag) span a range physical sizes...
We report the discovery of eight new Milky Way companions in optical imaging data collected during first year Dark Energy Survey (DES). Each system is identified as a statistically significant over-density individual stars consistent with expected isochrone and luminosity function an old metal-poor stellar population. The objects span wide range absolute magnitudes (MV from to ), physical sizes (), heliocentric distances (). Based on low surface brightnesses, large sizes, and/or...
ABSTRACT We search for excess γ -ray emission coincident with the positions of confirmed and candidate Milky Way satellite galaxies using six years data from Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Our sample 45 stellar systems includes 28 kinematically dark-matter-dominated dwarf spheroidal (dSphs) 17 recently discovered that have photometric characteristics consistent population known dSphs. For each these targets, relative predicted flux due to dark matter annihilation is taken kinematic...
ABSTRACT We describe updates to the redMaPPer algorithm, a photometric red-sequence cluster finder specifically designed for large surveys. The updated algorithm is applied of Science Verification (SV) data from Dark Energy Survey (DES), and Sloan Digital Sky (SDSS) DR8 set. DES SV catalog locally volume limited contains 786 clusters with richness (roughly equivalent ) . consists 26,311 , sharply increasing threshold as function redshift performance both catalogs shown be excellent,...
We combine Dark Energy Survey Year 1 clustering and weak lensing data with Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) experiments to constrain the Hubble constant. Assuming a flat $\Lambda$CDM model minimal neutrino mass ($\sum m_\nu = 0.06$ eV) we find $H_0=67.2^{+1.2}_{-1.0}$ km/s/Mpc (68% CL). This result is completely independent of constant measurements based on distance ladder, Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies (both temperature polarization), strong...
We describe the creation, content, and validation of Dark Energy Survey (DES) internal year-one cosmology data set, Y1A1 GOLD, in support upcoming cosmological analyses. The GOLD set is assembled from multiple epochs DES imaging consists calibrated photometric zeropoints, object catalogs, ancillary products - e.g., maps survey depth observing conditions, star-galaxy classification, redshift estimates that are necessary for accurate wide-area catalog ~137 million objects detected coadded...
We perform a comprehensive study of Milky Way (MW) satellite galaxies to constrain the fundamental properties dark matter (DM). This analysis fully incorporates inhomogeneities in spatial distribution and detectability MW satellites marginalizes over uncertainties mapping between DM halos, system, disruption subhalos by disk. Our results are consistent with cold, collisionless paradigm yield strongest cosmological constraints date on particle models warm, interacting, fuzzy matter. At 95%...
Abstract This paper presents the third data release of Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP), a wide-field multi-band imaging survey with 8.2 m telescope. HSC-SSP has three layers (Wide, Deep, and UltraDeep) different area coverages depths, designed to address wide array astrophysical questions. from includes 278 nights observing time covers about 670 deg2 in all five broad-band filters (grizy) at full depth (∼26 mag 5σ depending on filter) Wide layer. If we include partially...
We present an improved measurement of the Hubble constant (H_0) using 'inverse distance ladder' method, which adds information from 207 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) Dark Energy Survey (DES) at redshift 0.018 < z 0.85 to existing measurements 122 low (z 0.07) SNe (Low-z) and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs). Whereas traditional H_0 with use a ladder parallax Cepheid variable stars, inverse relies on absolute BAOs calibrate intrinsic magnitude Ia. find = 67.8 +/- 1.3 km s-1 Mpc-1...
Due to their proximity, high dark-matter content, and apparent absence of non-thermal processes, Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite galaxies (dSphs) are excellent targets for the indirect detection dark matter. Recently, eight new dSph candidates were discovered using first year data from Dark Energy Survey (DES). We searched gamma-ray emission coincident with positions these objects in six years Fermi Large Area Telescope data. found no significant excesses emission. Under assumption that...
We constrain the mass–richness scaling relation of redMaPPer galaxy clusters identified in Dark Energy Survey Year 1 data using weak gravitational lensing. split into 4 × 3 bins richness λ and redshift |$z$| for ≥ 20 0.2 ≤ 0.65 measure mean masses these their stacked lensing signal. By modelling as 〈M200m|λ, |$z$|〉 = M0(λ/40)F((1 + |$z$|)/1.35)G, we normalization at 5.0 per cent level, finding M0 [3.081 ± 0.075(stat) 0.133(sys)] · 1014 M⊙ 40 0.35. The recovered index is F 1.356 0.051 (stat)...
We present two galaxy shape catalogues from the Dark Energy Survey Year 1 data set, covering 1500 square degrees with a median redshift of $0.59$. The cover main fields: Stripe 82, and an area overlapping South Pole Telescope survey region. describe our analysis process in particular measurement using independent shear pipelines, METACALIBRATION IM3SHAPE. catalogue uses Gaussian model innovative internal calibration scheme, was applied to $riz$-bands, yielding 34.8M objects. IM3SHAPE...
