PAIRWISE VELOCITIES OF GALAXIES IN THE CFA AND SSRS2 REDSHIFT SURVEYS

(compressed version) We combine the CfA Redshift Survey (CfA2) and the Southern Sky Redshift Survey (SSRS2) to estimate the pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies \sig12 on a scale of \sim 1 \hmpc. Both surveys are complete to an apparent magnitude limit $B(0)=15.5$. Our sample includes 12,812 galaxies distributed in a volume 1.8 \times 10^6 \hmpc3. We conclude: 1) The pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies in the combined CfA2+SSRS2 redshift survey is \sig12=540 \kms \pm 180 \kms. Both the estimate and the variance of \sig12 significantly exceed the canonical values \sig12=340 \pm40 measured by Davis \& Peebles (1983) using CfA1. 2) We derive the uncertainty in \sig12 from the variation among subsamples with volumes on the order of $7 \times 10^5$ \hmpc3. This variation is nearly an order of magnitude larger than the formal error, 36 \kms, derived using least-squares fits to the CfA2+SSRS2 correlation function. This variation among samples is consistent with the conclusions of Mo \etal (1993) for a number of smaller surveys and with the analysis of CfA1 by Zurek \etal (1994). 3) When we remove Abell clusters with $R\ge1$ from our sample, the pairwise velocity dispersion of the remaining galaxies drops to 295 \pm 99 \kms. Thus the dominant source of variance in \sig12 is the shot noise contributed by dense virialized systems. 4) The distribution of pairwise velocities is consistent with an isotropic exponential with velocity dispersion independent of scale.Comment: 61 pages uuencoded, compressed postscript in 5 pieces. Also available in one piece at http://www.dao.nrc.ca/DAO/SCIENCE/science.htm

The Luminosity Function Of Field Galaxies And Its Evolution Since z=1

We present the B-band luminosity function and comoving space and luminosity densities for a sample of 2779 I-band selected field galaxies based on multi-color data from the CADIS survey. The sample is complete down to I_815 = 22 without correction and with completeness correction extends to I_815=23.0. By means of a new multi-color analysis the objects are classified according to their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and their redshifts are determined with typical errors of delta z <= 0.03. We have split our sample into four redshift bins between z=0.1 and z=1.04 and into three SED bins E-Sa,Sa-Sc and starbursting (emission line) galaxies. The evolution of the luminosity function is clearly differential with SED. The normalization phi* of luminosity function for the E-Sa galaxies decreases towards higher redshift, and we find evidence that the comoving galaxy space density decreases with redshift as well. In contrast, we find phi* and the comoving space density increasing with redshift for the Sa-Sc galaxies. For the starburst galaxies we find a steepening of the luminosity function at the faint end and their comoving space density increases with redshift.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, accepted by Astronomy&Astrophysic

Globular Cluster Systems and the Missing Satellite Problem: Implications for Cold Dark Matter Models

We analyze the metallicity distributions of globular clusters belonging to 28 early-type galaxies in the survey of Kundu & Whitmore (2001). A Monte Carlo algorithm which simulates the chemical evolution of galaxies that grow hierarchically via dissipationless mergers is used to determine the most probable protogalactic mass function for each galaxy. Contrary to the claims of Kundu & Whitmore, we find that the observed metallicity distributions are in close agreement with the predictions of such hierarchical formation models. The mass spectrum of protogalactic fragments for the galaxies in our sample has a power-law behavior, with an exponent of roughly -2. This spectrum is indistinguishable from the mass spectrum of dark matter halos predicted by cold dark matter models for structure formation. We argue that these protogalactic fragments, the likely sites of globular cluster formation in the early universe, are the disrupted remains of the "missing" satellite galaxies predicted by cold dark matter models. Our findings suggest that the solution to the missing satellite problem is through the suppression of gas accretion in low-mass halos after reionization, or via self-interacting dark matter, and argue against models with suppressed small-scale power or warm dark matter.Comment: 28 pages, 19 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Einstein's "Zur Elektrodynamik..." (1905) Revisited, with Some Consequences

