Cosmological constraints from the convergence 1-point probability distribution

Understand

We examine the cosmological information available from the 1-point probability distribution (PDF) of the weak-lensing convergence field, utilizing fast L-PICOLA simulations and a Fisher analysis.

• We find competitive constraints in the $\Omega_m$-$\sigma_8$ plane from the convergence PDF with $188\ arcmin^2$ pixels compared to the cosmic shear power spectrum with an equivalent number of modes ($\ell < 886$).
• The convergence PDF also partially breaks the degeneracy cosmic shear exhibits in that parameter space.
• A joint analysis of the convergence PDF and shear 2-point function also reduces the impact of shape measurement systematics, to which the PDF is less susceptible, and improves the total figure of merit by a factor of $2-3$, depending on the level of systematics.