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Context. The density split statistics in weak gravitational lensing analyses probes the correlation between regions of different (foreground) galaxy number densities and their weak lensing signal, measured by the shape distortion of background galaxies. Aims. In this paper, we reconsider density split statistics, by constructing a new angular filter function that is adapted to the expected relation between galaxy number density and shear pattern, in a way that the filter weighting the galaxy number density is matched to the filter that is used to quantify the shear signal. Methods. We use the results of numerical ray-tracing simulations, specifically through Millennium Simulation supplemented by a galaxy distribution based on a semi-analytic model, to construct a matched pair of adapted filter functions for the galaxy density and the tangential shear signal. We compare the performance of our new filter to the previously used top-hat filter, applying both to a different and independent set of numerical simulations (SLICS, cosmo-SLICS). Results. We show that the adapted filter yields a better correlation between the total matter and the galaxy distribution. Furthermore, the adapted filter provides a larger signal-to-noise ratio to constrain the bias between the total matter and the galaxy distribution, and we show that it is, in general, a more sensitive discriminator between different cosmologies, with the exception of cosmologies with very large $\sigma_8$ values. All analyses lead to the conclusion that our adapted filter should be favored in future density split statistic works., Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication by A&A

Cosmic voids, the less dense patches of the Universe, are promising laboratories to extract cosmological information. Thanks to their unique low density character, voids are extremely sensitive to diffuse components such as neutrinos and dark energy, and represent ideal environments to study modifications of gravity, where the effects of such modifications are expected to be more prominent. Robust void-related observables, including for example redshift-space distortions (RSD) and weak lensing around voids, are a promising way to chase and test new physics. Cosmological analysis of the large-scale structure of the Universe predominantly relies on the high density regions. Current and upcoming surveys are designed to optimize the extraction of cosmological information from these zones, but leave voids under-exploited. A dense, large area spectroscopic survey with imaging capabilities is ideal to exploit the power of voids fully. Besides helping illuminate the nature of dark energy, modified gravity, and neutrinos, this survey will give access to a detailed map of under-dense regions, providing an unprecedented opportunity to observe and study a so far under-explored galaxy population., Comment: Science White Paper for the Astro2020 Decadal Survey, 5 pages text, 14 pages with references and affiliations

We study projected underdensities in the cosmic galaxy density field known as 'troughs', and their overdense counterparts, which we call 'ridges'. We identify these regions using a bright sample of foreground galaxies from the photometric Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS), specifically selected to mimic the spectroscopic Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey (GAMA). Using background galaxies from KiDS, we measure the weak gravitational lensing profiles of the troughs/ridges. We quantify the amplitude of their lensing strength $A$ as a function of galaxy density percentile rank $P$ and galaxy overdensity $\delta$, and find that the skewness in the galaxy density distribution is reflected in the total mass distribution measured by weak lensing. We interpret our results using the mock galaxy catalogue from the Marenostrum Institut de Ci\`encies de l'Espai (MICE) simulation, and find a good agreement with our observations. Using signal-to-noise weights derived from the Scinet LIghtCone Simulations (SLICS) mock catalogue we optimally stack the lensing signal of KiDS troughs with an angular radius $\theta_A$ = {5,10,15,20} arcmin, resulting in {16.8,14.9,10.13,7.55} $\sigma$ detections. Finally, we select troughs using a volume-limited sample of galaxies, split into two redshift bins between 0.1 < z < 0.3. For troughs/ridges with transverse comoving radius $R_A$ = 1.9 Mpc/h, we find no significant difference in the comoving Excess Surface Density as a function of $P$ and $\delta$ between the low- and high-redshift sample. Using the MICE and SLICS mocks we predict that trough and ridge evolution could be detected with gravitational lensing using deeper and wider lensing surveys, such as those from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and Euclid., Comment: 23 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables; published in MNRAS

We study the spherical evolution model for voids in $\Lambda$CDM, where the evolution of voids is governed by dark energy at an earlier time than that for the whole universe or in overdensities. We show that the presence of dark energy suppresses the growth of peculiar velocities, causing void shell-crossing to occur at progressively later epochs as $\Omega_{\Lambda}$ increases. We apply the spherical model to evolve the initial conditions of N-body simulated voids and compare the resulting final void profiles. We find that the model is successful in tracking the evolution of voids with radii greater than $30 h^{-1} \rm Mpc$, implying that void profiles could be used to constrain dark energy. We find that the initial peculiar velocities of voids play a significant role in shaping their evolution. Excluding the peculiar velocity in the evolution model delays the time of shell crossing., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted by MNRAS

Starlight from galaxies plays a pivotal role throughout the process of cosmic reionisation. We present the statistics of dwarf galaxy properties at z > 7 in haloes with masses up to 10^9 solar masses, using a cosmological radiation hydrodynamics simulation that follows their buildup starting with their Population III progenitors. We find that metal-enriched star formation is not restricted to atomic cooling ($T_{\rm vir} \ge 10^4$ K) haloes, but can occur in haloes down to masses ~10^6 solar masses, especially in neutral regions. Even though these smallest galaxies only host up to 10^4 solar masses of stars, they provide nearly 30 per cent of the ionising photon budget. We find that the galaxy luminosity function flattens above M_UV ~ -12 with a number density that is unchanged at z < 10. The fraction of ionising radiation escaping into the intergalactic medium is inversely dependent on halo mass, decreasing from 50 to 5 per cent in the mass range $\log M/M_\odot = 7.0-8.5$. Using our galaxy statistics in a semi-analytic reionisation model, we find a Thomson scattering optical depth consistent with the latest Planck results, while still being consistent with the UV emissivity constraints provided by Ly$\alpha$ forest observations at z = 4-6., Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables. Accepted in MNRAS