Kent, S. | Engineering Papers

DOE OSTI2024

Dark Energy Survey: A 2.1% measurement of the angular baryonic acoustic oscillation scale at redshift z eff = 0.85 from the final dataset

Here, we present the angular diameter distance measurement obtained with the baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature from galaxy clustering in the completed Dark Energy Survey, consisting of six years (Y6) of observations. We use the Y6 BAO galaxy sample, optimized for BAO science in the redshift range 0.6 < z <1.2, with an effective redshift at z eff = 0.85 and split into six tomographic bins. The sample has nearly 16 million galaxies over 4,273 square degrees. Our consensus measurement constrains the ratio of the angular distance to sound horizon scale to D M ⁡(z eff )/r d = 19.51 ± 0.41 (at 68.3% confidence interval), resulting from comparing the BAO position in our data to that predicted by planck Λ⁢CDM via the BAO shift parameter α =(D M /r d )/(D M /r d ) PLANCK . To achieve this, the BAO shift is measured with three different methods, angular correlation function (ACF), angular power spectrum (APS), and projected correlation function (PCF), obtaining α = 0.952 ± 0.023, 0.962 ± 0.022, and 0.955 ± 0.020, respectively, which we combine to α = 0.957 ± 0.020, including systematic errors. When compared with the Λ⁢CDM model that best fits planck data, this measurement is found to be 4.3% and 2.1⁢σ below the angular BAO scale predicted. To date, it represents the most precise angular BAO measurement at z > 0.75 from any survey and the most precise measurement at any redshift from photometric surveys. The analysis was performed blinded to the BAO position, and it is shown to be robust against analysis choices, data removal, redshift calibrations, and observational systematics.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2001

Precision Galactic Structure

Optical and IR surveys in progress or in the planning stages will lead to substantial improvements in our picture of the Milky Way as a consequence of their providing large volumes of data with much improved photometric and positional measurements compared with existing datasets.

Kent, S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

2237 + 0305 - A new and unusual gravitational lens

A new gravitational lens system has been discovered which consists of a quasar at z = 1.695 nearly centered on a 15-mag spiral galaxy, 2237 + 0305, at z = 0.0394. At 2 arcsec resolution, only a single optical image of the quasar is visible; its centroid is located within approximately 0.3 arcsec of the center of the galaxy. 'Snapshot' observations at the VLA yielded no detectable radio radiation, placing an upper limit of about 0.5 mJy on the combined flux density of the galaxy and quasar at a wavelength of 6 cm. A simple gravitational lens model that accounts for these observations is discussed.

Huchra, J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Advanced oxygen-hydrocarbon rocket engine study

The program consists of parametric analysis and design to provide a consistent engine system data base for defining advantages and disadvantages, system performance and operating limits, engine parametric data, and technology requirements for candidate high pressure LO2/Hydrocarbon engine systems. The parametric chamber and nozzle cooling analysis was completed for the four potential coolants: RP-1, LCH4, LO2, and LH2. A summary of the cooling capability of each propellant is presented.

Obrien, J. O.↗