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At least 19 records

Using angular two-point correlations to self-calibrate the photometric redshift distributions of DECaLS DR9

Calibrating the redshift distributions of photometric galaxy samples is essential in weak lensing studies. The self-calibration method combines angular auto- and cross-correlations between galaxies in multiple photometric redshift (photo-z) bins to reconstruct the scattering rates matrix between redshift bins. In this paper, we test a recently proposed self-calibration algorithm using the DECaLS Data Release 9 and investigate to what extent the scattering rates are determined. We first mitigate the spurious angular correlations due to imaging systematics by a machine learning based method. We then improve the algorithm for χ 2 minimization and error estimation. Finally, we solve for the scattering matrices, carry out a series of consistency tests, and find reasonable agreements: (1) finer photo-z bins return a high-resolution scattering matrix, and it is broadly consistent with the low-resolution matrix from wider bins; (2) the scattering matrix from the Northern Galactic Cap is almost identical to that from Southern Galactic Cap; (3) the scattering matrices are in reasonable agreement with those constructed from the power spectrum and the weighted spectroscopic subsample. We also evaluate the impact of cosmic magnification. Although it changes little the diagonal elements of the scattering matrix, it affects the off-diagonals significantly. The scattering matrix also shows some dependence on scale cut of input correlations, which may be related to a known numerical degeneracy between certain scattering pairs. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the feasibility of the self-calibration method in real data and provides a practical alternative to calibrate the redshift distributions of photometric samples.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Self-calibrating optical galaxy cluster selection bias using cluster, galaxy, and shear cross-correlations

ABSTRACT The clustering signals of galaxy clusters are powerful tools for self-calibrating the mass–observable relation and are complementary to cluster abundance and lensing. In this work, we explore the possibility of combining three correlation functions – cluster lensing, the cluster–galaxy cross-correlation function, and the galaxy autocorrelation function – to self-calibrate optical cluster selection bias, the boosted clustering and lensing signals in a richness-selected sample mainly caused by projection effects. We develop mock catalogues of redMaGiC-like galaxies and redMaPPer-like clusters by applying halo occupation distribution models to N-body simulations and using counts-in-cylinders around massive haloes as a richness proxy. In addition to the previously known small-scale boost in projected correlation functions, we find that the projection effects also significantly boost three-dimensional correlation functions to scales of 100 $h^{-1} \, \rm Mpc$. We perform a likelihood analysis assuming survey conditions similar to the Dark Energy Survey and show that the selection bias can be self-consistently constrained at the 10 per cent level. We discuss strategies for applying this approach to real data. We expect that expanding the analysis to smaller scales and using deeper lensing data would further improve the constraints on cluster selection bias.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Measurement of the photometric baryon acoustic oscillations with self-calibrated redshift distribution

ABSTRACT We use a galaxy sample derived from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey Data Release 9 to measure the baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO). The magnitude-limited sample consists of 10.6 million galaxies in an area of 4974 deg2 over the redshift range of [0.6, 1]. A key novelty of this work is that the true redshift distribution of the photo-z sample is derived from the self-calibration method, which determines the true redshift distribution using the clustering information of the photometric data alone. Through the angular correlation function in four tomographic bins, we constrain the BAO scale dilation parameter α to be 1.025 ± 0.033, consistent with the fiducial Planck cosmology. Alternatively, the ratio between the comoving angular diameter distance and the sound horizon, DM/rs, is constrained to be 18.94 ± 0.61 at the effective redshift of 0.749. We corroborate our results with the true redshift distribution obtained from a weighted spectroscopic sample, finding very good agreement. We have conducted a series of tests to demonstrate the robustness of the measurement. Our work demonstrates that the self-calibration method can effectively constrain the true redshift distribution in cosmological applications, especially in the context of photometric BAO measurement.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

A direct detection method of galaxy intrinsic ellipticity-gravitational shear correlation in non-linear regimes using self-calibration

