3,088 research outputs found
The local space density of dwarf galaxies
We estimate the luminosity function of field galaxies over a range of ten
magnitudes (-22 < M_{B_J} < -12 for H_0 = 100 km/s/Mpc) by counting the number
of faint APM galaxies around Stromlo-APM redshift survey galaxies at known
distance. The faint end of the luminosity function rises steeply at M_{B_J}
\approx -15, implying that the space density of dwarf galaxies is at least two
times larger than predicted by a Schechter function with flat faint-end slope.
Such a high abundance of dwarf galaxies at low redshift can help explain the
observed number counts and redshift distributions of faint galaxies without
invoking exotic models for galaxy evolution.Comment: 20 pages, 5 included postscript figures, uses AAS LaTex macros.
Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. Two figures and
associated discussion added; results and conclusions unchange
Correlations in the Spatial Power Spectrum Inferred from Angular Clustering: Methods and Application to APM
We reconsider the inference of spatial power spectra from angular clustering
data and show how to include correlations in both the angular correlation
function and the spatial power spectrum. Inclusion of the full covariance
matrices loosens the constraints on large-scale structure inferred from the APM
survey by over a factor of two. We present a new inversion technique based on
singular value decomposition that allows one to propagate the covariance matrix
on the angular correlation function through to that of the spatial power
spectrum and to reconstruct smooth power spectra without underestimating the
errors. Within a parameter space of the CDM shape Gamma and the amplitude
sigma_8, we find that the angular correlations in the APM survey constrain
Gamma to be 0.19-0.37 at 68% confidence when fit to scales larger than k=0.2h
Mpc^-1. A downturn in power at k<0.04h Mpc^-1 is significant at only 1-sigma.
These results are optimistic as we include only Gaussian statistical errors and
neglect any boundary effects.Comment: 37 pages, LaTex, 9 figures. Submitted to Ap
Redshifts in the Southern Abell Redshift Survey Clusters. I. The Data
The Southern Abell Redshift Survey contains 39 clusters of galaxies with
redshifts in the range 0.0 < z < 0.31 and a median redshift depth of z =
0.0845. SARS covers the region 0 21h (while
avoiding the LMC and SMC) with b > 40. Cluster locations were chosen from the
Abell and Abell-Corwin-Olowin catalogs while galaxy positions were selected
from the Automatic Plate Measuring Facility galaxy catalog with
extinction-corrected magnitudes in the range 15 <= b_j < 19. SARS utilized the
Las Campanas 2.5 m duPont telescope, observing either 65 or 128 objects
concurrently over a 1.5 sq deg field. New redshifts for 3440 galaxies are
reported in the fields of these 39 clusters of galaxies.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journal, Table 2 can be downloaded in its entirety from
http://trotsky.arc.nasa.gov/~mway/SARS1/sars1-table2.cs
Large-scale structure and matter in the universe
This paper summarizes the physical mechanisms that encode the type and
quantity of cosmological matter in the properties of large-scale structure, and
reviews the application of such tests to current datasets. The key lengths of
the horizon size at matter-radiation equality and at last scattering determine
the total matter density and its ratio to the relativistic density; acoustic
oscillations can diagnose whether the matter is collisionless, and small-scale
structure or its absence can limit the mass of any dark-matter relic particle.
The most stringent constraints come from combining data on present-day galaxy
clustering with data on CMB anisotropies. Such an analysis breaks the
degeneracies inherent in either dataset alone, and proves that the universe is
very close to flat. The matter content is accurately consistent with pure Cold
Dark Matter, with about 25% of the critical density, and fluctuations that are
scalar-only, adiabatic and scale-invariant. It is demonstrated that these
conclusions cannot be evaded by adjusting either the equation of state of the
vacuum, or the total relativistic density.Comment: 17 Pages. Review paper from the January 2003 Royal Society Discussion
Meeting, "The search for dark matter and dark energy in the universe
The Galaxy Angular Correlation Functions and Power Spectrum from the Two Micron All Sky Survey
We calculate the angular correlation function of galaxies in the Two Micron
All Sky Survey. We minimize the possible contamination by stars, dust, seeing
and sky brightness by studying their cross correlation with galaxy density, and
limiting the galaxy sample accordingly. We measure the correlation function at
scales between 1-18 arcdegs using a half million galaxies. We find a best fit
power law to the correlation function has a slope of 0.76 and an amplitude of
0.11. However, there are statistically significant oscillations around this
power law. The largest oscillation occurs at about 0.8 degrees, corresponding
to 2.8 h^{-1} Mpc at the median redshift of our survey, as expected in halo
occupation distribution descriptions of galaxy clustering.
