27,796 research outputs found
The time-evolution of bias
We study the evolution of the bias factor b and the mass-galaxy correlation
coefficient r in a simple analytic model for galaxy formation and the
gravitational growth of clustering. The model shows that b and r can be
strongly time-dependent, but tend to approach unity even if galaxy formation
never ends as the gravitational growth of clustering debiases the older
galaxies. The presence of random fluctuations in the sites of galaxy formation
relative to the mass distribution can cause large and rapidly falling bias
values at high redshift.Comment: 4 pages, with 2 figures included. Typos corrected to match published
ApJL version. Color figure and links at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~max/bias.html
or from [email protected]
The cosmological light-cone effect on the power spectrum of galaxies and quasars in wide-field redshift surveys
We examine observational consequences of the cosmological light-cone effect
on the power spectrum of the distribution of galaxies and quasars from upcoming
redshift surveys. First we derive an expression for the power spectrum of
cosmological objects in real space on a light cone, , which is exact in linear theory of density perturbations. Next we
incorporate corrections for the nonlinear density evolution and redshift-space
distortion in the formula in a phenomenological manner which is consistent with
recent numerical simulations. On the basis of this formula, we predict the
power spectrum of galaxies and quasars on the light cone for future redshift
surveys taking account of the selection function properly. We demonstrate that
this formula provides a reliable and useful method to compute the power
spectrum on the light cone given an evolution model of bias.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journa
Deriving the Nonlinear Cosmological Power Spectrum and Bispectrum from Analytic Dark Matter Halo Profiles and Mass Functions
We present an analytic model for the fully nonlinear power spectrum P and
bispectrum Q of the cosmological mass density field. The model is based on
physical properties of dark matter halos, with the three main model inputs
being analytic halo density profiles, halo mass functions, and halo-halo
spatial correlations, each of which has been well studied in the literature. We
demonstrate that this new model can reproduce the power spectrum and bispectrum
computed from cosmological simulations of both an n=-2 scale-free model and a
low-density cold dark matter model. To enhance the dynamic range of these large
simulations, we use the synthetic halo replacement technique of Ma & Fry
(2000a), where the original halos with numerically softened cores are replaced
by synthetic halos of realistic density profiles. At high wavenumbers, our
model predicts a slope for the nonlinear power spectrum different from the
often-used fitting formulas in the literature based on the stable clustering
assumption. Our model also predicts a three-point amplitude Q that is scale
dependent, in contrast to the popular hierarchical clustering assumption. This
model provides a rapid way to compute the mass power spectrum and bispectrum
over all length scales where the input halo properties are valid. It also
provides a physical interpretation of the clustering properties of matter in
the universe.Comment: Final version to appear in the Astrophysical Journal 544 (2000).
Minor revisions; 1 additional figure. 25 pages with 6 inserted figure
Nonlinear Gravitational Clustering: dreams of a paradigm
We discuss the late time evolution of the gravitational clustering in an
expanding universe, based on the nonlinear scaling relations (NSR) which
connect the nonlinear and linear two point correlation functions. The existence
of critical indices for the NSR suggests that the evolution may proceed towards
a universal profile which does not change its shape at late times. We begin by
clarifying the relation between the density profiles of the individual halo and
the slope of the correlation function and discuss the conditions under which
the slopes of the correlation function at the extreme nonlinear end can be
independent of the initial power spectrum. If the evolution should lead to a
profile which preserves the shape at late times, then the correlation function
should grow as [in a universe] een at nonlinear scales. We
prove that such exact solutions do not exist; however, ther e exists a class of
solutions (``psuedo-linear profiles'', PLP's for short) which evolve as
to a good approximation. It turns out that the PLP's are the correlation
functions which arise if the individual halos are assumed to be isothermal
spheres. They are also configurations of mass in which the nonlinear effects of
gravitational clustering is a minimum and hence can act as building blocks of
the nonlinear universe. We discuss the implicatios of this result.Comment: 32 Pages, Submitted to Ap
