Is the large-scale structure traced by the BOSS LOWZ galaxies consistent with $\text{Planck}$?

Abstract

Recently, several studies reported a significant discrepancy between the clustering and lensing of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) galaxies in the $\text{Planck}$ cosmology. We construct a simple yet powerful model based on the linear theory to assess whether this discrepancy points toward deviations from $\text{Planck}$. Focusing on scales $10<R<30$ $h^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}$, we model the amplitudes of clustering and lensing of BOSS LOWZ galaxies using three parameters: galaxy bias $b_{\mathrm{g}}$, galaxy-matter cross-correlation coefficient $r_{\mathrm{gm}}$, and $A$, defined as the ratio between the true and $\text{Planck}$ values of ${\sigma }_8$. Using the cross-correlation matrix as a diagnostic, we detect systematic uncertainties that drive spurious correlations among the low-mass galaxies. After building a clean LOWZ sample with $r_{\mathrm{gm}}\sim 1$, we derive a joint constraint of $b_{\mathrm{g}}$ and $A$ from clustering+lensing, yielding $b_{\mathrm{g}}=2.47_{-0.30}^{+0.36}$ and $A=0.81_{-0.09}^{+0.10}$, i.e., a $2\sigma$ tension with $\text{Planck}$. However, due to the strong degeneracy between $b_{\mathrm{g}}$ and $A$, systematic uncertainties in $b_{\mathrm{g}}$ could masquerade as a tension with $A=1$. To ascertain this possibility, we develop a new method to measure $b_{\mathrm{g}}$ from the cluster-galaxy cross-correlation and cluster weak lensing using an overlapping cluster sample. By applying the independent bias measurement ($b_{\mathrm{g}}=1.76\pm 0.22$) as a prior, we successfully break the degeneracy and derive stringent constraints of $b_{\mathrm{g}}=2.02_{-0.15}^{+0.16}$ and $A=0.96\pm 0.07$. Therefore, our result suggests that the large-scale clustering and lensing of LOWZ galaxies are consistent with $\text{Planck}$, while the different bias estimates may be related to some observational systematics in the target selection.

arXiv comment8 pages, 5 figures, comments welcome!

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