ABSTRACT We present a blind time-delay cosmographic analysis for the lens system DES J0408−5354. This is extraordinary presence of two sets multiple images at different redshifts, which provide opportunity to obtain more information cost increased modelling complexity with respect previously analysed systems. perform detailed mass distribution this using three band Hubble Space Telescope imaging. combine measured time delays, line-of-sight central velocity dispersion deflector, and...
We present the first constraints on cosmology from Dark Energy Survey (DES), using weak lensing measurements preliminary Science Verification (SV) data. use 139 square degrees of SV data, which is less than 3% full DES survey area. Using cosmic shear 2-point over three redshift bins we find ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{8}({\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{m}}/0.3{)}^{0.5}=0.81\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06$ (68% confidence), after marginalizing 7 systematics parameters and 3 other...
We introduce redMaGiC, an automated algorithm for selecting Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs). The was specifically developed to minimize photometric redshift uncertainties in large-scale structure studies. redMaGiC achieves this by self-training the color-cuts necessary produce a luminosity-thresholded LRG sample of constant comoving density. demonstrate that photozs are very nearly as accurate best machine-learning based methods, yet they require minimal spectroscopic training, do not suffer...
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is a 2.4m space telescope with 0.281 deg^2 field of view for near-IR imaging and slitless spectroscopy coronagraph designed > 10^8 starlight suppresion. As background information Astro2020 white papers, this article summarizes the current design anticipated performance WFIRST. While WFIRST does not have UV imaging/spectroscopic capabilities Hubble Space Telescope, wide surveys hundreds times more efficient. Some most ambitious multi-cycle...
We present weak lensing shear catalogues for 139 square degrees of data taken during the Science Verification (SV) time new Dark Energy Camera (DECam) being used Survey (DES). describe our object selection, point spread function estimation and measurement procedures using two independent pipelines, im3shape ngmix, which produce 2.12 million 3.44 galaxies, respectively. detail a set null tests measurements find that they pass requirements systematic errors at level necessary science...
We describe the Dark Energy Survey (DES) photometric data set assembled from first three years of science operations to support DES Year 3 cosmology analyses, and provide usage notes aimed at broad astrophysics community. Y3 Gold improves on previous releases DES, Y1 Data Release 1 (DES DR1), presenting an expanded curated that incorporates algorithmic developments in image detrending processing, calibration, object classification. comprises nearly 5000 square degrees grizY imaging south...
ABSTRACT We present angular diameter distance measurements obtained by locating the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) scale in distribution of galaxies selected from first year Dark Energy Survey data. consider a sample over 1.3 million distributed footprint 1336 deg2 with 0.6 < $z$photo 1 and typical redshift uncertainty 0.03(1 + $z$). This was selected, as fully described companion paper, using colour/magnitude selection that optimizes trade-offs between number density uncertainty....
Abstract We report the results of a systematic search for ultra-faint Milky Way satellite galaxies using data from Dark Energy Survey (DES) and Pan-STARRS1 (PS1). Together, DES PS1 provide multi-band photometry in optical/near-infrared wavelengths over ∼80% sky. Our targets ∼25,000 deg 2 high-Galactic-latitude sky reaching 10 σ point-source depth ≳22.5 mag g r bands. While galaxy searches have been performed independently on before, this is first time that self-consistent across both sets....
The population of Milky Way (MW) satellites contains the faintest known galaxies and thus provides essential insight into galaxy formation dark matter microphysics. Here we combine a model galaxy--halo connection with newly derived observational selection functions based on searches for in photometric surveys over nearly entire high Galactic latitude sky. In particular, use cosmological zoom-in simulations MW-like halos that include realistic Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) analogs to fit...
ABSTRACT We present and characterize the galaxy shape catalogue from first 3 yr of Dark Energy Survey (DES) observations, over an effective area 4143 deg2 southern sky. describe our data analysis process self-calibrating shear measurement pipeline metacalibration, which builds improves upon used in DES Year 1 several aspects. The weak-lensing consists 100 204 026 galaxies, measured riz bands, resulting a weighted source number density neff = 5.59 gal arcmin−2 corresponding noise σe 0.261....
Determining the distribution of redshifts galaxies observed by wide-field photometric experiments like Dark Energy Survey is an essential component to mapping matter density field with gravitational lensing. In this work we describe methods used assign individual weak lensing source from Year 3 Weak Lensing Source Catalogue four tomographic bins and estimate redshift distributions in these bins. As first application data, validate that assumptions made apply DES Y3 develop a full treatment...
We measure weak lensing cosmic shear power spectra from the 3-year galaxy catalog of Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program imaging survey. The covers 416 deg2 northern sky, with a mean i-band seeing 0.59 arcsec and an effective number density 15 arcmin−2 within our adopted redshift range. With magnitude limit 24.5 mag, four tomographic bins spanning 0.3≤zph≤1.5 based on photometric redshifts, we obtain high-significance measurement spectra, signal-to-noise ratio approximately 26.4...