Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Observing Strategy on Cosmological Constraints with LSST
AU - The LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration
AU - Lochner, Michelle
AU - Scolnic, Dan
AU - Almoubayyed, Husni
AU - Anguita, Timo
AU - Awan, Humna
AU - Gawiser, Eric
AU - A Gontcho, Satya Gontcho
AU - Graham, Melissa L.
AU - Gris, Philippe
AU - Huber, Simon
AU - Jha, Saurabh W.
AU - Lynne Jones, R.
AU - Kim, Alex G.
AU - Mandelbaum, Rachel
AU - Marshall, Phil
AU - Petrushevska, Tanja
AU - Regnault, Nicolas
AU - Setzer, Christian N.
AU - Suyu, Sherry H.
AU - Yoachim, Peter
AU - Biswas, Rahul
AU - Blaineau, Tristan
AU - Hook, Isobel
AU - Moniez, Marc
AU - Neilsen, Eric
AU - Peiris, Hiranya
AU - Rothchild, Daniel
AU - Stubbs, Christopher
PY - 2022/4/6
Y1 - 2022/4/6
N2 - Abstract: The generation-defining Vera C. Rubin Observatory will make state-of-the-art measurements of both the static and transient universe through its Legacy Survey for Space and Time (LSST). With such capabilities, it is immensely challenging to optimize the LSST observing strategy across the survey’s wide range of science drivers. Many aspects of the LSST observing strategy relevant to the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, such as survey footprint definition, single-visit exposure time, and the cadence of repeat visits in different filters, are yet to be finalized. Here, we present metrics used to assess the impact of observing strategy on the cosmological probes considered most sensitive to survey design; these are large-scale structure, weak lensing, type Ia supernovae, kilonovae, and strong lens systems (as well as photometric redshifts, which enable many of these probes). We evaluate these metrics for over 100 different simulated potential survey designs. Our results show that multiple observing strategy decisions can profoundly impact cosmological constraints with LSST; these include adjusting the survey footprint, ensuring repeat nightly visits are taken in different filters, and enforcing regular cadence. We provide public code for our metrics, which makes them readily available for evaluating further modifications to the survey design. We conclude with a set of recommendations and highlight observing strategy factors that require further research.
AB - Abstract: The generation-defining Vera C. Rubin Observatory will make state-of-the-art measurements of both the static and transient universe through its Legacy Survey for Space and Time (LSST). With such capabilities, it is immensely challenging to optimize the LSST observing strategy across the survey’s wide range of science drivers. Many aspects of the LSST observing strategy relevant to the LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, such as survey footprint definition, single-visit exposure time, and the cadence of repeat visits in different filters, are yet to be finalized. Here, we present metrics used to assess the impact of observing strategy on the cosmological probes considered most sensitive to survey design; these are large-scale structure, weak lensing, type Ia supernovae, kilonovae, and strong lens systems (as well as photometric redshifts, which enable many of these probes). We evaluate these metrics for over 100 different simulated potential survey designs. Our results show that multiple observing strategy decisions can profoundly impact cosmological constraints with LSST; these include adjusting the survey footprint, ensuring repeat nightly visits are taken in different filters, and enforcing regular cadence. We provide public code for our metrics, which makes them readily available for evaluating further modifications to the survey design. We conclude with a set of recommendations and highlight observing strategy factors that require further research.
KW - 370
KW - Laboratory Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Software, and Data
KW - Rubin LSST Survey Strategy Optimization
U2 - 10.3847/1538-4365/ac5033
DO - 10.3847/1538-4365/ac5033
M3 - Journal article
VL - 259
JO - The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
JF - The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
SN - 0067-0049
IS - 2
M1 - 58
ER -