Intrinsic alignment (IA) of galaxies is a challenging source of contamination in the Cosmic shear (GG) signals. The galaxy intrinsic ellipticity-gravitational shear (IG) correlation is generally the most dominant component of such contamination for cross-correlating redshift bins. One of the most effective techniques to mitigate such contamination is the self-calibration (SC) method which extracts the IG correlation and allows for its removal from the GG signal. In a photometric survey, the SC method first extracts the galaxy number density-galaxy intrinsic ellipticity (gI) correlation from the observed galaxy-galaxy lensing correlation using the redshift dependence of lens-source pairs. The IG correlation is computed through a scaling relation using the gI correlation and other lensing observables. The applicability of the SC method has so far been focused on the linear IA scales and the linear galaxy bias. We extend the SC method beyond the linear regime by modifying its scaling relation which can account for the non-linear galaxy bias model and various IA models. In this study, we provide a framework to detect the IG correlation for the redshift bins for source galaxies for the proposed year 1 survey of the Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST Y1). We tested the method for the tidal alignment and tidal torquing (TATT) model of IA and we found that the scaling relation is accurate within 10% and 20% for cross-correlating and auto-correlating redshift bins, respectively. Hence the suppression of IG contamination in observed GG correlation can be accomplished with a factor of 10 and 5, for cross-correlating and auto-correlating redshift bins, respectively. We tested the method's robustness and found that the suppression of IG contamination by a factor of 5 is still achievable for all combinations of cross-correlating bins even with the inclusion of a moderate amount of uncertainties on IA and bias parameters, respectively. We also make available, a branch of the code FAST-PT to provide gI correlations up to 1-loop order term used by the new SC method.

gravitational lensing↗

Self-calibration strategies for reducing systematic slope measurement errors of autocollimators in deflectometric profilometry

Deflectometric profilometers are used to precisely measure the form of beam shaping optics of synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. They often utilize autocollimators which measure slope by evaluating the displacement of a reticle image on a detector. Based on our privileged access to the raw image data of an autocollimator, novel strategies to reduce the systematic measurement errors by using a set of overlapping images of the reticle obtained at different positions on the detector are discussed. It is demonstrated that imaging properties such as, for example, geometrical distortions and vignetting, can be extracted from this redundant set of images without recourse to external calibration facilities. This approach is based on the fact that the properties of the reticle itself do not change – all changes in the reticle image are due to the imaging process. Firstly, by combining interpolation and correlation, it is possible to determine the shift of a reticle image relative to a reference image with minimal error propagation. Secondly, the intensity of the reticle image is analysed as a function of its position on the CCD and a vignetting correction is calculated. Thirdly, the size of the reticle image is analysed as a function of its position and an imaging distortion correction is derived. It is demonstrated that, for different measurement ranges and aperture diameters of the autocollimator, reductions in the systematic errors of up to a factor of four to five can be achieved without recourse to external measurements.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Global droughts connected by linkages between drought hubs

Abstract Quantifying the spatial and interconnected structure of regional to continental scale droughts is one of the unsolved global hydrology problems, which is important for understanding the looming risk of mega-scale droughts and the resulting water and food scarcity and their cascading impact on the worldwide economy. Using a Complex Network analysis, this study explores the topological characteristics of global drought events based on the self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index. Event Synchronization is used to measure the strength of association between the onset of droughts at different spatial locations within the time lag of 1-3 months. The network coefficients derived from the synchronization network indicate a highly heterogeneous connectivity structure underlying global drought events. Drought hotspot regions such as Southern Europe, Northeast Brazil, Australia, and Northwest USA behave as drought hubs that synchronize regionally and with other hubs at inter-continental or even inter-hemispheric scale. This observed affinity among drought hubs is equivalent to the ‘rich-club phenomenon’ in Network Theory, where ‘rich’ nodes (here, drought hubs) are tightly interconnected to form a club, implicating the possibility of simultaneous large-scale droughts over multiple continents.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Quantitative x-ray scattering of free molecules

