Dark Energy Survey: Observing Shift at CTIO
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Abstract
The following is taken from the abstract of the attached observing proposal, which was granted 525 nights of observing time over 5 years on the instrument and telescope detailed within:
"The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2011 was awarded for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe. The primary scientic objective of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) is to address the question: why is the expansion of the Universe speeding up? Is cosmic acceleration due to dark energy or does it require a modication of General Relativity? If dark energy, is it the energy density of the vacuum (Einstein's cosmological constant) or something else? DES will address these questions by measuring the properties of dark energy with unprecedented precision, using four complementary techniques: galaxy clusters, large-scale galaxy clustering (including baryon acoustic oscillations), weak gravitational lensing, and type Ia supernovae. To achieve the requisite precision, we will conduct two optimally interleaved surveys over 525 nights: a wide-area grizY survey covering 5000 sq. deg. to 24th mag and a deeper time-domain griz survey with 5-day cadence covering 30 sq. deg. In response to an NOAO AO in 2003, the DES collaboration was formed and has built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 570- megapixel, red-sensitive imager with 2.2 degree field of view, five uniform, high-throughput filters, a five-element optical corrector, and a hexapod system for active focus and alignment. We have constructed and will operate a data management system to process and serve DES survey data and a Community Pipeline for NOAO to process community data. The DES data products will provide a rich legacy for the astronomy community, and DECam will be an extraordinary asset as a facility instrument on the Blanco Telescope."
"The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2011 was awarded for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe. The primary scientic objective of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) is to address the question: why is the expansion of the Universe speeding up? Is cosmic acceleration due to dark energy or does it require a modication of General Relativity? If dark energy, is it the energy density of the vacuum (Einstein's cosmological constant) or something else? DES will address these questions by measuring the properties of dark energy with unprecedented precision, using four complementary techniques: galaxy clusters, large-scale galaxy clustering (including baryon acoustic oscillations), weak gravitational lensing, and type Ia supernovae. To achieve the requisite precision, we will conduct two optimally interleaved surveys over 525 nights: a wide-area grizY survey covering 5000 sq. deg. to 24th mag and a deeper time-domain griz survey with 5-day cadence covering 30 sq. deg. In response to an NOAO AO in 2003, the DES collaboration was formed and has built the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), a 570- megapixel, red-sensitive imager with 2.2 degree field of view, five uniform, high-throughput filters, a five-element optical corrector, and a hexapod system for active focus and alignment. We have constructed and will operate a data management system to process and serve DES survey data and a Community Pipeline for NOAO to process community data. The DES data products will provide a rich legacy for the astronomy community, and DECam will be an extraordinary asset as a facility instrument on the Blanco Telescope."
Publications
Goldstein D
(2015)
AUTOMATED TRANSIENT IDENTIFICATION IN THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Goldstein D
(2015)
ERRATUM: "AUTOMATED TRANSIENT IDENTIFICATION IN THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY" (2015, AJ, 150, 82)
in The Astronomical Journal
Gramellini E.
(2021)
Measurement of the ($\pi^-$, Ar) total hadronic cross section at the LArIAT experiment
in arXiv e-prints
Gruen D
(2015)
Weak lensing by galaxy troughs in DES Science Verification data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hoyle B
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: redshift distributions of the weak-lensing source galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Inserra C
(2018)
Euclid: Superluminous supernovae in the Deep Survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Inserra C.
(2020)
First Hubble diagram and cosmological constraints using superluminous supernova
in arXiv e-prints
Jones S. B.
(2020)
Off-Axis Characterisation of the CERN T10 Beam for low Momentum Proton Measurements with a High Pressure Gas Time Projection Chamber
in arXiv e-prints
Kessler R
(2015)
THE DIFFERENCE IMAGING PIPELINE FOR THE TRANSIENT SEARCH IN THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Kim A
(2015)
Distance probes of dark energy
in Astroparticle Physics
Kruk S. J.
(2020)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Offset discs and bars in SDSS galaxies (Kruk+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Lingard T
(2020)
Galaxy Zoo Builder: Four-component Photometric Decomposition of Spiral Galaxies Guided by Citizen Science
in The Astrophysical Journal
Luque E
(2018)
Deep SOAR follow-up photometry of two Milky Way outer-halo companions discovered with Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Macaulay E
(2020)
Weak lensing of Type Ia Supernovae from the Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Majewski S. R.
(2020)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: APOGEE-2 data from DR16 (Majewski+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Majewski S. R.
(2020)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: APOGEE-2 data from DR16 (Majewski+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Manenti L
(2020)
Erratum: Performance of different photocathode materials in a liquid argon purity monitor
in Journal of Instrumentation
Manenti L
(2020)
Performance of different photocathode materials in a liquid argon purity monitor
in Journal of Instrumentation
MINOS
(2020)
Precision constraints for three-flavor neutrino oscillations from the full MINOS+ and MINOS data set
in arXiv e-prints
Nadlinger D. P.
(2021)
Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution
in arXiv e-prints
Nadlinger D. P.
(2021)
Micromotion minimisation by synchronous detection of parametrically excited motion
in arXiv e-prints
Nichol B. C.
(2021)
A quantum network of entangled optical atomic clocks
in arXiv e-prints
Papadopoulos A
(2015)
DES13S2cmm: the first superluminous supernova from the Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Penny S
(2018)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: evidence of the importance of AGN feedback in low-mass galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | The Dark Energy Survey is an on-going STFC project (ending in 2018). The data from this instrument will probe the nature of the dark universe and has already spawned neary 60 academic papers from the initial data (taken in 2013-14). This observing trip was part of that initial data run. |
Exploitation Route | The goal of the DES is dark energy and dark matter. This fundamental science fascinates the public and is part of our culture now. |
Sectors | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | http://www.darkenergysurvey.org |
Description | DES |
Organisation | Dark Energy Survey (DES) |
Country | Global |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Scientific leadership and guidance, preparation of scientific simulations and preparations, organisation of meetings and events |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to proprietary data and scientific collaboration |
Impact | Scientific publications (see publication list) |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Cosmology Masterclass |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Since 2012 the Cosmology Masterclass has engaged and inspired over 200 A level students with research at the ICG. The Cosmology Masterclass began as a collaboration with The Portsmouth Grammar School in 2010 and is now held annually on campus, with several additional 'mini-Masterclasses' each year at local colleges. - Feedback from the 2013 event was some of the best the University has received for an A level event. - Over the years 13 students have subsequently joined ICG for summer placements of which four cite their experiences at ICG as helping them to decide to pursue STEM subjects at university. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Stargazing Live 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 450 members of the public attended the annual Stargazing Live at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard event organised by the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation with HMS Warrior and Action Stations. The majority of Co-Is participated in the event, talking to attendees about their research through stands and hands-on activities. The event was also attended by several local councillors. Many attendees reported that the event had inspired them to find out more about astronomy or attend more science-related events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | TV appearance - Horizon - Nichol |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Professor Bob Nichol featured in an episode of BBC Horizon: Dancing in the Dark - The End of Physics? The Horizon crew accompanied Professor Nichol to Chile and, in the documentary, he discusses the scope of cosmology, the observational evidence for the nature of dark matter, and the mystery of dark energy which is expected to occupy astrophysics for some time. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |