Deep galaxy surveys, large-scale structure and dark energy. Spanish participation in future surveys

Spanish astronomers from several groups at universities and research institutions have joined large international survey projects that aim at solving some of the most basic riddles related to cosmic large-scale structure and cosmology.

Those projects have been designed to create large galaxy catalogues that will allow the analysis of the basic properties of dark energy from several different points of view, as well as yield many other insights on the processes of galaxy formation and evolution in cosmic scales. One of the key topics will be the study of the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs), a subtle feature observed in the large-scale distribution of galaxies, which was imprinted at the epoch of recombination and can be observed nowadays both in the galaxy distribution and in the cosmic microwave background. Thus, BAOs constitute a direct link between the observable properties of the present Universe and the physics that governed its origin, and their physical scale acts as a standard ruler that probes the history of the expansion.

Among those surveys we can mention BigBOSS, BOSS, DES, eBOSS, EUCLID, GAMA, PAU, J-PAS, PanSTARRS, VIPERS, WEAVE, and WiggleZ, in different stages of their development. They will also provide other observational probes useful for many cosmological analyses, like cluster abundances or weak gravitational lensing. Spanish astronomers lead some of these projects, participating at the scientific level, and sometimes also in the hardware/software development.

The object of this meeting, supported by the Spanish Red de Infraestructuras de Astronomia (ACI-2010-1163) and the Generalitat Valenciana Prometeo Program (PROMETEO/2009/064), is to bring together participants in these projects, in order to make the Spanish astronomical community aware of their different abilities and present status. The community will also benefit from possible new synergies and collaborations that may emerge.

The format will include invited talks from the leaders of the different projects (30+5 minutes) and shorter talks from the participants (15+5 minutes), focused on scientific exploitation and/or technical aspects of the surveys, as well as open discussions about synergies and collaborations.

Organizing committee:

• Vicent J. Martínez, Observatori Astronòmic de la Universitat de València
• Alberto Fernández-Soto, Instituto de Física de Cantabria (CSIC-UC)
• Lorena Nieves, Observatori Astronòmic de la Universitat de València
• Amelia Ortiz, Observatori Astronòmic de la Universitat de València
• Francisco Prada, Instituto de Física Teórica (UAM/CSIC) & Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC)
• Rafael Rebolo, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
• Nuria Rius, Instituto de Física Corpuscular (CSIC-UV)

Relevant dates:

• First announcement: February 10th
• Registration deadline: March, 20th
• Firts day meeting: March, 29th

• Presentations

• Science programme
• Participants
• Lodging and logistics