Advances in x-ray free electron lasers have made ultrafast scattering a powerful method for investigating molecular reaction kinetics and dynamics. Accurate measurement of the ground-state, static scattering signals of the reacting molecules is pivotal for these pump-probe x-ray scattering experiments as they are the cornerstone for interpreting the observed structural dynamics. Here, this article presents a data calibration procedure, designed for gas-phase x-ray scattering experiments conducted at the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray Free-Electron Laser at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, that makes it possible to derive a quantitative dependence of the scattering signal on the scattering vector. A self-calibration algorithm that optimizes the detector position without reference to a computed pattern is introduced. Angle-of-scattering corrections that account for several small experimental non-idealities are reported. Their implementation leads to near quantitative agreement with theoretical scattering patterns calculated with ab-initio methods as illustrated for two x-ray photon energies and several molecular test systems.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Towards a quantum realization of the ampere using single-electron resolution Skipper-CCDs

This paper presents a proof-of-concept demonstration of the Skipper-charge coupled device (CCD), a sensor with single-electron counting capability, as a promising technology for implementing an electron-pump-based current source. Relying on its single-electron resolution and built-in charge sensing, it allows self-calibration of the charge packets. This article presents an initial discussion of the uncertainty in the charge measurement and achievable currents levels with this technology. Here, we report experimental results that illustrate the key functionalities in manipulating both small and large electron charge packets, including a comparison of the charge generated, self-measured, and drained by the sensor against measurements from an electrometer. These results were obtained using a standard sensor and readout electronics without specific optimizations for this application. The objective is to explore the potential of Skipper-CCD for realizing an electron-based current source.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Projected evolution of droughts and human exposure in the contiguous United States under SSP5-8.5: a regional downscaling perspective

The increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns under a warming climate underscore the urgency of accurate regional assessments of future drought risk. This study evaluates the projected drought evolution in the contiguous United States under the high-emission shared socioeconomic pathway 5–8.5 climate scenario for the coming decades. Using a multi-model ensemble of six Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 global climate models combined with dynamical downscaling techniques, we analyzed near-term (2020–2039) and mid-term (2040–2059) drought patterns using the self-calibrating palmer drought severity index (ScPDSI), the standardized precipitation index (SPI-12), and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-12). Results reveal a widespread increase in abnormally dry (D0) and moderate drought (D1) conditions, particularly in urban areas, while severe (D2), extreme (D3), and exceptional (D4) droughts are expected to become less common in many regions. Meanwhile, persistent and intensifying droughts are projected in the western and southwestern U.S., driven by long-term soil moisture deficits. The ScPDSI projects that 1.1 million urban residents will be affected by D0 conditions in 2050, while SPI-12 suggests a decrease in the total affected populations after 2040. ScPDSI indicates prolonged droughts in the West, and SPI-12 captures transient variability. Although the total drought-exposed population is expected to decrease, urban areas will continue to bear a greater burden, particularly for mild droughts (D0, D1). These findings highlight a shift toward more frequent mild droughts, fewer severe droughts, and persistent drying in the Southwest, emphasizing the need for region-specific adaptation strategies.

CMIP6↗

Cosmology from weak lensing, galaxy clustering, CMB lensing, and tSZ – I. 10 × 2pt modelling methodology

