Euclid is a European Space Agency medium-class mission selected for launch in 2020 within the cosmic vision 2015–2025 program. The main goal of Euclid is to understand the origin of the accelerated expansion of the universe. Euclid will explore the expansion history of the universe and the evolution of cosmic structures by measuring shapes and red-shifts of galaxies as well as the distribution of clusters of galaxies over a large fraction of the sky. Although the main driver for Euclid is the nature of dark energy, Euclid science covers a vast range of topics, from cosmology to galaxy evolution to planetary research. In this review we focus on cosmology and fundamental physics, with a strong emphasis on science beyond the current standard models. We discuss five broad topics: dark energy and modified gravity, dark matter, initial conditions, basic assumptions and questions of methodology in the data analysis. This review has been planned and carried out within Euclid’s Theory Working Group and is meant to provide a guide to the scientific themes that will underlie the activity of the group during the preparation of the Euclid mission.

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Cosmology and Fundamental Physics with the Euclid Satellite

We present the Ly{alpha} luminosity function (LF), clustering measurements, and Ly{alpha} line profiles based on the largest sample to date of 207 Ly{alpha} emitters (LAEs) at z = 6.6 on the 1 deg{sup 2} sky of Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey field. Our z = 6.6 Ly{alpha} LF including cosmic variance estimates yields the best-fit Schechter parameters of {phi}* = 8.5{sup +3.0}{sub -2.2} x 10{sup -4} Mpc{sup -3} and L*{sub Ly{alpha}} = 4.4{sup +0.6}{sub -0.6} x 10{sup 42} erg s{sup -1} with a fixed {alpha} = -1.5, and indicates a decrease from z = 5.7 at the {approx}>90% confidence level. However, this decrease is not large, only {approx_equal}30% in Ly{alpha} luminosity, which is too small to have been identified in the previous studies. A clustering signal of z = 6.6 LAEs is detected for the first time. We obtain the correlation length of r{sub 0}= 2-5 h {sup -1}{sub 100} Mpc and a bias of b= 3-6, and find no significant boost of clustering amplitude by reionization at z = 6.6. The average hosting dark halo mass inferred from clustering is 10{sup 10}-10{sup 11} M{sub sun}, and a duty cycle of LAE population is roughly {approx}1%, albeit with large uncertainties. The averagemore » of our high-quality Keck/DEIMOS spectra shows an FWHM velocity width of 251 {+-} 16 km s{sup -1}. We find no large evolution of the Ly{alpha} line profile from z = 5.7 to 6.6, and no anti-correlation between Ly{alpha} luminosity and line width at z = 6.6. The combination of various reionization models and our observational results about the LF, clustering, and line profile indicates that there would exist a small decrease of the intergalactic medium's (IGM's) Ly{alpha} transmission owing to reionization, but that the hydrogen IGM is not highly neutral at z = 6.6. Our neutral-hydrogen fraction constraint implies that the major reionization process took place at z {approx}> 7.« less

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/723/1/869/pdf

STATISTICS OF 207 Lyα EMITTERS AT A REDSHIFT NEAR 7: CONSTRAINTS ON REIONIZATION AND GALAXY FORMATION MODELS*

We present luminosity functions (LFs) and various properties of Lyα emitters (LAEs) at z = 3.1, 3.7, and 5.7, in a 1 deg2 sky of the Subaru/XMM–Newton Deep Survey (SXDS) Field. We obtain a photometric sample of 858 LAE candidates based on deep Subaru Suprime-Cam imaging data and a spectroscopic sample of 84 confirmed LAEs from Subaru FOCAS and VLT VIMOS spectroscopy in a survey volume of ~106 Mpc3 with a limiting Lyα luminosity of ~3 × 1042 ergs s−1. We derive the LFs of the Lyα and UV continuum (1500 A) for each redshift, taking into account the statistical error and the field-to-field variation. We find that the apparent Lyα LF shows no significant evolution between z = 3.1 and 5.7 within factors of 1.8 and 2.7 in L* and *, respectively. On the other hand, the UV LF of LAEs increases from z = 3.1 to 5.7, indicating that galaxies with Lyα emission are more common at earlier epochs. We identify six LAEs with AGN activities from our spectra combined with VLA, Spitzer, and XMM-Newton data. Among the photometrically selected LAEs at z = 3.1 and 3.7, only 1% show AGN activities, while the brightest LAEs with log L(Ly α) 43.4–43.6 ergs s−1 appear to always host AGNs. Our LAEs are bluer in UV-continuum color than dropout galaxies, suggesting lower extinction and/or younger stellar populations. Our stacking analyses provide upper limits to the radio luminosity and the fHe II/fLyα line fraction and constrain the hidden star formation (+low-luminosity AGN) and the primordial population in LAEs.

The Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS). IV. Evolution of Lyα Emitters from z = 3.1 to 5.7 in the 1 deg2 Field: Luminosity Functions and AGN*

▪ Abstract Weak gravitational lensing provides a unique method to map directly the distribution of dark matter in the universe and to measure cosmological parameters. This cosmic-shear technique is...

Weak Gravitational Lensing by Large-Scale Structure

The Shear Testing Programme (STEP) is a collaborative project to improve the accuracy and reliability of all weak lensing measurements in preparation for the next generation of wide-field surveys. In this first STEP paper, we present the results of a blind analysis of simulated ground-based observations of relatively simple galaxy morphologies. The most successful methods are shown to achieve percent level accuracy. From the cosmic shear pipelines that have been used to constrain cosmology, we find weak lensing shear measured to an accuracy that is within the statistical errors of current weak lensing analyses, with shear measurements accurate to better than 7 per cent. The dominant source of measurement error is shown to arise from calibration uncertainties where the measured shear is over or underestimated by a constant multiplicative factor. This is of concern as calibration errors cannot be detected through standard diagnostic tests. The measured calibration errors appear to result from stellar contamination, false object detection, the shear measurement method itself, selection bias and/or the use of biased weights. Additive systematics (false detections of shear) resulting from residual point-spread function anisotropy are, in most cases, reduced to below an equivalent shear of 0.001, an order of magnitude below cosmic shear distortions on the scales probed by current surveys.
Our results provide a snapshot view of the accuracy of current ground-based weak lensing methods and a benchmark upon which we can improve. To this end we provide descriptions of each method tested and include details of the eight different implementations of the commonly used Kaiser, Squires & Broadhurst method (KSB+) to aid the improvement of future KSB+ analyses.

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The Shear Testing Programme – I. Weak lensing analysis of simulated ground-based observations

We present a weak shear analysis of the Abell 901/902 supercluster, composed of three rich clusters at z=0.16. Using a deep R-band image from the 0.5 x 0.5 degree MPG/ESO Wide Field Imager together with supplementary B-band observations, we build up a comprehensive picture of the light and mass distributions in this region. We find that, on average, the light from the early-type galaxies traces the dark matter fairly well, although one cluster is a notable exception to this rule. The clusters themselves exhibit a range of mass-to-light (M/L) ratios, X-ray properties, and galaxy populations. We attempt to model the relation between the total mass and the light from the early-type galaxies with a simple scale-independent linear biasing model. We find M/L_B=130h for the early type galaxies with zero stochasticity, which, if taken at face value, would imply Omega_m < 0.1. However, this linear relation breaks down on small scales and on scales equivalent to the average cluster separation (approximately 1 Mpc), demonstrating that a single M/L ratio is not adequate to fully describe the mass-light relation in the supercluster. Rather, the scatter in M/L ratios observed for the clusters supports a model incorporating non-linear biasing or stochastic processes. Finally, there is a clear detection of filamentary structure connecting two of the clusters, seen in both the galaxy and dark matter distributions, and we discuss the effects of cluster-cluster and cluster-filament interactions as a means to reconcile the disparate descriptions of the supercluster.

http://export.arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0111288

Probing the distribution of dark matter in the Abell 901/902 supercluster with weak lensing

Galaxies at high redshift with a strong Ly-α emission line trace massive star formation in the absence of dust, and can therefore be regarded as a prime signature of the first major starburst in galaxies. We report results of the Ly-α search within the Calar Alto Deep Imaging Survey (CADIS). With the imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer, CADIS can detect emission lines in three waveband windows free of night-sky emission lines at 700 nm, 820 nm, and 920 nm. The typical flux detection limit for Ly-α emission redshifted into these windows, Flim > 3 × 10 −20 Wm −2 , corresponds to (unobscured) star formation rates of >10 M� /yr at z = 6. Candidate Ly-α-emitting galaxies are selected from the total emission line sample, which contains more than 97% of objects at z 5 than the assumption of a non-evolving population would predict. Therefore we conclude that the Ly-α bright phase of primeval star formation episodes reached its peak at redshifts 3 < z < 6.

/pdf/constraints-to-the-evolution-of-ly-a-bright-galaxies-between-3tz873u8kw.pdf

Constraints to the evolution of Ly-α bright galaxies between z = 3 and z = 6

We compute the impact of dark energy at last scattering on measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs). We show that an early dark energy component can contribute a systematic uncertainty to BAO measurements of up to 2.5%. Whilst this effect turns out to only slightly affect current BAO surveys, the results of future BAO surveys might become biased. We find that BAO surveys alone appear unable to resolve this systematic uncertainty, so supplementary measurements are necessary.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1475-7516/2007/04/015/pdf

Baryon acoustic oscillations and dynamical dark energy

Context. Many current and future surveys aim to detect the highest redshift (z > 7) sources through their Lyman-α (Lyα) emission, using the narrow-band imaging method. However, to date the surveys have only yielded non-detections and upper limits as no survey has reached the necessary combination of depth and area to detect these very young star forming galaxies. Aims. We aim to calculate model luminosity functions and mock surveys of Lyα emitters at z > 7 based on a variety of approaches calibrated and tested on observational data at lower redshifts. Methods. We calculate model luminosity functions at different redshifts based on three different approaches: a semi-analytical model based on CDM, a simple phenomenological model, and an extrapolation of observed Schechter functions at lower redshifts. The results of the first two models are compared with observations made at redshifts z ∼ 5. 7a ndz ∼ 6.5, and they are then extrapolated to higher redshift. Results. We present model luminosity functions for redshifts between z = 7−12.5 and give specific number predictions for future planned or possible narrow-band surveys for Lyα emitters. We also investigate what constraints future observations will be able to place on the Lyα luminosity function at very high redshift. Conclusions. It should be possible to observe z = 7−10 Lyα emitters with present or near-future instruments if enough observing time is allocated. In particular, large area surveys such as ELVIS (Emission Line galaxies with VISTA Survey) will be useful in collecting a large sample. However, to get a large enough sample to constrain well the z ≥ 10 Lyα luminosity function, instruments further in the future, such as an ELT, will be necessary.

/pdf/narrow-band-surveys-for-very-high-redshift-lyman-a-emitters-4egop6n81k.pdf

Narrow-band surveys for very high redshift Lyman-α emitters

Context: Many current and future surveys aim to detect the highest redshift (z >~ 7) sources through their Lyman-alpha (Ly-alpha) emission, using the narrow-band imaging method. However, to date the surveys have only yielded non-detections and upper limits as no survey has reached the necessary combination of depth and area to detect these very young star forming galaxies. 
Aims: We aim to calculate model luminosity functions and mock surveys of Ly-alpha emitters at z >~ 7 based on a variety of approaches. 
Methods: We calculate model luminosity functions at different redshifts based on three different approaches: a semi-analytical model based on CDM, a simple phenomenological model, and an extrapolation of observed Schechter functions at lower redshifts. The results of the first two models are compared with observations made at redshifts z ~ 5.7 and z ~ 6.5, and they are then extrapolated to higher redshift. 
Results: We present model luminosity functions for redshifts between z = 7 - 12.5 and give specific number predictions for future planned or possible narrow-band surveys for Ly-alpha emitters. We also investigate what constraints future observations will be able to place on the Ly-alpha luminosity function at very high redshift. 
Conclusion: It should be possible to observe z = 7 - 10 Ly-alpha emitters with present or near-future instruments if enough observing time is allocated. In particular, large area surveys such as ELVIS (Emission Line galaxies with VISTA Survey) will be useful in collecting a large sample. However, to get a large enough sample to constrain well the z >= 10 Ly-alpha luminosity function, instruments further in the future, such as an ELT, will be necessary.

/pdf/narrow-band-surveys-for-very-high-redshift-lyman-alpha-4idq25bavr.pdf

E. Thommes

Papers

Probing the distribution of dark matter in the Abell 901/902 supercluster with weak lensing

Constraints to the evolution of Ly-α bright galaxies between z = 3 and z = 6

Baryon acoustic oscillations and dynamical dark energy

Narrow-band surveys for very high redshift Lyman-α emitters

Narrow-band surveys for very high redshift Lyman-alpha emitters