arXiv subjects

Ofer Lahav

Publications and source records attributed to Ofer Lahav.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

arXiv1998

Cosmological Tests from the New Surveys

We review cosmological inference from galaxy surveys at low and high redshifts, with emphasis on new Southern sky surveys. We focus on several issues: (i) The importance of understanding selection effects in catalogues and matching Northern and Southern surveys; (ii) The 2dF galaxy redshift survey of 250,000 galaxies (iii) The proposed 6dF redshift and peculiar velocity survey of near-infrared galaxies (iv) Radio sources and the X-Ray Background as useful probes of the density fluctuations on large scales, and (v) How to combine large scale structure and Cosmic Microwave Background measurements to estimate cosmological parameters.

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arXiv1997

Searching for Large Scale Structure in Deep Radio Surveys

(Abridged Abstract) We calculate the expected amplitude of the dipole and higher spherical harmonics in the angular distribution of radio galaxies. The median redshift of radio sources in existing catalogues is z=1, which allows us to study large scale structure on scales between those accessible to present optical and infrared surveys, and that of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The dipole is due to 2 effects which turn out to be of comparable magnitude: (i) our motion with respect to the CMB, and (ii) large scale structure, parameterised here by a family of Cold Dark Matter power-spectra. We make specific predictions for the Green Bank (87GB) and Parkes-MIT-NRAO (PMN) catalogues. For these relatively sparse catalogues both the motion and large scale structure dipole effects are expected to be smaller than the Poisson shot-noise. However, we detect dipole and higher harmonics in the combined 87GB-PMN catalogue which are far larger than expected. We attribute this to a 2 % flux mismatch between the two catalogues. We also investigate the existence and extent of the Supergalactic Plane in the above catalogues. In a strip of +- 10 deg of the standard Supergalactic equator, we find a 3-sigma detection in PMN, but only 1-sigma in 87GB.

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arXiv1996

Artificial Neural Networks as a Tool for Galaxy Classification

We describe an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach to classification of galaxy images and spectra. ANNs can replicate the classification of galaxy images by a human expert to the same degree of agreement as that between two human experts, to within 2 T-type units. Similar methods are applied to classification of galaxy spectra. In particular, Principal Component Analysis of galaxy spectra can be used to compress the data, to suppress noise and to provide input to the ANNs. These and other classification methods will soon be applied to the Anglo-Australian 2-degree-Field (2dF) redshift survey of 250,000 galaxies.

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arXiv1996

Summary Talk: Multi-Wavelength Sky Surveys (IAU179)

The summary talk of IAU179 'New Horizons from Multi-Wavelengths Sky Surveys', held in Baltimore in August 1996. First I summarize the highlights in different wavelengths as described in the oral presentations. Then I discuss the need for statistical techniques, some key astrophysical questions which should be addressed by multi-wavelength approaches, and the changing sociology of the field.

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arXiv1996

Probing Density Fluctuations at Low and High Redshift

We discuss cosmological inference from galaxy surveys at low and high redshifts. Studies of optical and IRAS redshift surveys with median redshift ${\bar z} \sim 0.02$ yield measurements of the density parameter $Ω$ and the power-spectrum of density fluctuations, but both cannot easily be related to the properties of the underlying mass distribution due to the uncertainty in the way galaxies are biased relative to the mass distribution. Moreover, currently little is known about fluctuations on scales intermediate between local galaxy surveys ($\sim 100 h^{-1}$ Mpc) and the scales probed by COBE ($\sim 1000 h^{-1}$ Mpc). We focus here on several issues, as examples of clustering on different scales: the extent of the Supergalactic Plane, an optimal reconstruction method of the density and velocity fields, the effect of biasing on determination of $Ω$ from redshift distortion, the future big surveys SDSS and 2dF (with median redshift ${\bar z} \sim 0.1$) and radio sources and the X-Ray Background as useful probes of the density fluctuations at higher redshift (${\bar z} \sim 1$).

