The APM cluster-galaxy cross-correlation function : Constraints on Omega and galaxy bias

(abridged) We estimate the cluster-galaxy cross-correlation function (Xi_cg), from the APM galaxy and galaxy cluster surveys, both in real space from the inversion of projected statistics and in redshift space using the galaxy and cluster redshift samples. The amplitude of Xi_cg is found to be almost independent of cluster richness. At large separations, r >~5 h^-1 Mpc, Xi_cg has a similar shape to the galaxy-galaxy and cluster-cluster autocorrelation functions. Xi_cg in redshift space can be related to the real space Xi_cg by convolution with an appropriate velocity field model. Here we apply a spherical collapse model, which we have tested against N-body simulations, finding that it provides a surprisingly accurate description of the averaged infall velocity of matter into galaxy clusters. We use this model to estimate beta (Omega^{0.6}/b) and find that it tends to overestimate the true result in simulations by only ~10-30%. Application to the APM results yields beta=0.43 with beta < 0.87 at 95% confidence. We also compare the APM Xi_cg and galaxy autocorrelations to results from popular cosmological models and derive two independent estimates of the galaxy biasing expected as a function of scale. Both low and critical density CDM models require anti-biasing by a factor ~2 on scales r <~ 2 h^-1Mpc and an MDM model is consistent with a constant biasing factor on all scales. We use the velocity fields predicted from the different models to distort the APM real space cross-correlation function. Comparison with the APM redshift space Xi_cg yields an estimate of the value of Omega^0.6 needed in each model. Only the low Omega model is fully consistent with observations, with MDM marginally excluded at the ~2 sigma level.Comment: Latex (mn.sty), 17 pages, 16 ps figs, submitted to MNRA

On the "initial" Angular Momentum of Galaxies

Spherical density profiles and specific angular momentum profiles of Dark Matter halos found in cosmological N-body simulations have been measured extensively. The distribution of the total angular momentum of dark matter halos is also used routinely in semi-analytic modeling of the formation of disk galaxies. However, it is unclear whether the initial (i.e. at the time the halo is assembled) angular momentum distributions of baryons is related to the dark matter at all. Theoretical models for ellipticities in weak lensing studies often rely on an assumed correlation of the angular momentum vectors of dark matter and gas in galaxies. Both of these assumptions are shown to be in reasonable agreement with high resolution cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamical simulations that follow the dark matter as long as only adiabatic gas physics are included. However, we argue that in more realistic models of galaxy formation one expects pressure forces to play a significant role at turn--around. Consequently the torquing force on DM and baryons will be uncorrelated and their respective angular momenta are not expected to align. An SPH simulation with ad-hoc feedback is presented that illustrates these effects. Massive low redshift elliptical galaxies may be a notable exception where "light may trace mass".Comment: 4 latex pages (uses sprocl.sty), 1 eps figure. To appear in the proceedings of "The Shapes of Galaxies and Their Halos", Yale, May 200

Weak lensing of the Lyman-alpha forest

The angular positions of quasars are deflected by the gravitational lensing effect of foreground matter. The Lyman-alpha forest seen in the spectra of these quasars is therefore also lensed. We propose that the signature of weak gravitational lensing of the forest could be measured using similar techniques that have been applied to the lensed Cosmic Microwave Background, and which have also been proposed for application to spectral data from 21cm radio telescopes. As with 21cm data, the forest has the advantage of spectral information, potentially yielding many lensed "slices" at different redshifts. We perform an illustrative idealized test, generating a high resolution angular grid of quasars (of order arcminute separation), and lensing the Lyman-alphaforest spectra at redshifts z=2-3 using a foreground density field. We find that standard quadratic estimators can be used to reconstruct images of the foreground mass distribution at z~1. There currently exists a wealth of Lya forest data from quasar and galaxy spectral surveys, with smaller sightline separations expected in the future. Lyman-alpha forest lensing is sensitive to the foreground mass distribution at redshifts intermediate between CMB lensing and galaxy shear, and avoids the difficulties of shape measurement associated with the latter. With further refinement and application of mass reconstruction techniques, weak gravitational lensing of the high redshift Lya forest may become a useful new cosmological probe.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to MNRA