A Measurement of the Correlation of Galaxy Surveys with CMB Lensing Convergence Maps from the South Pole Telescope

• Published in: The Astrophysical Journal
• Main Authors: Bleem, L. E., Doré, O., Lueker, M., Padin, S., Vieira, J. D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Astronomical Society 2012
• Subjects: Blanco; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: https://authors.library.caltech.edu/32654/; https://authors.library.caltech.edu/32654/1/Bleem2012p18938Astrophys_J_Lett.pdf; https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120723-142746389

We compare cosmic microwave background lensing convergence maps derived from South Pole Telescope (SPT) data with galaxy survey data from the Blanco Cosmology Survey, WISE, and a new large Spitzer/IRAC field designed to overlap with the SPT survey. Using optical and infrared catalogs covering between 17 and 68 deg^2 of sky, we detect a correlation between the SPT convergence maps and each of the galaxy density maps at >4σ, with zero correlation robustly ruled out in all cases. The amplitude and shape of the cross-power spectra are in good agreement with theoretical expectations and the measured galaxy bias is consistent with previous work. The detections reported here utilize a small fraction of the full 2500 deg^2 SPT survey data and serve as both a proof of principle of the technique and an illustration of the potential of this emerging cosmological probe.