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arXiv1996

The X-Ray Background as a Probe of Density Fluctuations at High Redshift

The X-Ray Background (XRB) probes structure on scales intermediate between those explored by local galaxy redshift surveys and by the COBE Microwave Background measurements. We predict the large scale angular fluctuations in the XRB, expressed in terms of spherical harmonics for a range of assumed power-spectra and evolution scenarios. The dipole is due to large scale structure as well as to the observer's motion (the Compton-Getting effect). For a typical observer the two effects turn out to be comparable in amplitude. The coupling of the two effects makes it difficult to use the XRB for independent confirmation of the CMB dipole being due to the observer's motion. The large scale structure dipole (rms per component) relative to the monopole is in the range $a_{1m}/a_{00} \sim (0.5-9.0) \times 10^{-3} $. The spread is mainly due to the assumed redshift evolution scenarios of the X-ray volume emissivity $ρ_x(z)$. The dipole's prediction is consistent with a measured dipole in the HEAO1 XRB map. Typically, the harmonic spectrum drops with $l$ like $a_{lm} \sim l^{-0.4}$. This behaviour allows us to discriminate a true clustering signal against the flux shot noise, which is constant with $l$, and may dominate the signal unless bright resolved sources are removed from the XRB map. We also show that Sachs-Wolfe and Doppler (due to the motion of the sources) effects in the XRB are negligible. Although our analysis focuses on the XRB, the formalism is general and can be easily applied to other cosmological backgrounds.

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arXiv1996

Wiener Reconstruction of the IRAS 1.2Jy Galaxy Redshift Survey: Cosmographical Implications

We utilise the method of Wiener reconstruction with spherical harmonics and Bessel functions to recover the density and velocity fields from the IRAS 1.2Jy redshift survey. The results are robust to changes in prior parameters and the number of expansion coefficients. Maps of these fields are presented in a variety of projections. Many known structures are observed, including clear confirmations of the clusters N1600 and A3627. The Perseus-Pisces supercluster appears to extend out to roughly 9000km/s, and the reconstruction shows `backside infall' to the Centaurus/Great Attractor region. A qualitative comparison of the reconstructed IRAS gravity field with that from Tully-Fisher peculiar velocity measurements (Mark III) shows reasonable agreement. The Wiener reconstruction of the density field is also the optimal reconstruction (in the minimum variance sense) of any quantity which is linear in the density contrast. We show reconstructions of three such quantities. The misalignment angle between the IRAS and CMB Local Group dipoles is only 13 degrees out to 5000km/s, but increases to 25 degrees out to 20,000km/s. The reconstructed IRAS bulk flow out to 5000km/s is roughly 300km/s, which agrees in amplitude with that derived from the Mark III peculiar velocities (370km/s). However, the two bulk flow vectors deviate by 70 degrees. Finally, moment of inertia analysis shows that the Wiener reconstructed Supergalactic Plane is aligned within 30 degrees of that defined by de Vaucouleurs.

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arXiv1996

The two-point correlation function and morphological segregation in the Optical Redshift Survey

We study the clustering of galaxies in real and redshift space using the Optical Redshift Survey (ORS). We estimate the two point correlation function in redshift space, $ξ(s)$, for several subsamples of ORS, spanning nearly a factor of 30 in volume and detect significant variations in $ξ(s)$ among the subsamples covering small volumes. For volumes \gtsima $(75 h^{-1} {\rm Mpc})^{3}$ the ORS subsamples present very similar clustering patterns. Powerlaw fits to $ξ(s)$ give best-fit values in the range $1.5 \leq γ_{s} \leq 1.7 $ and $6.5 \leq s_{0} \leq 8.8 h^{-1}$ Mpc for several samples extending to redshifts of 8000 km s$^{-1}$. We find that $ξ(s)$ is larger for the magnitude-limited sample than for diameter-limited one within a radius of 4000 km s$^{-1}$. We interpret this as an indirect result of morphological segregation coupled with differences in morphological mix. We split ORS into morphological subsamples and confirm the existence of morphological segregation of galaxies out to scales of $s \sim 10 h^{-1}$ Mpc. Our results indicate that the relative bias factor between early type galaxies and late-types may be weakly dependent on scale. If real, this would suggest non-linear biasing. We also compute correlations as a function of radial and projected separations, $ξ(r_p, π)$ and derive the real space correlation function, $ξ(r)$. The results obtained in real space confirm those found using $ξ(s)$.

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arXiv1996

Present and Future Galaxy Redshift Surveys: ORS, DOGS and 2dF

Three galaxy redshifts surveys and their analyses are discussed. (i) The recently completed Optical Redshift Survey (ORS) includes galaxies larger than 1.9 arcmin and/or brighter than $14.5^m$. It provides redshifts for $\sim 8300 $ galaxies at Galactic latitude $|b|>20^o$. A new analysis of the survey explores the existence and extent of the Supergalactic Plane (SGP). Its orientation is found to be in good agreement with the standard SGP coordinates, and suggests that the SGP is at least as large as the survey (16000 km/sec in diameter). (ii) The Dwingeloo Obscured Galaxy Survey is aimed at finding galaxies hidden behind the Milky-Way using a blind search in 21 cm. The discovery of Dwingeloo1 illustrates that the survey will allow us to systematically survey the region $30^o < l < 200^o$ out to 4000 km/sec. (iii) The Anglo-Australian 2-degree-Field (2dF) survey will yield 250,000 redshifts for APM-selected galaxies brighter than $19.5^m$ to map the large scale structure on scales larger than $\sim 30 \Mpc$. To study morphological segregation and biasing the spectra will be classified using Artificial Neural Networks.

