The cross-correlation between galaxies of different luminosities and Colors

Abstract

We study the cross-correlation between galaxies of different luminosities and colors, using a sample selected from the SDSS Dr 4. Galaxies are divided into 6 samples according to luminosity, and each of these samples is divided into red and blue subsamples. Projected auto-correlation and cross-correlation is estimated for these subsample. At projected separations r_p > 1\mpch, all correlation functions are roughly parallel, although the correlation amplitude depends systematically on luminosity and color. On r_p < 1\mpch, the auto- and cross-correlation functions of red galaxies are significantly enhanced relative to the corresponding power laws obtained on larger scales. Such enhancement is absent for blue galaxies and in the cross-correlation between red and blue galaxies. We esimate the relative bias factor on scales r > 1\mpch for each subsample using its auto-correlation function and cross-correlation functions. The relative bias factors obtained from different methods are similar. For blue galaxies the luminosity-dependence of the relative bias is strong over the luminosity range probed (-23.0<M_r < -18.0),but for red galaxies the dependence is weaker and becomes insignificant for luminosities below L^*. To examine whether a significant stochastic/nonlinear component exists in the bias relation, we study the ratio R_ij= W_{ii}W_{jj}/W_{ij}^2, where W_{ij} is the projected correlation between subsample i and j. We find that the values of R_ij are all consistent with 1 for all-all, red-red and blue-blue samples, however significantly larger than 1 for red-blue samples. For faint red - faint blue samples the values of R_{ij} are as high as ~ 2 on small scales r_p < 1 \mpch and decrease with increasing r_p.Comment: 25 pages, 18 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap