We propose a research program the aiming at exploiting the dataset from the upcoming space missions: spherex, wfirst and euclid. In particular, we will study the two observables that are not parts…

The Pennsylvania State University, doing business as Penn State, received a $380,011.37 research grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The grant supports a research program that aims to exploit upcoming astronomy mission data from SPHEREX, WFIRST, and Euclid to study the galaxy three-point correlation function and clustering fossils. The research effort seeks to improve dark energy constraints and test inflationary theory by incorporating relativistic and wide-angle effects. The work will also develop methods to identify and model survey systematics. The deliverables include an end-to-end data analysis toolkit for the targeted cosmological observables. This grant does not have a set-aside designation.

We propose a research program the aiming at exploiting the dataset from the upcoming space missions: spherex, wfirst and euclid. In particular, we will study the two observables that are not parts of the current cosmological analysis: 1) the galaxy threepoint correlation function, and 2) clustering fossils. Exploiting the galaxy three-point correlation function (3PCF) will improve the dark energy constraint (both geometrical and dynamical) by a factor of two compared to the conventional analysis using only the two-point correlation function. The clustering fossils measurement can potentially be a powerful test of inflationary theory by searching for signatures of spectator fields with general-spin (this includes the primordial gravitational waves) that might have existed in the early universe. By using the analytical theory based on the general theory of relativity as well as recently developed total angular momentum wave method, we plan to incorporate the relativistic projection effect as well as wide-angle effect. For both observables, the key theoretical challenge is to model the coupling between long-wavelength modes and short-wavelength modes. We plan to develop a theoretical model by using the perturbation theory techniques and compare the validity of the models against cosmological n-body simulations. Parallel to the theoretical studies, we also plan to study the method to identifying and modeling the survey systematics induced by dust contamination, bright STARS, as well as overlapping spectra. For this study, we shall generate the log-normal mock catalogues for which we know complete underlying statistics. As an end product of the research program, we will have an end-to-end data analysis toolkit for the galaxy 3PCF and clustering fossils. The toolkits include from the optimal estimator of the signature to accurate theoretical template for the cosmological interpretation.