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At least 37 records · Page 2

The Spectroscopic Data Processing Pipeline for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

Abstract We describe the spectroscopic data processing pipeline of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which is conducting a redshift survey of about 40 million galaxies and quasars using a purpose-built instrument on the 4 m Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The main goal of DESI is to measure with unprecedented precision the expansion history of the universe with the baryon acoustic oscillation technique and the growth rate of structure with redshift space distortions. Ten spectrographs with three cameras each disperse the light from 5000 fibers onto 30 CCDs, covering the near-UV to near-infrared (3600–9800 Å) with a spectral resolution ranging from 2000 to 5000. The DESI data pipeline generates wavelength- and flux-calibrated spectra of all the targets, along with spectroscopic classifications and redshift measurements. Fully processed data from each night are typically available to the DESI collaboration the following morning. We give details about the pipeline’s algorithms, and provide performance results on the stability of the optics, the quality of the sky background subtraction, and the precision and accuracy of the instrumental calibration. This pipeline has been used to process the DESI Survey Validation data set, and has exceeded the project’s requirements for redshift performance, with high efficiency and a purity greater than 99% for all target classes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Carousel Lens: A Well-modeled Strong Lens with Multiple Sources Spectroscopically Confirmed by VLT/MUSE

Over the past few years alone, the lensing community has discovered thousands of strong lens candidates, and spectroscopically confirmed hundreds of them. In this time of abundance, it becomes pragmatic to focus our time and resources on the few extraordinary systems, in order to most efficiently study the Universe. In this paper, we present such a system: DESI-090.9854-35.9683, a cluster-scale lens at z l = 0.49, with seven observed lensed sources around the core, and additional lensed sources further out in the cluster. From the number and the textbook configuration of the lensed images, a tight constraint on the mass potential of the lens is possible. This would allow for detailed analysis on the dark and luminous matter content within galaxy clusters, as well as a probe into dark energy and high-redshift galaxies. We present our spatially resolved kinematic measurements of this system from the Very Large Telescope Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, which confirm five of these source galaxies (in ascending order, at z s = 0.962, 0.962, 1.166, 1.432, and 1.432). With previous Hubble Space Telescope imaging in the F140W and F200LP bands, we also present a simple flux-based lens model consisting of two power-law profiles that, for a cluster lens, well models the five lensed arc families with redshifts. We determine the mass to be M(< θ E ) = 4.78 × 10 13 M ⊙ for the primary mass potential. From the model, we extrapolate the redshift of one of the two source galaxies not yet spectroscopically confirmed to be at $z_s = 4.52^{+1.03}_{-0.71}$.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Classifying Seyfert Galaxies with Deep Learning

The traditional classification for a subclass of the Seyfert galaxies is visual inspection or using a quantity defined as a flux ratio between the Balmer line and forbidden line. One algorithm of deep learning is the convolution neural network (CNN), which has shown successful classification results. We build a one-dimensional CNN model to distinguish Seyfert 1.9 spectra from Seyfert 2 galaxies. We find that our model can recognize Seyfert 1.9 and Seyfert 2 spectra with an accuracy of over 80% and pick out an additional Seyfert 1.9 sample that was missed by visual inspection. We use the new Seyfert 1.9 sample to improve the performance of our model and obtain a 91% precision of Seyfert 1.9. These results indicate that our model can pick out Seyfert 1.9 spectra among Seyfert 2 spectra. We decompose the Hα emission line of our Seyfert 1.9 galaxies by fitting two Gaussian components and derive the line width and flux. We find that the velocity distribution of the broad Hα component of the new Seyfert 1.9 sample has an extending tail toward the higher end, and the luminosity of the new Seyfert 1.9 sample is slightly weaker than the original Seyfert 1.9 sample. This result indicates that our model can pick out the sources that have a relatively weak broad Hα component. In addition, we check the distributions of the host galaxy morphology of our Seyfert 1.9 samples and find that the distribution of the host galaxy morphology is dominated by a large bulge galaxy. In the end, we present an online catalog of 1297 Seyfert 1.9 galaxies with measurements of the Hα emission line.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DESI Survey Validation Spectra Reveal an Increasing Fraction of Recently Quenched Galaxies at z ∼ 1