We invert the angular correlation function using Singular Value Decomposition
to measure the three-dimensional power spectrum and find that it too is in good
agreement with previous measurements. A dip seen in the power spectrum at small
wavenumber k is statistically consistent with CDM-type power spectra. A fit of
CDM-type power spectra to k < 0.2 h Mpc^{-1} give constraints of
\Gamma_{eff}=0.116 and \sigma_8=0.96. This suggest a K_s-band linear bias of
1.1+/-0.2. This \Gamma_{eff} is different from the WMAP CMB derived value. On
small scales the power-law shape of our power spectrum is shallower than that
derived for the SDSS. These facts together imply a biasing of these different
galaxies that might be nonlinear, that might be either waveband or luminosity
dependent, and that might have a nonlocal origin.Comment: 14 pages, 20 figures, to be published in ApJ January 20th, revision
included two new figures, version with high resolution figures can be found
here http::ww
Comment on 'Quantum Backreaction on "Classical" Variables'
It is argued that the bracket of Anderson's canonical theory should have been
antisymmetric otherwise serious controversies arise like violation of both
hermiticity and the Leibniz rule of differentiation.Comment: 3 pages, LaTe
The Peculiar Velocity Function of Galaxy Clusters
The peculiar velocity function of clusters of galaxies is determined using an
accurate sample of cluster velocities based on Tully-Fisher distances of Sc
galaxies (Giovanelli et al 1995b). In contrast with previous results based on
samples with considerably larger velocity uncertainties, the observed velocity
function does not exhibit a tail of high velocity clusters. The results
indicate a low probability of \,5\% of finding clusters with
one-dimensional velocities greater than 600 {\kms}. The root-mean-square
one-dimensional cluster velocity is 29328 {\kms}. The observed cluster
velocity function is compared with expectations from different cosmological
models. The absence of a high velocity tail in the observed function is most
consistent with a low mass-density (0.3) CDM model, and is
inconsistent at level with = 1.0 CDM and HDM models.
The root-mean-square one-dimensional cluster velocities in these models
correspond, respectively, to 314, 516, and 632 {\kms} (when convolved with the
observational uncertainties). Comparison with the observed RMS cluster velocity
of 29328 {\kms} further supports the low-density CDM model.Comment: revised version accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 18 pages,
uuencoded PostScript with 3 figures included; complete paper available
through WWW at http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~library/prep.htm
A Simple Method for Computing the Non-Linear Mass Correlation Function with Implications for Stable Clustering
We propose a simple and accurate method for computing analytically the mass
correlation function for cold dark matter and scale-free models that fits
N-body simulations over a range that extends from the linear to the strongly
non-linear regime. The method, based on the dynamical evolution of the pair
conservation equation, relies on a universal relation between the pair-wise
velocity and the smoothed correlation function valid for high and low density
models, as derived empirically from N-body simulations. An intriguing
alternative relation, based on the stable-clustering hypothesis, predicts a
power-law behavior of the mass correlation function that disagrees with N-body
simulations but conforms well to the observed galaxy correlation function if
negligible bias is assumed. The method is a useful tool for rapidly exploring a
wide span of models and, at the same time, raises new questions about large
scale structure formation.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Correlation Function of Superclusters of Galaxies
We present a study of the two-point correlation function of superclusters of
galaxies. The largest catalogs are used. The results show negligible
correlation less than 0.1-0.2 for separations up to 500-600 h^{-1} Mpc. Small
correlations are obtained using various estimates and samples. Seemingly there
are no structures of superclusters of galaxies.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables. To appear in 1998 ApJ, 506, No. 2 (Oct
20
Faint blue objects on the Hubble Deep Field North & South as possible nearby old halo white dwarfs
Using data derived from the deepest and finest angular resolution images of
the universe yet acquired by astronomers at optical wavelengths using the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in two postage-stamp sections of the sky (Williams
et al. 1996a,b), plus simple geometrical and scaling arguments, we demonstrate
that the faint blue population of point-source objects detected on those two
fields (M\'endez et al. 1996) could actually be ancient halo white dwarfs at
distances closer than about 2 kpc from the Sun. This finding has profound
implications, as the mass density of the detected objects would account for
about half of the missing dark matter in the Milky-Way (Bahcall and Soneira
1980), thus solving one of the most controversial issues of modern astrophysics
(Trimble 1987, Ashman 1992). The existence of these faint blue objects points
to a very large mass locked into ancient halo white dwarfs. Our estimate
indicates that they could account for as much as half of the dark matter in our
Galaxy, confirming the suggestions of the MACHO microlensing experiment (Alcock
et al. 1997). Because of the importance of this discovery, deep follow-up
observations with HST within the next two years would be needed to determine
more accurately the kinematics (tangential motions) for these faint blue old
white dwarfs.Comment: Accepted for publication on The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1. 8
pages (AAS Latex macros V4.0), 1 B&W postscript figure, 2 color postscript
figure
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