Einstein, in his "Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Korper", gave a physical (operational) meaning to "time" of a remote event in describing "motion" by introducing the concept of "synchronous stationary clocks located at different places". But with regard to "place" in describing motion, he assumed without analysis the concept of a system of co-ordinates. In the present paper, we propose a way of giving physical (operational) meaning to the concepts of "place" and "co-ordinate system", and show how the observer can define both the place and time of a remote event. Following Einstein, we consider another system "in uniform motion of translation relatively to the former". Without assuming "the properties of homogeneity which we attribute to space and time", we show that the definitions of space and time in the two systems are linearly related. We deduce some novel consequences of our approach regarding faster-than-light observers and particles, "one-way" and "two-way" velocities of light, symmetry, the "group property" of inertial reference frames, length contraction and time dilatation, and the "twin paradox". Finally, we point out a flaw in Einstein's argument in the "Electrodynamical Part" of his paper and show that the Lorentz force formula and Einstein's formula for transformation of field quantities are mutually consistent. We show that for faster-than-light bodies, a simple modification of Planck's formula for mass suffices. (Except for the reference to Planck's formula, we restrict ourselves to Physics of 1905.)Comment: 55 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in "Foundations of Physics

Redshifts for 2410 Galaxies in the Century Survey Region

The `Century Survey' strip covers 102 square degrees within the limits 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 16.5h, 29.0 degrees \leq \delta_{1950} \leq 30.0 degrees. The strip passes through the Corona Borealis supercluster and the outer region of the Coma cluster. Within the Century Survey region, we have measured 2410 redshifts which constitute four overlapping complete redshift surveys: (1) 1728 galaxies with Kron-Cousins R_{phot} \leq 16.13 covering the entire strip, (2) 507 galaxies with R_{phot} \leq 16.4 in the right ascension range 8h 32m \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 10h 45m, (3) 1251 galaxies with absorption- and K-corrected R_{CCD, corr} \leq 16.2 covering the right ascension range 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 13.5h and (4) 1255 galaxies with absorption- and K-corrected V_{CCD, corr} \leq 16.7 also covering the right ascension range 8.5h \leq \alpha_{1950} \leq 13.5h. All of these redshift samples are more than 98 % complete to the specified magnitude limit.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, 2 abbreviated tables. In press, to appear in Astronomical Journal, Dec. 2001 issu

Evidence for the Hierarchical Formation of the Galactic Spheroid

The possibility that the Galactic spheroid was assembled from numerous chemically-distinct, proto-Galactic fragments is investigated using a Monte-Carlo technique designed to simulate the chemical evolution of the Galaxy in hierarchical formation scenarios which involve no gas dissipation. By comparing the observed and simulated metallicity distributions of Galactic globular clusters and halo field stars, we estimate the level of fragmentation in the collapsing proto-Galaxy. Although the formation process is highly stochastic, the simulations often show good agreement with the observed metallicity distributions, provided the luminosity function of proto-Galactic fragments had a power-law form with exponent ~ -2. While this steep slope is strongly at odds with the presently observed luminosity function of the Local Group, it is in close agreement with the predictions of semi-analytic and numerical models of hierarchical galaxy formation. We discuss a number of possible explanations for this discrepancy. These simulations suggest that the Galactic halo and its globular cluster system were assembled via the accretion and disruption of approximately 1000 metal-poor, proto-Galactic fragments by the dominant Galactic building block: a proto-bulge whose own metal-rich globular clusters system has been preferentially eroded by dynamical processes. We argue that the same process (ie, hierarchical growth involving little gas dissipation) is responsible for the formation of both giant elliptical galaxies and the bulge-halo components of spiral galaxies. (ABRIDGED).Comment: 20 pages, 9 postscript figures. Accepted for publication in the ApJ, April 10 2000 issu

The unexpected importance of the fifth digit during stone tool production

Unique anatomical features of the human hand facilitate our ability to proficiently and forcefully perform precision grips and in-hand manipulation of objects. Extensive research has been conducted into the role of digits one to three during these manual behaviours, and the origin of the highly derived first digit anatomy that facilitates these capabilities. Stone tool production has long been thought a key influence in this regard. Despite previous research stressing the unique derived morphology of the human fifth digit little work has investigated why humans alone display these features. Here we examine the recruitment frequency, loading magnitude, and loading distribution of all digits on the non-dominant hand of skilled flintknappers during four technologically distinct types of Lower Palaeolithic stone tool production. Our data reveal the fifth digit to be heavily and frequently recruited during all studied behaviours. It occasionally incurred pressures, and was used in frequencies, greater or equal to those of the thumb, and frequently the same or greater than those of the index finger. The fifth digit therefore appears key to >2 million years of stone tool production activities, a behaviour that likely contributed to the derived anatomy observed in the modern human fifth ray