Abstract We utilize ∼17,000 bright luminous red galaxies (LRGs) from the novel Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Survey Validation spectroscopic sample, leveraging its deep (∼2.5 hr galaxy −1 exposure time) spectra to characterize the contribution of recently quenched galaxies to the massive galaxy population at 0.4 < z < 1.3. We use Prospector to infer nonparametric star formation histories and identify a significant population of recently quenched galaxies that have joined the quiescent population within the past ∼1 Gyr. The highest-redshift subset (277 at z > 1) of our sample of recently quenched galaxies represents the largest spectroscopic sample of post-starburst galaxies at that epoch. At 0.4 < z < 0.8, we measure the number density of quiescent LRGs, finding that recently quenched galaxies constitute a growing fraction of the massive galaxy population with increasing look-back time. Finally, we quantify the importance of this population among massive ( log ( M ⋆ / M ⊙ ) > 11.2) LRGs by measuring the fraction of stellar mass each galaxy formed in the gigayear before observation, f 1 Gyr . Although galaxies with f 1 Gyr > 0.1 are rare at z ∼ 0.4 (≲0.5% of the population), by z ∼ 0.8, they constitute ∼3% of massive galaxies. Relaxing this threshold, we find that galaxies with f 1 Gyr > 5% constitute ∼10% of the massive galaxy population at z ∼ 0.8. We also identify a small but significant sample of galaxies at z = 1.1–1.3 that formed with f 1 Gyr > 50%, implying that they may be analogs to high-redshift quiescent galaxies that formed on similar timescales. Future analysis of this unprecedented sample promises to illuminate the physical mechanisms that drive the quenching of massive galaxies after cosmic noon.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Low-mass Active Galaxies in the SAMI Galaxy Survey with Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy

The smallest supermassive black holes (BHs), which provide constraints on BH seeds, reside in low-mass galaxies. Here, we present a systematic analysis of 990 low-mass galaxies in the SAMI Galaxy Survey to identify emission from accreting BHs using integral field spectroscopy (IFS). Employing a novel automated scoring algorithm based on spatially resolved narrow emission-line diagnostics, we find signatures of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in 41 galaxies, as well as an additional 46 (less secure) candidates. The galaxies have stellar masses between 10 9.4 ≲ M ⋆ /M ⊙ ≲ 10 10 (down to 10 8.5 , including less secure candidates), redshifts z ≲ 0.06, and morphologies ranging from early-type ellipticals to late-type spirals. Our AGN fraction of 4% (9% if we include the less secure candidates) is significantly higher than those reported by studies using single-fiber spectroscopy (≲1%–2%). Indeed, our additional analysis of single-fiber spectra of the objects in our sample demonstrates that many of our AGN candidates detected via IFS are missed. This work highlights the advantages of IFS, especially the ability to capture extended or decentralized emission from accreting BHs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Measuring stellar populations, dust attenuation and ionized gas at kpc scales in 10010 nearby galaxies using the integral field spectroscopy from MaNGA

As one of the three major experiments of the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV), the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apatch Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey has obtained high-quality integral field spectroscopy (IFS) with a resolution of 1–2 kpc for ∼ 10 4 galaxies in the local universe during its six-year operation from July 2014 through August 2020. It is crucial to reliably measure the physical properties of the different components in each spectrum before one can use the data for any scientific study. In the past years we have made lots of efforts to develop a novel technique of full spectral fitting, which estimates a model-independent dust attenuation curve from each spectrum, thus allowing us to break the degeneracy between dust attenuation and stellar population properties when fitting the spectrum with stellar population synthesis models. We have applied our technique to the final data release of MaNGA, and obtained measurements of stellar population properties and emission line parameters, as well as the kinematics and dust attenuation of both stellar and ionized gas components. In this paper we describe our technique and the content and format of our data products. The whole dataset is publicly available in Science Data Bank with the link https://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.j00113.00088 .

