# Weighted density fields as improved probes of modified gravity models

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a transformation of the density field that amplifies and shifts modified gravity signals to larger scales, improving detection prospects in galaxy surveys by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio.

## Contribution

It proposes a novel weighted density field technique that enhances the modified gravity signal in the power spectrum, making it more detectable and less affected by baryonic physics.

## Key findings

- Amplifies modified gravity signals by over three times
- Shifts signals to larger, less baryon-affected scales
- Increases overall signal-to-noise ratio in surveys

## Abstract

When it comes to searches for extensions to general relativity, large efforts are being dedicated to accurate predictions for the power spectrum of density perturbations. While this observable is known to be sensitive to the gravitational theory, its efficiency as a diagnostic for gravity is significantly reduced when Solar System constraints are strictly adhered to. We show that this problem can be overcome by studying weigthed density fields. We propose a transformation of the density field for which the impact of modified gravity on the power spectrum can be increased by more than a factor of three. The signal is not only amplified, but the modified gravity features are shifted to larger scales which are less affected by baryonic physics. Furthermore, the overall signal-to-noise increases, which in principle makes identifying signatures of modified gravity with future galaxy surveys more feasible. While our analysis is focused on modified gravity, the technique can be applied to other problems in cosmology, such as the detection of neutrinos, the effects of baryons or baryon acoustic oscillations.