The Dark Energy Survey

TL;DR

The Dark Energy Survey aims to map 5000 sq. deg. of the southern sky using a new camera on a 4-m telescope to measure dark energy properties through multiple independent methods, enhancing precision and robustness.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive survey combining four independent methods to measure dark energy, with a unified data analysis framework for improved accuracy.

Findings

Multiple methods provide consistent dark energy constraints.

Cross-checks reduce systematic errors.

Enhanced precision in dark energy measurements.

Abstract

We describe the Dark Energy Survey (DES), a proposed optical-near infrared survey of 5000 sq. deg of the South Galactic Cap to ~24th magnitude in SDSS griz, that would use a new 3 sq. deg CCD camera to be mounted on the Blanco 4-m telescope at Cerro Telolo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). The survey data will allow us to measure the dark energy and dark matter densities and the dark energy equation of state through four independent methods: galaxy clusters, weak gravitational lensing tomography, galaxy angular clustering, and supernova distances. These methods are doubly complementary: they constrain different combinations of cosmological model parameters and are subject to different systematic errors. By deriving the four sets of measurements from the same data set with a common analysis framework, we will obtain important cross checks of the systematic errors and thereby make a substantial and robust advance in the precision of dark energy measurements.