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Photometric Redshift Calibrations

Usually the redshift of a galaxy is measured spectroscopically. The spectrum of the galaxy is observed: Emission or absorption lines are identified and their wavelengths are measured. These measured wavelengths are then compared with the rest wavelengths to determine the redshift. Photometric redshifts (also known as "color redshifts" or "photo-z") utilize broad-band photometry to measure the redshifts of galaxies rather than spectroscopy. With photometric redshifts broad-band photometry is compared to predictions from galaxy spectral energy distributions (SED's) for a range of types of galaxies to determine the redshift. Rather than observing narrow spectral features of galaxy spectra the photometric redshift technique uses broad features, such as the 4000≈ break and the overall shape of a spectrum. View a real elliptical galaxy [gif] being passed though different redshifts in our filter system.

Photometric redshifts can be measured much faster and in larger quantities than their spectroscopic counterparts. In spectroscopy, the light from the galaxy is separated into narrow wavelength bins of a few angstroms width. Each bin then receives only a small fraction of the total light from the galaxy. So to achieve a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio in each bin, very long integration times are required. For photometry, the bins are much larger: typically 1000 ≈ wide. This requires only a short exposure time to reach the same signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, imaging detectors generally cover a greater area of the sky than multi-object spectrographs. Thus the redshifts of more objects can be measured simultaneously by using photometry than by spectroscopy.

How do we know that the redshifts estimated by the photo-z technique are correct? Any multi-band photometric system has errors: bias and scatter. One needs to know what these errors are as a function of redshift in order to carry out the weak lens and baryon acoustic oscillation probes of dark energy. So a key requirement is the spectroscopic calibration of the photometric redshift system. This calibration plan is presented in the link to the pdf file "A Plan for Photo-z Calibrations." It makes use of both spectral information and angular correlations. Please view the following document: A Plan for Photo-z Calibrations [PDF]

References: Connolly et al. (1997, ApJ, 486, 11)

Financial support for Rubin Observatory comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Agreement No. 1258333, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded Rubin Observatory Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).  The DOE-funded effort to build the Rubin Observatory LSST Camera (LSSTCam) is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
NSF and DOE will continue to support Rubin Observatory in its Operations phase. They will also provide support for scientific research with LSST data.   




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