ABSTRACT The overlap of galaxy surveys and cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments presents an ideal opportunity for joint cosmological data set analyses. In this paper we develop a halo model-based method for the first joint analysis combining these two experiments using 10 correlated two-point functions (10 × 2pt) derived from galaxy position, galaxy shear, CMB lensing convergence, and Compton-y fields. We explore this method using the Vera Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) and the Simons Observatory (SO) as examples. We find such LSS × CMB joint analyses lead to significant improvement in Figure-of-Merit of Ωm and S8 over the constraints from using LSS-only probes within Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model. We identify that the shear–y and y–y correlations are the most valuable additions when thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dolvich (tSZ) is included. We further identify the dominant sources of halo model uncertainties in the small-scale modelling, and investigate the impact of halo self-calibration due to the inclusion of small-scale tSZ information.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Dark Energy Camera All Data Everywhere cosmic shear project V: Constraints on cosmology and astrophysics from 270 million galaxies across 13,000 deg$^2$ of the sky

We present constraints on models of cosmology and astrophysics using cosmic shear data vectors from three datasets: the northern and southern Galactic cap of the Dark Energy Camera All Data Everywhere (DECADE) project, and the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 3. These data vectors combined consist of 270 million galaxies spread across 13,000 ${\rm deg}^2$ of the sky. We first extract constraints for $Λ$CDM cosmology and find $S_8= 0.805^{+0.019}_{-0.019}$ and $Ω_{\rm m} = 0.262^{+0.023}_{-0.036}$, which is consistent within $1.9 σ$ of constraints from the Planck satellite. Extending our analysis to dynamical dark energy models shows that lensing provides some (but still minor) improvements to existing constraints from supernovae and baryon acoustic oscillations. Finally, we study six different models for the impact of baryons on the matter power spectrum. We show the different models provide consistent constraints on baryon suppression, and associated cosmology, once the astrophysical priors are sufficiently wide. Current scale-cut approaches for mitigating baryon contamination result in a residual bias of $\approx 0.3σ$ in the $S_8, Ω_{\rm m}$ posterior. Using all scales with dedicated baryon modeling leads to negligible improvement as the new information is used solely to self-calibrate the baryon model on small scales. Additional non-lensing datasets, and/or calibrations of the baryon model, will be required to access the full statistical power of the lensing measurements. The combined dataset in this work represents the largest lensing dataset to date (most galaxies, largest area) and provides an apt testing ground for analyses of upcoming datasets from Stage IV surveys. The DECADE shear catalogs, data vectors, and likelihoods are made publicly available.

Anbajagane, D. [Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr↗

Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Results: Cosmological constraints from second- and third-order shear statistics

Here, we present a cosmological analysis of the third-order aperture mass statistic using Dark Energy Survey Year 3 (DES Y3) data. We perform a complete tomographic measurement of the three-point correlation function of the Y3 weak lensing shape catalog with the four fiducial source redshift bins. Building upon our companion methodology paper, we apply a pipeline that combines the two-point function ξ ± with the mass aperture skewness statistic ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ , which is an efficient compression of the full shear three-point function. We use a suite of simulated shear maps to obtain a joint covariance matrix. By jointly analyzing ξ ± and ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ measured from DES Y3 data with a Λ CDM model, we find S 8 = 0.780 ± 0.015 and Ω m = 0.26 6 - 0.040 + 0.039 , yielding 111% of figure-of-merit improvement in the Ω m - S 8 plane relative to ξ ± alone, consistent with expectations from simulated likelihood analyses. With a w CDM model, we find S 8 = 0.74 9 - 0.026 + 0.027 and w 0 = - 1.39 ± 0.31 , which gives an improvement of 22% on the joint S 8 - w 0 constraint. Our results are consistent with w 0 = - 1 . Our new constraints are compared to CMB data from the Planck satellite, and we find that with the inclusion of ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ the existing tension between the datasets is at the level of 2.3 σ . We show that the third-order statistic enables us to self-calibrate the mean photometric redshift uncertainty parameter of the highest redshift bin with little degradation in the figure of merit. Our results demonstrate the constraining power of higher-order lensing statistics and establish ⟨ M ap 3 ⟩ as a practical observable for joint analyses in current and future surveys.

