Measuring the Universe with Galaxy Redshift Surveys

Galaxy redshift surveys are one of the pillars of the current standard cosmological model and remain a key tool in the experimental effort to understand the origin of cosmic acceleration. To this end, the next generation of surveys aim at achieving sub-percent precision in the measurement of the equation of state of dark energy w(z) and the growth rate of structure f(z). This however requires comparable control over systematic errors, stressing the need for improved modelling methods. In this paper we review a few specific highlights of the work done in this direction by the Darklight project (http://darklight.fisica.unimi.it.). Supported by an ERC Advanced Grant, Darklight has been developing novel techniques and applying them to numerical simulations and to the new redshift survey data of the VIPERS survey. We focus in particular on: (a) advances on estimating the growth rate of structure from redshift-space distortions; (b) parameter estimation through global Bayesian reconstruction of the density field from survey data; (c) impact of massive neutrinos on large-scale structure measurements. Overall, Darklight is paving the way for forthcoming high-precision experiments, such as Euclid, the next ESA cosmological mission.