TARDIS. II. Synergistic Density Reconstruction from Lyα Forest and Spectroscopic Galaxy Surveys with Applications to Protoclusters and the Cosmic Web

Abstract

Abstract In this work, we expand upon the Tomographic Absorption Reconstruction and Density Inference Scheme (TARDIS) in order to include multiple tracers while reconstructing matter density fields at Cosmic Noon (z ∼ 2–3). In particular, we jointly reconstruct the underlying density field from simulated Lyα forest observations at z ∼ 2.5 and an overlapping galaxy survey. We find that these data are synergistic, with the Lyα forest providing reconstruction of low-density regions and galaxy surveys tracing the density peaks. We find a more accurate power spectra reconstruction going to higher scales when fitting these two data sets simultaneously than when using either one individually. When applied to cosmic web analysis, we find that performing the joint analysis is equivalent to an Lyα survey with significantly increased sight-line spacing. Because we reconstruct the velocity field and matter field jointly, we demonstrate the ability to evolve the mock observed volume further to z = 0, allowing us to create a rigorous definition of a “protocluster” as regions that will evolve into clusters. We apply our reconstructions to study protocluster structure and evolution, finding for realistic survey parameters that we can provide accurate mass estimates of the z ≈ 2 structures and their z = 0 fate.