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arXiv1995

The Optical Redshift Survey II: Derivation of the Luminosity and Diameter Functions and of the Density Field

We quantify the effects of Galactic extinction on the derived luminosity and diameter functions and on the density field of a redshift sample. Galaxy magnitudes are more affected by extinction than are diameters, although the effect on the latter is more variable from galaxy to galaxy, making it more difficult to quantify. We develop a maximum-likelihood approach to correct the luminosity function, the diameter function and the density field for extinction effects. The effects of random and systematic photometric errors are also investigated. The derived density field is robust to both random and systematic magnitude errors as long as these are uncorrelated with position on the sky, since biases in the derived selection function and number counts tend to cancel one another. Extinction-corrected luminosity and diameter functions are derived for several subsamples of the {\it Optical Redshift Survey} (ORS). Extinction corrections for the diameter-limited subsamples are found to be unreliable, possibly due to the superposition of random and systematic errors. The ORS subsamples are combined using overall density scaling factors from a full-sky redshift survey of \iras\ galaxies, allowing the reconstruction of the optical galaxy density field over most of the sky to 8000 \kms.

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arXiv1995

Galaxy Classification by Human Eyes and by Artificial Neural Networks

The rapid increase in data on galaxy images at low and high redshift calls for re-examination of the classification schemes and for new automatic objective methods. Here we present a classification method by Artificial Neural Networks. We also show results from a comparative study we carried out using a new sample of 830 APM digitised galaxy images. These galaxy images were classified by 6 experts independently. It is shown that the ANNs can replicate the classification by a human expert almost to the same degree of agreement as that between two human experts, to within 2 $T$-type units. Similar methods can be applied to automatic classification of galaxy spectra. We illustrate it by Principal Component Analysis of galaxy spectra, and discuss future large surveys.

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arXiv1994

Artificial Neural Networks as Non-Linear Extensions of Statistical Methods in Astronomy

We attempt to de-mistify Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) by considering special cases which are related to other statistical methods common in Astronomy and other fields. In particular we show how ANNs generalise Bayesian methods, multi-parameter fitting, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Wiener filtering and regularisation methods. Examples of morphological classification of galaxies illustrate how non-linear ANNs improve on linear techniques.

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arXiv1994

Introduction: Why and How to Probe the Zone of Avoidance ?

The motivation and major ways for probing the Zone of Avoidance (ZOA) are reviewed. Galaxies hidden behind the ZOA may have important implications for the internal dynamics of the Local Group, for the origin of its motion relative to the Microwave Background, and for the connectivity of the large scale structure. Current direct (`observational') methods for exploring the ZOA include eye-balling of plates, source identification in the IRAS data base and pointed and blind-search observations in 21 cm. Interesting regions identified so far include the two crossing points of the Supergalactic Plane by the Galactic Plane (at Galactic longitude $l \sim 135^o$, near Perseus-Pisces, and $l \sim 315^o$, near the Great Attractor), the Puppis cluster (at $l \sim 240^o, cz \sim 1500$ km/sec) and the Ophiuchus cluster (at $l \sim 0^o, cz \sim 8400$ km/sec). New promising wavelengths are the $2 μ$ and the X-ray band. Indirect (`theoretical') approaches include `Wiener reconstruction' from incomplete and noisy data, and using the peculiar velocity field as a probe of the mass distribution hidden behind the ZOA. The problem of source confusion at low Galactic latitude can be addressed by novel statistical methods, e.g. Artificial Neural Networks.

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arXiv1994

Wiener Reconstruction of All-Sky Spherical Harmonic Maps of the Large Scale Structure

A statistical method for reconstructing large scale structure behind the Zone of Avoidance is presented. It also corrects for shot-noise and for redshift distortion in galaxy surveys. The galaxy distribution is expanded in an orthogonal set of spherical harmonics. We show that in the framework of Bayesian statistics and Gaussian random fields the $4 π$ harmonics can be recovered and the shot-noise can be suppressed, giving the optimal picture of the underlying density field. The correction factor from observed to reconstructed harmonics turns out to be the well-known Wiener filter (the ratio of signal to signal+noise), which is also derived by requiring minimum variance. We apply the method to the 1.2 Jy IRAS survey. A reconstruction of the projected galaxy distribution confirms the connectivity of the Supergalactic Plane across the Galactic Plane (at Galactic longitude $l \sim 135^o$ and $l \sim 315^o$) and the Puppis cluster behind the Galactic Plane ($ l \sim 240^o$). The method is extended to 3-D, and is used to recover from the 1.2 Jy redshift survey the density, velocity and potential fields in the local universe.