Physics↗

H α Dots: Direct-method Metal Abundances of Low-luminosity Star-forming Systems

Utilizing low-luminosity star-forming systems discovered in the Hα Dots survey, we present spectroscopic observations undertaken using the Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 m telescope for 26 sources. With determinations of robust, “direct”-method metal abundances, we examine the properties of these dwarf systems, exploring their utility in characterizing starburst galaxies at low luminosities and stellar masses. We find that the Hα Dots survey provides an effective new avenue for identifying star-forming galaxies in these regimes. In addition, we examine abundance characteristics and metallicity scaling relations with these sources, highlighting a flattening of both the luminosity–metallicity (L–Z) and stellar mass–metallicity (M * –Z) relation slopes in these regimes as compared with those utilizing samples covering wider respective dynamic ranges. These local, accessible analogs to the kinds of star-forming dwarfs common at high redshift will help shed light on the building blocks that assembled into the massive galaxies common today.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Stellar kinematics of dwarf galaxies from multi-epoch spectroscopy: application to Triangulum II

ABSTRACT We present new MMT/Hectochelle spectroscopic measurements for 257 stars observed along the line of sight to the ultrafaint dwarf galaxy Triangulum II (Tri II). Combining results from previous Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy, we obtain a sample that includes 16 likely members of Tri II, with up to 10 independent redshift measurements per star. To this multi-epoch kinematic data set, we apply methodology that we develop in order to infer binary orbital parameters from sparsely sampled radial velocity curves with as few as two epochs. For a previously identified (spatially unresolved) binary system in Tri II, we infer an orbital solution with period $296.0_{-3.3}^{+3.8} \rm ~ d$, semimajor axis $1.12^{+0.41}_{-0.24}\rm ~au$, and systemic velocity $-380.0 \pm 1.7 \rm ~km ~s^{-1}$ that we then use in the analysis of Tri II’s internal kinematics. Despite this improvement in the modelling of binary star systems, the current data remain insufficient to resolve the velocity dispersion of Tri II. We instead find a 95 per cent confidence upper limit of $\sigma _{v} \lesssim 3.4 \rm ~km~s^{-1}$.

Buttry, Rachel (ORCID:0000000155017609)↗

How do central and satellite galaxies quench? – Insights from spatially resolved spectroscopy in the MaNGA survey

ABSTRACT We investigate how star formation quenching proceeds within central and satellite galaxies using spatially resolved spectroscopy from the SDSS-IV MaNGA DR15. We adopt a complete sample of star formation rate surface densities (ΣSFR), derived in Bluck et al. (2020), to compute the distance at which each spaxel resides from the resolved star forming main sequence (ΣSFR − Σ* relation): ΔΣSFR. We study galaxy radial profiles in ΔΣSFR, and luminosity weighted stellar age (AgeL), split by a variety of intrinsic and environmental parameters. Via several statistical analyses, we establish that the quenching of central galaxies is governed by intrinsic parameters, with central velocity dispersion (σc) being the most important single parameter. High mass satellites quench in a very similar manner to centrals. Conversely, low mass satellite quenching is governed primarily by environmental parameters, with local galaxy overdensity (δ5) being the most important single parameter. Utilizing the empirical MBH − σc relation, we estimate that quenching via AGN feedback must occur at $M_{\rm BH} \ge 10^{6.5-7.5} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, and is marked by steeply rising ΔΣSFR radial profiles in the green valley, indicating ‘inside-out’ quenching. On the other hand, environmental quenching occurs at overdensities of 10–30 times the average galaxy density at z∼ 0.1, and is marked by steeply declining ΔΣSFR profiles, indicating ‘outside-in’ quenching. Finally, through an analysis of stellar metallicities, we conclude that both intrinsic and environmental quenching must incorporate significant starvation of gas supply.

