Clustering redshift distribution calibration of weak lensing surveys using the DESI-DR1 spectroscopic dataset
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We estimate the source redshift distribution of current weak lensing surveys by applying the clustering-based redshift calibration technique, using the galaxy redshift sample provided by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Data Release 1 (DESI-DR1). We cross-correlate the Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS), Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) and Emission Line Galaxies (ELGs) from DESI, within the redshift range 0.1 < z < 1.6 , with overlapping tomographic source samples from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS), and Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey. Using realistic mock catalogues, we test the stability of the clustering redshift signal to fitting scale, reference-sample choice, and the evolution of source galaxy bias. We calibrate a source galaxy bias correction from simulations with conservative (factor-of-two inflated) priors to account for modelling uncertainties, and we explicitly model and marginalise over magnification contributions, which become non-negligible at z ≳ 1 due to the depth of the DESI ELG sample. We then compare the resulting bias-weighted redshift distributions to previously calibrated redshift distributions from the literature, based on self-organising map (SOM) techniques, finding agreement within uncertainties for all surveys and tomographic bins. Our results demonstrate that clustering redshifts enabled by DESI’s unprecedented spectroscopic sample provide a robust, complementary, and independent constraint capable of reducing one of the dominant systematic uncertainties in weak lensing cosmology.
Source: The Open Journal of Astrophysics
DOI: 10.33232/001c.173639
Authors: R. Ruggeri, J. Aguilar, C. Blake, S. Ahlen, D. Bianchi, D. Brooks, F. J. Castander, T. Claybaugh, A. Cuceu, K. S. Dawson, A. de la Macorra, B. Dey, P. Doel, A. Elliott, N. Emas, S. Ferraro, A. Font-Ribera, J. E. Forero-Romero, C. Garcia-Quintero, E. Gaztañaga, S. Gontcho A Gontcho, G. Gutierrez, J. Guy, B. Hadzhiyska, H. K. Herrera-Alcantar, S. Heydenreich, K. Honscheid, C. Howlett, D. Huterer, M. Ishak, S. Joudaki, R. Joyce, D. Kirkby, A. Krolewski, O. Lahav, M. Landriau, J. U. Lange, C. Lamman, A. Leauthaud, M. E. Levi, M. Manera, A. Meisner, R. Miquel, J. Moustakas, S. Nadathur, J. A. Newman, W. J. Percival, C. Poppett, A. Porredon, F. Prada, I. Pérez-Ràfols, A. Robertson, G. Rossi, E. Sanchez, C. Saulder, D. Schlegel, M. Schubnell, A. Semenaite, H. Seo, J. Silber, D. Sprayberry, G. Tarlé, B. A. Weaver, P. Zarrouk, R. Zhou, H. Zou
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Office of Science, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Division of Astronomical Sciences
Awards: G1044631029, G1105844351, G1175115578, G1286236842, G1813527838, G1863003419, G2262748287, G294895050, G300979063, G3083819904, G3452655474, G3480869486, G419881185, G425668148, G42916606, G4501827968, G491712853, G498139845, G5080475149, G5635532810, G593054264, G6652958823, G6876926712, G7084143925, Management and Operations of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, G7395345766, G7805626310, G7863371703, G8345352404, G8497050386, G8667377315, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W4417529493