Methodological refinement of the submillimeter galaxy magnification bias. Paper I: cross-correlation function measurements

The measurement of the cross-correlation function is crucial to assess magnification bias in galaxy surveys. Previous works used mini-tile subsampling, but accurately determining the integral constraint (IC) correction for unbiased estimation is challenging due to various factors. We present a new methodology for estimating the cross-correlation function, utilizing full field area and reducing statistical uncertainty. Covariance matrices were estimated by dividing each field into at least five patches using a k-mean clustering algorithm. Robustness was assessed by comparing spectroscopic and photometric lens samples, yielding compatible results. Cross-correlation and auto-correlation analyses in the GAMA fields revealed a stronger signal in GAMA15, likely due to rare large-scale structure combinations. Our findings highlight the robustness of the new methodology and suggest sample-specific effects. Subsequent papers in this series will explore other aspects of magnification bias and address potential biases from the GAMA15 signal on cosmological parameter constraints.
This work is the first one of a three-paper serie. 14 pages, 9 figures, submitted for publication by A&A