[Paper Review] Synergies between Vera C. Rubin Observatory, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and Euclid Mission: Constraining Dark Energy with Type Ia Supernovae

Benjamin Rose, G. Aldering+26 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Apr 2, 2021

Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae4 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes coordinated data sharing and joint operations among the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and Euclid mission to dramatically improve constraints on dark energy using Type Ia supernovae. By synchronizing survey strategies, photometric calibration, spectroscopic follow-up, and pixel-level processing, the synergy enables higher statistical precision and reduced systematics, especially in photometric redshifts and distance measurements across a wider redshift and wavelength range.

ABSTRACT

We review the needs of the supernova community for improvements in survey coordination and data sharing that would significantly boost the constraints on dark energy using samples of Type Ia supernovae from the Vera C. Rubin Observatories, the extit{Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope}, and the extit{Euclid} Mission. We discuss improvements to both statistical and systematic precision that the combination of observations from these experiments will enable. For example, coordination will result in improved photometric calibration, redshift measurements, as well as supernova distances. We also discuss what teams and plans should be put in place now to start preparing for these combined data sets. Specifically, we request coordinated efforts in field selection and survey operations, photometric calibration, spectroscopic follow-up, pixel-level processing, and computing. These efforts will benefit not only experiments with Type Ia supernovae, but all time-domain studies, and cosmology with multi-messenger astrophysics.

Motivation & Objective

• Improve statistical and systematic precision in dark energy constraints using Type Ia supernovae from three major space and ground-based observatories.
• Address the challenge of time-dependent, multi-mission supernova surveys by establishing early coordination mechanisms.
• Enhance photometric redshift accuracy and photometric calibration through cross-survey data sharing and joint processing.
• Enable joint analysis of multi-wavelength data (optical and near-infrared) to extend redshift coverage and improve standardization of SNe Ia.
• Establish cross-agency task forces to ensure long-term coordination of survey design, data processing, and computational infrastructure.

Proposed method

• Propose coordinated field selection and survey operations across Rubin, Roman, and Euclid to maximize overlapping sky coverage and cadence.
• Implement joint photometric calibration using common standards and cross-observatory reference sources to reduce systematic errors.
• Create shared spectroscopic follow-up campaigns to obtain redshifts and improve light-curve standardization across all three surveys.
• Develop pixel-level processing pipelines that can reprocess data from all three missions in a unified framework, including fake source injection for selection function modeling.
• Establish a joint computational task force with shared computing infrastructure, such as a common JupyterHub environment, to enable joint simulations and data access.
• Integrate multi-mission data into cosmological likelihoods using joint simulations of novel dark energy models to ensure accurate propagation of effects.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can coordinated survey operations between Rubin, Roman, and Euclid maximize the statistical power and systematic control of Type Ia supernova samples?
• RQ2 What improvements in photometric redshift accuracy and photometric calibration can be achieved through cross-survey data sharing?
• RQ3 How can joint spectroscopic follow-up campaigns reduce uncertainties in SN Ia distance measurements and standardization?
• RQ4 What computational and data processing frameworks are needed to enable joint analysis of multi-mission time-domain data?
• RQ5 How can fake source injection and joint sky simulations improve understanding of the joint survey selection function and rare transient demographics?

Key findings

• The combination of LSST (Rubin), Roman, and Euclid data can increase the redshift range of SNe Ia samples by extending to z > 3 and covering both optical and near-infrared bands.
• Coordinated photometric calibration across missions can reduce systematic errors in SN Ia distance measurements by enabling consistent zero-point transfer and cross-calibration.
• Joint spectroscopic follow-up can improve redshift measurement accuracy, reducing scatter in SN Ia standardization and enhancing cosmological constraints.
• Shared pixel-level processing and fake source injection enable accurate modeling of the joint survey selection function, crucial for unbiased cosmological inference.
• A joint computational infrastructure, including shared JupyterHub environments and joint simulations, will allow researchers to propagate effects of new dark energy models through all three surveys with high fidelity.
• Cross-agency task forces for survey coordination, calibration, and data processing are essential to unlock the full scientific potential of the combined datasets.