Emmanuel Schaan (Princeton) "Non-linearities in the large-scale structure: noise and signal"

Abstract: 

The primordial density perturbations seen in the cosmic microwave background have collapsed under gravity to form the large-scale structure we see in the universe today. This evolution is non-linear, and therefore introduces coupling between Fourier modes that would otherwise be independent. I will present two consequences of this non-linear coupling.
Halo sample variance (arXiv:1406.3330):
Gaussian estimates for the errors in large-scale structure measurements exaggerate the scientific impact of these measurements. Non-linear evolution and finite volume effects are both significant sources of non-Gaussian covariance, which reduce the ability of power spectrum measurements to constrain cosmological parameters. I will present a joint likelihood for cluster counts, power spectrum and bispectrum, including the non-Gaussian covariances, and show that a joint analysis of these observables can reduce this “information loss”. In some cases, the resulting improvement on cosmological parameters is equivalent to doubling the survey area.
Lyman-alpha – CMB lensing bispectrum (arXiv:1607.03625):
The Lyman-alpha forest seen in the spectra of quasars is a powerful tool for constraining warm dark matter models and the neutrino masses, as well as properties of the intergalactic medium. Its use as a cosmological probe relies on modeling the connection between neutral gas and dark matter. I will present the first detection of the correlation between the Lyman-alpha forest and the cosmic microwave background, using data from BOSS and Planck. This signal quantifies the non-linear response of the neutral hydrogen to a large-scale overdensity, and thus tests our understanding of the connection between neutral gas and the dark matter.