Gomes, R. C. H. [University of Pennsylvania] (ORCI↗

Symmetry-violation-driven hysteresis loops as measurands for noise-resilient sensors

Sublinear resonant deviations from an exceptional point degeneracy (EPD) has been recently promoted as a sensing scheme. However, there is still an ongoing debate whether the sensitivity advantage is negated by an increase in fundamental noise – especially when active elements induce self-oscillations. In this case, nonlinearities are crucial in stabilizing amplifying modes and mitigating noise effects. A drawback is the formation of hysteresis loops that signal a transition to unstable modes. This can only be alleviated by precise cavity symmetry management. Here, utilizing two coupled nonlinear (RLC) tanks with balanced amplification and attenuation, we demonstrate that an explicit symmetry violation, induced by sweeping the resonant detuning of the (RLC) tanks, reveals a hysteresis loop near the EPD whose width scales sublinearly with the inter-tank coupling. Furthermore, our proposal re-envisions this disadvantageous feature as a sensing protocol with diverging sensitivity, enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, and self-calibration without requiring delicate symmetry control. As such, it opens new avenues in metrology as well as for optical/RF switching and triggering.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Real-Time GPU-Accelerated OFDR With an Integrated Auxiliary Interferometer

A GPU-accelerated optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system with an improved integrated auxiliary interferometer is proposed. Unlike conventional approaches that require separate auxiliary interferometers and multiple detection channels, the proposed OFDR system embeds this functionality directly into the signal via an intentional beat component. This enables self-calibration of laser nonlinearity while maintaining a cost-effective hardware configuration. Building on this simplified configuration, the system leverages GPU acceleration with an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti to achieve real-time performance, delivering high-throughput signal processing for continuous OFDR interrogation. The signal processing pipeline comprises signal capture, resampling for nonlinearity compensation, and frequency shift computation, all optimized for parallel execution. Hardware benchmarking demonstrates substantial acceleration over CPU implementations, achieving up to a 45× speedup for resampling and frequency shift computations and enabling processing latencies below 30 ms. Thermal response validation is conducted under two complementary scenarios: localized heating using a water bath and cryogenic-temperature conditions using liquid nitrogen. Under localized heating, the system achieves an accuracy of 0.249 °C with a thermal sensitivity of 5.971 GHz/°C, while cryogenic-temperature validation demonstrates a frequency shift response with a sensitivity of 2.383 GHz/°C and an accuracy of 2.04 °C. The high acceleration of the proposed GPU-accelerated OFDR system and its accuracy are achieved by exploiting CUDA-based stride indexing, enabling efficient parallel segmentation and processing of large datasets without additional memory copies. The benchmarking results confirm the robustness, accuracy, and deployability of the proposed OFDR system across a wide temperature range, establishing it as a practical platform for real-time distributed fiber sensing in structurally dynamic environments.

Harb, Salah [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory↗

Report of METL Mutual Inductance Level Sensor Development for Use in Liquid Metals – FY2023

A robust mutual inductance level sensor (MILS) for use in high temperature liquid metals has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The current design utilizes mineral insulated cables with a 300-series stainless steel sheath, magnesium oxide insulation, and a single copper conductor. Two coils are wrapped on a common core made of a 300-series stainless steel tube. One coil is energized with an alternating current (AC) source, and this electromagnetically couples with the second coil to generate an induced voltage. The voltage is measured to determine the mutual induction between the coils, and the mutual inductance measurement can be used to determine the level of a nearby liquid metal volume. The MILS can be located in an isolating thimble that is fully sealed to a vessel containing liquid metal for ease of maintenance and replacement. When the primary coil is energized with the AC source, the coil not only electromagnetic (EM) couples with the second coil, but also the surrounding liquid metal. The EM coupling with the surrounding liquid metal reduces the EM coupling with the second coil, producing an inverse-linear relationship between liquid metal level and secondary coil voltage. This has all been demonstrated at the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) liquid sodium facility at ANL. The most current iteration of the MILS system is the MILS-MK-II. This sensor system has been commissioned in a non-sodium test stand where calibrations were performed using a sodium analog. The calibrations proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The MILS-MK-II has been installed in the METL expansion tank where high temperature sodium tests have been performed. The MILS-MK-II has been calibrated against a known standard at temperature of 300°C, and the calibrations have proved to be highly linear and repeatable. The calibrated MILS-MK-II has been in operation in the METL facility for several thousands of hours at temperatures around 300°C. The experimental data has been used to develop and validate electromagnetic finite element models in COMSOL Multiphysics, and now these models can be used to advance the development of the sensor system. Next steps will include temperature compensation to allow for operation at various temperatures. Additionally, efforts to incorporate a self-calibration methodology are underway.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NREL Pyrheliometer Comparisons: September 23 - September 28, 2023 (NPC-2023)

