2005/08/31 by D. Wittman
Physics and Astronomy · #COSMIC cancer database #Cosmic microwave background #Cosmic variance #Cosmology #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Limit (mathematics) #Noise (video) #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Shot noise #Spurious relationship #Weak gravitational lensing #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/497590
published as Astrophys.J.632:L5-L8,2005 · accepted to ApJ Letters
arxiv created 2005/08/31 · openalex publication_date 2005/09/26 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Weak-lensing observations have the potential to be even more powerful than cosmic microwave background observations in constraining cosmological parameters. However, the practical limits to weak-lensing observations are not known. Most theoretical studies of weak-lensing constraints on cosmology assume that the only limits are shot noise on small scales, and cosmic variance on large scales. For future large surveys, shot noise will be so low that other, systematic errors will likely dominate. Here we examine a potential source of additive systematic error for ground-based observations: spurious power induced by the atmosphere. We show that this limit will not be a significant factor even in future massive surveys such as LSST.