Bluck, Asa F. L.↗

Searches for Extremely Metal-poor Galaxies Using Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA–Selected Dwarf Galaxies

We present a study of nearby dwarf galaxies selected from the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) blind H I survey. A primary goal of the project was to utilize a nonstandard selection method with the hope of detecting previously unrecognized extremely metal-poor (XMP) galaxies. The study was motivated by the recent discovery of two XMP galaxies, Leo P and Leoncino, which were both originally found via the ALFALFA survey. We have obtained narrowband H α images for 42 dwarf systems, many of which are located in the Local Void in front of the Pisces–Perseus Supercluster. Spectra for 11 of the best candidates resulted in the determination of metal abundances for 10 of the systems. None were found to be extremely metal-poor, although one system (AGC 123350) was found to have an oxygen abundance of log(O/H)+12 = 7.46, or ~6% solar. One of the galaxies in our sample exhibits a high oxygen abundance for its luminosity, suggesting the possibility that it may have a tidal origin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The CO Emission in the Taffy Galaxies (UGC 12914/15) at 60 pc Resolution. I. The Battle for Star Formation in the Turbulent Taffy Bridge

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations at a spatial resolution of $0^{"}_{.}2$ (60 pc) of CO emission from the Taffy galaxies (UGC 12914/5). The observations are compared with narrowband Paα, mid-IR, radio continuum and X-ray imaging, plus optical spectroscopy. The galaxies have undergone a recent head-on collision, creating a massive gaseous bridge that is known to be highly turbulent. The bridge contains a complex web of narrow molecular filaments and clumps. The majority of the filaments are devoid of star formation, and fall significantly below the Kennicutt–Schmidt relationship for normal galaxies, especially for the numerous regions undetected in Paα emission. Within the loosely connected filaments and clumps of gas we find regions of high velocity dispersion that appear gravitationally unbound for a wide range of likely values of X CO . Like the "Firecracker" region in the Antennae system, they would require extremely high external dynamical or thermal pressure to stop them dissipating rapidly on short crossing timescales of 2–5 Myr. We suggest that the clouds may be transient structures within a highly turbulent multiphase medium that is strongly suppressing star formation. Despite the overall turbulence in the system, stars seem to have formed in compact hotspots within a kiloparsec-sized extragalactic H ii region, where the molecular gas has a lower velocity dispersion than elsewhere, and shows evidence for a collision with an ionized gas cloud. Like the shocked gas in the Stephan's Quintet group, the conditions in the Taffy bridge shows how difficult it is to form stars within a turbulent, multiphase, gas.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HOLISMOKES XIX

We present imaging and spectroscopic observations of supernova SN 2025wny, associated with the lens candidate PS1 J0716+3821. Photometric monitoring from the Lulin and Maidanak observatories confirms multiple point-like images, consistent with SN 2025wny being strongly lensed by two foreground galaxies. Optical spectroscopy of the brightest image with the Nordic Optical Telescope and the University of Hawaii 88-inch Telescope allowed us to determine the redshift to be z SN = 2.008 ± 0.001, based on narrow absorption lines originating in the interstellar medium of the supernova host galaxy. At this redshift, SN 2025wny shows a very high rest-frame UV flux and broad spectral features even weeks after the explosion, which is consistent with superluminous supernovae of Type I. We find a high ejecta temperature and depressed spectral lines compared to other similar objects. We also measured, for the first time, the redshift of the fainter of the two lens galaxies (the ‘perturber’) to be z p = 0.375 ± 0.001, which is fully consistent with the DESI spectroscopic redshift of the main deflector at z d = 0.3754. Thus, SN 2025wny represents the first confirmed galaxy-scale strongly lensed supernova with time delays likely in the range of days to weeks, as judged from the image separations. This makes SN 2025wny suitable for cosmography, offering a promising new system for independent measurements of the Hubble constant. Following a tradition in the field of strongly lensed supernovae, we give SN 2025wny the nickname SN Winny.