Accurate measurements of direct normal (beam) solar irradiance from pyrheliometers are important for developing and deploying solar energy conversion systems, for improving our understanding of Earth's energy budget for climate change studies, and for other science and technology applications involving solar flux. Providing these measurements places many demands on the quality system used by the operator of commercially available radiometers. Maintaining accurate radiometer calibrations that are traceable to an international standard is the first step in producing research-quality solar irradiance measurements. In 1977, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) established the World Radiometric Reference (WRR) as the international standard for the measurement of direct normal solar irradiance (Frohlich 1991). The WRR is an internationally recognized, detector-based measurement standard determined by the collective performance of six electrically self-calibrated absolute cavity radiometers comprising the World Standard Group (WSG). Various countries, including the United States, have contributed these specialized radiometers to the Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos - World Radiation Center (PMOD/WRC) to establish the WSG. As with all measurement systems, Absolute Cavity Radiometers (ACR) are subject to performance changes over time. Therefore, PMOD/WRC in Davos, Switzerland, hosts an quinquennial International Pyrheliometer Comparison (IPC) event for transferring the WRR to participating radiometers by invitation. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has represented the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in each IPC since 1980. And NREL has developed and maintained a select group of absolute cavity radiometers with direct calibration traceability to the WRR, and it uses these reference instruments to calibrate pyrheliometers and pyranometers using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025-accredited Broadband Outdoor Radiometer Calibration (BORCAL) process (Reda et al. 2008). To fill the gap between each IPC, NREL pyrheliometer comparisons (NPCs) are held annually at the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) in Golden, Colorado. Open to all ACR owners and operators, each NPC provides an opportunity to determine the unique WRR transfer factor (WRR-TF) for each participating pyrheliometer. By adjusting all subsequent pyrheliometer measurements by the appropriate WRR-TF, the solar irradiance data are traceable to the WRR.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Isotopic Analysis using FRAM [Slides]

FRAM is an isotopic analysis code nominally designed for plutonium and uranium. It stands for Fixed-energy Response-function Analysis with Multiple efficiencies. It has self-calibration using several gamma-ray peaks and can analyze gamma ray data from 30keV to >1MeV of HPGe, CdTe, or LaBr3 detector. The key difference between the MGA family of codes (from LLNL) and FRAM is the use of user-editable analysis parameters in the latter.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Latest Development to Establish the World Reference with Traceability to SI Units for Measuring the Atmospheric Shortwave and Longwave Irradiance

To date, Interim world reference traceable to blackbody (not sky/atmosphere) is used as a reference noted as a World Infrared Standard Group (WISG). Plan forward: to develop a reference standards traceable to SI InfraRed Integrating Sphere (IRIS) Developed by the World Radiation Center (PMOD) is traceable to blackbody irradiance. Absolute Cavity Pyrgeometer (ACP) developed by NLR is a self-calibrating radiometer using heat substitution to measure the atmospheric longwave irradiance. ACP is a contribution to develop the world reference with traceability to SI, using the outdoor irradiance as the source, instead of blackbody.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