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
An excursion set model of the cosmic web: The abundance of sheets, filaments and halos
We discuss an analytic approach for modeling structure formation in sheets,
filaments and knots. This is accomplished by combining models of triaxial
collapse with the excursion set approach: sheets are defined as objects which
have collapsed along only one axis, filaments have collapsed along two axes,
and halos are objects in which triaxial collapse is complete. In the simplest
version of this approach, which we develop here, large scale structure shows a
clear hierarchy of morphologies: the mass in large-scale sheets is partitioned
up among lower mass filaments, which themselves are made-up of still lower mass
halos. Our approach provides analytic estimates of the mass fraction in sheets,
filaments and halos, and its evolution, for any background cosmological model
and any initial fluctuation spectrum. In the currently popular CDM
model, our analysis suggests that more than 99% of the cosmic mass is in
sheets, and 72% in filaments, with mass larger than at the
present time. For halos, this number is only 46%. Our approach also provides
analytic estimates of how halo abundances at any given time correlate with the
morphology of the surrounding large-scale structure, and how halo evolution
correlates with the morphology of large scale structure.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap
The Far-Infrared Background Correlation with CMB Lensing
The intervening large--scale structure distorts cosmic microwave background
(CMB) anisotropies via gravitational lensing. The same large--scale structure,
traced by dusty star--forming galaxies, also induces anisotropies in the
far--infrared background (FIRB). We investigate the resulting inter--dependence
of the FIRB and CMB with a halo model for the FIRB. In particular, we calculate
the cross--correlation between the lensing potential and the FIRB. The lensing
potential can be quadratically estimated from CMB temperature and/or
polarization maps. We show that the cross--correlation can be measured with
high signal--to--noise with data from the Planck Surveyor. We discuss how such
a measurement can be used to understand the nature of FIRB sources and their
relation to the distribution of dark matter.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Ap
Galaxy Groups in the SDSS DR4: II. halo occupation statistics
We investigate various halo occupation statistics using a large galaxy group
catalogue constructed from the SDSS DR4 with an adaptive halo-based group
finder. The conditional luminosity function (CLF) is measured separately for
all, red and blue galaxies, as well as in terms of central and satellite
galaxies. The CLFs for central and satellite galaxies can be well modelled with
a log-normal distribution and a modified Schechter form, respectively. About
85% of the central galaxies and about 80% of the satellite galaxies in halos
with masses M_h\ga 10^{14}\msunh are red galaxies. These numbers decrease to
50% and 40%, respectively, in halos with M_h \sim 10^{12}\msunh. For halos of
a given mass, the distribution of the luminosities of central galaxies, ,
has a dispersion of about 0.15 dex. The mean luminosity (stellar mass) of the
central galaxies scales with halo mass as
() for halos with masses M\gg 10^{12.5}\msunh, and
both relations are significantly steeper for less massive halos. We also
measure the luminosity (stellar mass) gap between the first and second
brightest (most massive) member galaxies, (). These gap statistics, especially in halos with M_h \la
10^{14.0}\msunh, indicate that the luminosities of central galaxies are
clearly distinct from those of their satellites. The fraction of fossil groups,
defined as those groups with , ranges from for groups with M_h\sim 10^{14}\msunh to 18-60% for groups with
M_h\sim 10^{13}\msunh. Finally, we measure the fraction of satellites, which
changes from for galaxies with \rmag\sim -22.0 to for
galaxies with \rmag\sim -17.0. (abridged)Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
The Shapiro Conjecture: Prompt or Delayed Collapse in the head-on collision of neutron stars?
We study the question of prompt vs. delayed collapse in the head-on collision
of two neutron stars. We show that the prompt formation of a black hole is
possible, contrary to a conjecture of Shapiro which claims that collapse is
delayed until after neutrino cooling. We discuss the insight provided by
Shapiro's conjecture and its limitation. An understanding of the limitation of
the conjecture is provided in terms of the many time scales involved in the
problem. General relativistic simulations in the Einstein theory with the full
set of Einstein equations coupled to the general relativistic hydrodynamic
equations are carried out in our study.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure
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