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arXiv1994

Wiener Reconstruction of Density, Velocity, and Potential Fields from All-Sky Galaxy Redshift Surveys

We present a new method for recovering the cosmological density, velocity, and potential fields from all-sky redshift catalogues. The method is based on an expansion of the fields in orthogonal radial (Bessel) and angular (spherical harmonic) functions. In this coordinate system, peculiar velocities introduce a coupling of the radial harmonics describing the density field in redshift space but leave the angular modes unaffected. In the harmonic transform space, this radial coupling is described by a distortion matrix which can be computed analytically within the context of linear theory; the redshift space harmonics can then be converted to their real space values by inversion of this matrix. Statistical noise is mitigated by regularizing the matrix inversion with a Wiener filter. The method yields a minimum variance estimate of the density field in real space. In this coordinate system, the minimum variance harmonics of the peculiar velocity and potential fields are related to those of the density field by simple linear transformations. Tests of the method with simulations of a CDM universe and comparison with previously proposed methods demonstrate it to be a very promising new reconstruction method for the local density and velocity field. A first application to the 1.2 Jy IRAS redshift survey is presented.

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arXiv1994

The Cosmic X-ray Background -- IRAS galaxy Correlation and the Local X-ray Volume Emissivity

We have cross-correlated the galaxies from the IRAS 2 Jy redshift survey sample and the 0.7 Jy projected sample with the all-sky cosmic X-ray background (CXB) map obtained from the HEAO-1 A2 experiment. We have developed a formulation to model the cross-correlation between CXB surface brightness and galaxy counts. This includes the effects of source clustering and the X-ray -- far infrared luminosity correlation. Using an X-ray flux limited sample of AGNs, which has IRAS 60 $μm$ measurements, we have estimated the contribution of the AGN component to the observed CXB -- IRAS galaxy count correlations in order to see whether there is an excess component, i.e. contribution from low X-ray luminosity sources. We have applied both the analytical approach and Monte-Carlo simulations for the estimations. Our estimate of the local X-ray volume emissivity in the 2 -- 10 keV band is consistent with the value expected from the luminosity function of AGNs alone and the contribution to the local volume emissivity from lower-luminosity sources is small.

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arXiv1994

Wiener Filtering of the COBE DMR Data

We derive an optimal linear filter to suppress the noise from the COBE DMR sky maps for a given power spectrum. We then apply the filter to the first-year DMR data, after removing pixels within $20^\circ$ of the Galactic plane from the data. The filtered data have uncertainties 12 times smaller than the noise level of the raw data. We use the formalism of constrained realizations of Gaussian random fields to assess the uncertainty in the filtered sky maps. In addition to improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the map as a whole, these techniques allow us to recover some information about the CMB anisotropy in the missing Galactic plane region. From these maps we are able to determine which hot and cold spots in the data are statistically significant, and which may have been produced by noise. In addition, the filtered maps can be used for comparison with other experiments on similar angular scales.

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arXiv1994

Large-Scale Mass Distribution Behind the Galactic Plane

We map the smoothed mass-density distribution in the Galactic zone of avoidance (zoa), within $6000\kms$ of the Local Group, using potent reconstruction from peculiar velocities of galaxies. The interpolation into the zoa is based on the assumed gravitational nature of the velocity field implying a potential flow. The main dynamical features at a distance r=4000 km/s are (a) the peak of the Great Attractor connecting Centaurus and Pavo at l=330, (b) a moderate bridge connecting Perseus-Pisces and Cepheus at l= 140, and (c) an extension of a large void from the southern Galactic hemisphere into the zoa near the direction of Puppis, l=220-270. We find a strong correlation between the mass density and the IRAS and optical galaxy density at $b=+-20, which indicates that the main dynamical features in the zoa should also be seen in galaxy surveys through the Galactic plane. The gravitational acceleration at the Local Group, based on the mass distribution out to 6000 km/s, is strongly affected by the mass distribution in the zoa: its direction changes by 31 when the |b| < 20 zoa is included, bringing it to within 4 +- 19 of the CMB dipole.

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