Taubenberger, Stefan↗

HostSub_GP: Precise Galaxy Background Subtraction in Transient Long-slit Spectroscopy with Gaussian Processes

We present a novel host galaxy subtraction technique in long-slit spectroscopy for extragalactic transients. Unlike classic methods which generally estimate the background using simple interpolation of local galaxy flux in the 2D spectrum, our approach leverages multi-band archival images of the host galaxies to model the background emission from the galaxy in the 2D spectrum. Such imaging encodes the wavelength-dependent galaxy profile along the slit, and is readily accessible through wide-field imaging surveys. We construct a smooth prior for the 2D galaxy profile with a Gaussian process (GP) based on these reference images, and use another GP to model the correlated deviations from the prior in the observed spectrum. This enables accurate inference of the galaxy flux blended with the transient. On synthetic long-slit data of a spiral galaxy extracted from a Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer hyper-spectral cube, the GP method remains robust as long as the host galaxy is spatially resolved and consistently outperforms classic methods. We apply the method to archival Keck spectra of two real transients, SN 2019eix and AT 2019qiz, to further demonstrate how the method uniquely recovers weak spectral features amid strong galaxy contamination, enabling refined constraints on the properties of both transients. We have released the software implementation, HostSub_GP, a scalable toolkit that leverages JAX, with an MIT license.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

SDSS-IV MaNGA: Understanding Ionized Gas Turbulence Using Integral Field Spectroscopy of 4500 Star-forming Disk Galaxies

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey MaNGA program has now obtained integral field spectroscopy for over 10,000 galaxies in the nearby universe. We use the final MaNGA data release DR17 to study the correlation between ionized gas velocity dispersion and galactic star formation rate, finding a tight correlation in which σ Hα from galactic H ιι regions increases significantly from ~18–30 km s –1 , broadly in keeping with previous studies. In contrast, σ Hα from diffuse ionized gas increases more rapidly from 20–60 km s –1 . Using the statistical power of MaNGA, we investigate these correlations in greater detail using multiple emission lines and determine that the observed correlation of σ Hα with local star formation rate surface density is driven primarily by the global relation of increasing velocity dispersion at higher total star formation rate, as are apparent correlations with stellar mass. Assuming H ιι region models consistent with our finding that σ [O III] < σ Hα < σ [O I] , we estimate the velocity dispersion of the molecular gas in which the individual H ιι regions are embedded, finding values σ Mol = 5–30 km s –1 consistent with ALMA observations in a similar mass range. Finally, we use variations in the relation with inclination and disk azimuthal angle to constrain the velocity dispersion ellipsoid of the ionized gas σ z /σ r = 0.84 ± 0.03 and σ Φ /σ r = 0.91 ± 0.03, similar to that of young stars in the Galactic disk. Our results are most consistent with the theoretical models in which turbulence in modern galactic disks is driven primarily by star formation feedback.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The APOGEE Library of Infrared SSP Templates (A-LIST): High-resolution Simple Stellar Population Spectral Models in the H Band

Integrated light spectroscopy from galaxies can be used to study the stellar populations that cannot be resolved into individual stars. This analysis relies on stellar population synthesis (SPS) techniques to study the formation history and structure of galaxies. However, the spectral templates available for SPS are limited, especially in the near-infrared (near-IR). We present A-LIST (APOGEE Library of Infrared SSP Templates), a new set of high-resolution, near-IR SSP spectral templates spanning a wide range of ages (2–12 Gyr), metallicities ( − 2.2 < [M/H] < + 0.4) and α abundances ( − 0.2 < [α/M] < + 0.4). This set of SSP templates is the highest resolution (R ∼ 22, 500) available in the near-IR, and the first such based on an empirical stellar library. Our models are generated using spectra of ∼300,000 stars spread across the Milky Way, with a wide range of metallicities and abundances, from the APOGEE survey. We show that our model spectra provide accurate fits to M31 globular cluster spectra taken with APOGEE, with best-fit metallicities agreeing with those of previous estimates to within ∼0.1 dex. We also compare these model spectra to lower-resolution E-MILES models and demonstrate that we recover the ages of these models to within ∼1.5 Gyr. This library is available in https://github.com/aishashok/ALIST-library.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Integral Field Spectroscopy of the cometary starburst galaxy NGC 4861

ABSTRACT Using the PMAS Integral Field Unit on the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope, we observed the southern component (Markarian 59) of the ‘cometary’ starburst galaxy NGC 4861. Mrk 59 is centred on a giant nebula and concentration of stars 1 kpc in diameter. Strong $\rm H\,\alpha$ emission points to a star-formation rate (SFR) at least 0.47 $\rm M_{\odot }\, yr^{-1}$. Mrk 59 has a very high [O iii] $\rm \lambda 5007/H\,\beta$ ratio, reaching 7.35 in the central nebula, with a second peak at a star-forming hotspot further north. Fast outflows are not detected but nebular motion and galaxy rotation produce relative velocities up to 40 km $\rm s^{-1}$. Spectral analysis of different regions with ‘Fitting Analysis using Differential evolution Optimization’ (FADO) finds that the stars in the central and ‘spur’ nebulae are very young, $\rm \le 125~Myr$ with a large $\rm \lt 10~Myr$ contribution. Older stars ($\rm \sim 1~Gyr$) make up the northern disk component, while the other regions show mixtures of 1 Gyr age with very young stars. This and the high specific SFR $\rm \sim 3.5~Gyr^{-1}$ imply a bimodal star formation history, with Mrk 59 formed in ongoing starbursts fuelled by a huge gas inflow, turning the galaxy into an asymmetric ‘green pea’ or blue compact dwarf. We map the He ii λ4686 emission, and identify a broad component from the central nebula, consistent with the emission of ∼300 Wolf–Rayet stars. About a third of the He ii λ4686 flux is a narrow line emitted from a more extended area covering the central and spur nebulae, and may have a different origin.

Roche, Nathan (ORCID:0000000319363058)↗

The Robotic Multiobject Focal Plane System of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI)

Abstract A system of 5020 robotic fiber positioners was installed in 2019 on the Mayall Telescope, at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The robots automatically retarget their optical fibers every 10–20 minutes, each to a precision of several microns, with a reconfiguration time of fewer than 2 minutes. Over the next 5 yr, they will enable the newly constructed Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to measure the spectra of 35 million galaxies and quasars. DESI will produce the largest 3D map of the universe to date and measure the expansion history of the cosmos. In addition to the 5020 robotic positioners and optical fibers, DESI’s Focal Plane System includes six guide cameras, four wave front cameras, 123 fiducial point sources, and a metrology camera mounted at the primary mirror. The system also includes associated structural, thermal, and electrical systems. In all, it contains over 675,000 individual parts. We discuss the design, construction, quality control, and integration of all these components. We include a summary of the key requirements, the review and acceptance process, on-sky validations of requirements, and lessons learned for future multiobject, fiber-fed spectrographs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The DESI Bright Galaxy Survey: Final Target Selection, Design, and Validation

Over the next 5 yr, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will use 10 spectrographs with 5000 fibers on the 4 m Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory to conduct the first Stage IV dark energy galaxy survey. At z < 0.6, the DESI Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS) will produce the most detailed map of the universe during the dark-energy-dominated epoch with redshifts of >10 million galaxies spanning 14,000 deg 2 . In this work, we present and validate the final BGS target selection and survey design. From the Legacy Surveys, BGS will target an r < 19.5 mag limited sample (BGS Bright), a fainter 19.5 < r < 20.175 color-selected sample (BGS Faint), and a smaller low-z quasar sample. BGS will observe these targets using exposure times scaled to achieve homogeneous completeness and cover the footprint three times. We use observations from the Survey Validation programs conducted prior to the main survey along with simulations to show that BGS can complete its strategy and make optimal use of "bright" time. BGS targets have stellar contamination <1%, and their densities do not depend strongly on imaging properties. BGS Bright will achieve >80% fiber assignment efficiency. Finally, BGS Bright and BGS Faint will achieve >95% redshift success over any observing condition. BGS meets the requirements for an extensive range of scientific applications. BGS will yield the most precise baryon acoustic oscillation and redshift-space distortion measurements at z < 0.4. It presents opportunities for new methods that require highly complete and dense samples (e.g., N-point statistics, multitracers). BGS further provides a powerful tool to study galaxy populations and the relations between galaxies and dark matter.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