arXiv subjects

Luciano Pietronero

Publications and source records attributed to Luciano Pietronero.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2001

Complexity in Cosmology

The question of the nature of galaxy clustering and the possible homogeneity of galaxy distribution is one of the fundamental problem of cosmology. It is well established that galaxy structures are characterized, up to a certain scale, by fractal properties. The possible crossover to homogeneity is instead still matter of debate. However, independently on the specific value of the homogeneity scale, the fractal nature of galaxy clustering requires new methods and theoretical concepts developed in the area of statistical physics and complexity. In this lecture we discuss a new perspective on the problem of cosmological structures formation, both from the experimental and the theoretical points of view. This new perspective leads to a very interesting and constructive interaction between the fields of cosmic structures, statistical physics and complexity with very challenging open problems which we also discuss.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Discretized Diffusion Processes

We study the properties of the ``Rigid Laplacian'' operator, that is we consider solutions of the Laplacian equation in the presence of fixed truncation errors. The dynamics of convergence to the correct analytical solution displays the presence of a metastable set of numerical solutions, whose presence can be related to granularity. We provide some scaling analysis in order to determine the value of the exponents characterizing the process. We believe that this prototype model is also suitable to provide an explanation of the widespread presence of power-law in social and economic system where information and decision diffuse, with errors and delay from agent to agent.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Fractal structures and the large scale distribution of galaxies

Galaxy structures are certainly fractal up to a certain crossover scale λ_0. A clear determination of such a scale is still missing. Usually, the conceptual and practical implications of this property are neglected and the structures are only discussed in terms of their global amplitude. Here we present a compact summary of these implications. First, we discuss the problem of the identification of the crossover scale λ_0 and the proper characterization of the scaling. We then consider the implications of these properties with respect to various physical phenomena and to the corresponding characteristic values, i.e. r_0, σ_8, Ω, etc. These implications crucially depend on the value of λ_0, but they are still important for a relatively small value, say λ_0 \approx 50 \hmp. Finally we consider the main theoretical consequences of these results.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Invasion Percolation with Temperature and the Nature of SOC in Real Systems

We show that the introduction of thermal noise in Invasion Percolation (IP) brings the system outside the critical point. This result suggests a possible definition of SOC systems as ordinary critical systems where the critical point correspond to set to 0 one of the parameters. We recover both IP and EDEN model, for $T \to 0$, and $T \to \infty$ respectively. For small $T$ we find a dynamical second order transition with correlation length diverging when $T \to 0$.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Reconstructing the cosmological puzzle

In the debate about galaxy correlation there are different questions which can be addressed separately: Which are the statistical methods able to properly detect scale invariance and describe, in general, the properties of irregular and regular distributions? Which are the implications for cosmology of the fractal behavior of galactic structures, up to a certain scale lambda_0? Which is the homogeneity scale lambda_0, i.e. the scale beyond which galaxy distribution has an eventual crossover to homogeneity? These are three different, but related, problems, which must be considered in different steps, from the point of view of data analysis as well as from the theoretical perspective.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Scale invariance in galaxy structures: general concepts and application to the most recent data

The debate on the correlation properties of galaxy structures has having an increasing interest during the last year. In this lecture we discuss the claims of different authors who have criticized our approach and results. In order to have a clear cut of the situation, we focus mainly on galaxy distribution in the intermediate range of distances ~ 100 - 200 Mpc/h. In particular we discuss: (i) the validity of the actual data and the concept of "fair sample", (ii) the shift of r_0 with sample depth and luminosity bias, (iii) the value of the fractal dimension, (iv) the problem of the counts from a single point and the case of ESP, (iv) uniformity of angular catalogs. The detection of fractal behavior up to ~ 100 - 200 Mpc/h is enough to rise serious problems to the usual statistical methods used for the characterization of galaxy correlations, standard interpretation of galaxy distribution and theoretical models develoed. The clarification of the intermediate scale behavior is very instructive for the subsequent interpretation of the very large scale galaxy distribution.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

On the fractal structure of galaxy distribution and its implications for cosmology

Two fundamental empirical laws have been established in the analysis of galaxy space distribution. First, recent analyses have revealed that the three dimensional distribution of galaxies and clusters is characterized by large scale structures and huge voids: such a distribution shows fractal correlations up to the limits of the available samples. This has confirmed the earlier de Vaucouleurs power-law density - distance relation, now corresponding to a fractal structure with dimension $D \approx 2$, at least, in the range of scales $ \sim 1 ÷200 Mpc$ ($H_0 = 55 km/sec/Mpc$). An eventual cut-off towards homogenization has not been yet identified. Second, since Hubble's discovery, the linear redshift-distance law has been well established within $200 Mpc$ and also much deeper. The co-existence of these laws within the same scales is a challenge for the standard cosmology where the linear Hubble law is a strict consequence of homogeneity of the expanding universe. This puzzle is now sufficiently strong to raise doubts for the standard cosmology.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Angular Projections of Fractal Sets

We discuss various questions which arise when one considers the central projection of three dimensional fractal sets (galaxy catalogs) onto the celestial globe. The issues are related to how fractal such projections look. First we show that the lacunarity in the projection can be arbitrarily small. Further characteristics of the projected set---in particular scaling---depend sensitively on how the apparent sizes of galaxies are taken into account. Finally, we discuss the influence of opacity of galaxies. Combining these ideas, seemingly contradictory statements about lacunarity and apparent projections can be reconciled.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Multifractality as a Link Between Luminosity and Space Distribution of Visible Matter

We discuss how luminosity and space distribution of galaxies are naturally linked in view of their multifractal properties. In particular we show that the mass (luminosity) function corresponding to a multifractal distribution in a given observed volume, consists of a power law followed by an exponential cut-off. This implies that the amplitude $ϕ^*$ of the Schechter function scales with the sample depth, as confirmed by various observational data. This effect is analogous to the scaling of the space density due to the fractal nature of the space distribution. This has the important consequence that the luminosity function can be properly defined only in a volume limited sample. Also the so-called "luminosity segregation" and the concept of bias correspond to a natural consequence of multifractality. This implies however that they should be considered from a different perspective with respect to the usual one. Such a concept allows us to unify the space and luminosity distributions as being shaped by a single cause:multifractality which should therefore claim a central stage in theoretical investigations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

Multifractal properties of visible matter distribution: a stochastic model

Galaxies and clusters distributions show two major properties: (i) the positions of galaxies and clusters are characterized by a power law distribution indicating properties with respect to their positions. (ii) The distribution of masses is also characterized by a power law corresponding to self similarity of different nature. These two properties are naturally unified by the concept of multifractality. This concept naturally arises if the distribution of matter, as given by both positions and masses, has self similar properties. We discuss the experimental situation in this respect and we introduce a simple stochastic model based of the aggregation process of particles The aim of this model is to understand which characteristic properties of the aggregation probability can gives rise to multifractal distribution In particular we find that a crucial element in this respect is that the aggregation probability should depend on the environment of the aggregation region.

astro-ph↗