Deep Drilling Field Simulations

Science Survey Strategy
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#1

We have simulated about 8 different deep drilling strategies, and are looking for more feedback on what works well and what strategies we should use going forward.

A full block of plots are available here: https://github.com/lsst-sims/sims_featureScheduler_runs1.4/tree/master/ddf_comp

These are runs comparing three different DDF sequences, the baseline which has rx20, gx10, ix20, zx26, yx20, the AGN white paper proposal which has gx1, rx1, ix3, zx5, yx4, the DESC white paper which executes gx2, rx4, ix8 and zx25, yx4 and a flexible sequence that tries ux8, rx20, gx10, ix20, zx26, and yx20 with whichever 5 filters are available. We also look at replacing the DD290 field with Euclid deep fields. The README file in the repo has more details.

Some highlights:

Here is how deep the COSMOS DDF gets in different simulations:
COSMOS

Here’s the fraction of SNe that are detected on the rise in each DDF for each simulation.
sne_pre_peak

It would be great to get more DDF-specific metrics so we can try and choose between these strategies. I know there are some SNe metrics running around that I should fold in. It would be great to also have some AGN-specific metrics. Perhaps something related to photo-z because we don’t have anything really constraining the ratio of final depths.

Tagging DDF white paper authors and other DDF fans: @dscolnic, @nielbrandt, @philippe.gris, @MichelleLochner

#2

In case you’d had any trouble finding these runs –
at NCSA:
The new DDF runs (flexddf, flexddf_moreu, longseasonddf, darkddf) are available at https://lsst-web.ncsa.illinois.edu/sim-data/sims_featureScheduler_runs1.4/DDF_experiment/
and the previously existing more single-experiment style runs are available at
AGN : https://lsst-web.ncsa.illinois.edu/sim-data/sims_featureScheduler_runs1.4/AGN_DDF/
DESC : https://lsst-web.ncsa.illinois.edu/sim-data/sims_featureScheduler_runs1.4/DESC_DDF/
baseline: https://lsst-web.ncsa.illinois.edu/sim-data/sims_featureScheduler_runs1.4/baseline/

I’ll work on bringing these over to astro-lsst-01 so the standard MAF metrics and download links will be available there shortly.

#3

Is there a citable reference for the selection of the 5 DDFs? Or should I reference the 2018 White Papers? Thanks.

#4

Several folks have been asking for something to cite for the DDF locations. Maybe we should just make a quick tech note with the current planned locations and potential dithering sizes?

#5

Tech notes can be hard to find later. Would a AAS Research Note be better since it would be easily findable in ADS for this information?

#6

I think it would be helpful for the community to have some kind of citable reference for the DDFs; e.g. for grant applications etc. A Research Note would be a good option I think - concise and quick to write but long enough to include information about the DDF selection process and the current stage of acceptance of the five fields.