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Y. P. Jing

Publications and source records attributed to Y. P. Jing.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The Cross-Correlation between Galaxies and Groups: Probing the Galaxy Distribution in and around Dark Matter Haloes

We determine the cross-correlation function between galaxies and galaxy groups, using both the Two-Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We study the cross-correlation as a function of group mass, and as a function of the luminosity, stellar mass, colour, spectral type and specific star formation rate of the galaxies. All these cross-correlation functions show a clear transition from the `1-halo' to the `2-halo' regimes on a scale comparable to the virial radius of the groups in consideration. On scales larger than the virial radius, all cross-correlation functions are roughly parallel, consistent with the linear bias model. In particular, the large scale correlation amplitudes are higher for more massive groups, and for brighter and redder galaxies. In the `1-halo' regime, the cross-correlation function depends strongly on the definition of the group center. We consider both a luminosity-weighted center (LWC) and a center defined by the location of the brightest group galaxy (BGC). With the first definition, the bright early-type galaxies in massive groups are found to be more centrally concentrated than the fainter, late-type galaxies. Using the BGC, and excluding the brightest galaxy from the cross correlation analysis, we only find significant segregation in massive groups ($M \gta 10^{13}h^{-1}\msun$) for galaxies of different spectral types (or colours or specific star formation rates). In haloes with masses $\la 10^{13}h^{-1}\msun$, there is a significant deficit of bright satellite galaxies. Comparing the results from the 2dFGRS with those obtained from realistic mock samples, we find that the distribution of galaxies in groups is much less concentrated than dark matter haloes predicted by the current $Λ$CDM model. (Abridged)

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Semi-analytical model of galaxy formation with high-resolution N-body simulations

We model the galaxy formation in a series of high-resolution N-body simulations using the semi-analytical approach. Unlike many earlier investigations based on semi-analytical models, we make use of the subhalos resolved in the $N$-body simulations to follow the mergers of galaxies in dark halos, and we show that this is pivotal in modeling correctly the galaxy luminosity function at the bright end and the bimodal nature of galaxy color distribution. Mergers of galaxies based on subhalos also result in many more bright red galaxies at high $z$. The semi-analytical model we adopt is similar to those used in earlier semi-analytical studies, except that we consider the effect of a prolonged cooling in small halos and that we explicitly follow the chemical enrichment in the interstellar medium. We use our model to make predictions for the properties of the galaxy population at low redshift and compare them with various current observations. We find that our model predictions can match the luminosity functions of galaxies in various wavebands redder than the u-band. The shape of the luminosity function at bright end is well reproduced if galaxy mergers are modeled with the merger trees of subhalos and the steep faint-end slope can be moderated if the gas cooling time in low-mass halos is comparable to the age of the universe. The model with subhalos resolved can reproduce the main features in the observed color bimodal distribution, though it still predicts too many bright blue galaxies. The same model can also match the color-magnitude relation for elliptical galaxies in clusters, the metallicity-luminosity relation.

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Are Great Disks Defined by Satellite Galaxies in Milky-Way Type Halos Rare in $Λ$CDM model?

We study the spatial distribution of satellite galaxies by assuming that they follow the dark matter distribution. This assumption is supported by semi-analytical studies based on high-resolution numerical simulations. We find that for a Milky-Way type halo, if only a dozen satellite galaxies are observed, then they can lie on a ``great'' disk with an rms height of about 40 kpc. The normal to the plane is roughly isotropic on the sky. These results are consistent with the observed properties of the satellite galaxies in the Milky Way. If, however, the satellite galaxies follow the distribution of substructure selected by present mass, then great disks similar to the one in the Milky Way are rare and difficult to reproduce, in agreement with the conclusion reached by Kroupa et al. (2004).

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The Phase-Space Parameters of Brightest Halo Galaxies

The brightest galaxy in a dark matter halo is expected to reside at rest at the center of the halo. In this paper we test this `Central Galaxy Paradigm' using group catalogues extracted from the 2dFGRS and the SDSS. For each group we compute a parameter, R, defined as the difference between the velocity of the brightest group galaxy and the average velocity of the other group members (hereafter satellites), normalized by the unbiased estimator of the velocity dispersion of the satellite galaxies. Using detailed mock galaxy redshift surveys, we show that the central galaxy paradigm is inconsistent with the data at high confidence, and that instead the brightest halo galaxies have a specific kinetic energy that is about 25 percent of that of the satellites. This indicates that either central galaxies reside at the minimum of the dark matter potential, but that the halo itself is not yet fully relaxed, or, that the halo is relaxed, but that the central galaxy oscillates in its potential well. The former is consistent with the fact that we find a weak hint that the velocity bias of brightest halo galaxies is larger in more massive haloes, while the latter may be indicative of cored, rather than cusped, dark matter haloes. We discuss several implications of these findings, including mass estimates based on satellite kinematics, strong gravitational lensing, halo occupation models, and the frequency and longevity of lopsidedness in disk galaxies.

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The non-linear evolution of bispectrum from the scale-free N-body simulation

We have accurately measured the bispectrum for four scale-free models of structure formation with the spectral index $n=1$, 0, -1, and -2. The measurement is based on a new method that can effectively eliminate the alias and numerical artifacts, and reliably extend the analysis into the strongly non-linear regime. The work makes use of a set of state-of-the art N-body simulations that have significantly increased the resolution range compared with the previous studies on the subject. With these measured results, we demonstrated that the measured bispectrum depends on the shape and size of $k$-triangle even in the strongly nonlinear regime. It increases with wavenumber and decreases with the spectral index. These results are in contrast with the hypothesis that the reduced bispectrum is a constant in the strongly non-linear regime. We also show that the fitting formula of Scoccimarro & Frieman (1999) does not describe our simulation results well (with a typical error about 40 percent). In the end, we present a new fitting formula for the reduced bispectrum that is valid for $-2 \leq n \leq 0$ with a typical error of 10 percent only.

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Galaxy Occupation Statistics of Dark Matter Haloes: Observational Results

We study the occupation statistics of galaxies in dark matter haloes using galaxy groups identified from the 2-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey with the halo-based group finder of Yang et al. The occupation distribution is considered separately for early and late type galaxies, as well as in terms of central and satellite galaxies. The mean luminosity of the central galaxies scales with halo mass approximately as $L_c\propto M^{2/3}$ for haloes with masses $M<10^{13}h^{-1}\msun$, and as $L_c\propto M^{1/4}$ for more massive haloes. The characteristic mass of $10^{13} h^{-1} \Msun$ is consistent with the mass scale where galaxy formation models suggest a transition from efficient to inefficient cooling. Another characteristic halo mass scale, $M\sim 10^{11} h^{-1}\msun$, which cannot be probed directly by our groups, is inferred from the conditional luminosity function (CLF) that matches the observed galaxy luminosity function and clustering. For a halo of given mass, the distribution of $L_c$ is rather narrow. The satellite galaxies are found to follow a Poissonian number distribution. The central galaxies in low-mass haloes are mostly late type galaxies, while those in massive haloes are almost all early types. We also measure the CLF of galaxies in haloes of given mass. Over the mass range that can be reliably probed with the present data ($13.3 \lta {\rm log}[M/(h^{-1}\Msun)] \lta 14.7$), the CLF is reasonably well fit by a Schechter function. Contrary to recent claims based on semi-analytical models of galaxy formation, the presence of central galaxies does not show up as a strong peak at the bright end of the CLF. (Abridged)

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Modeling peculiar velocities of dark matter halos

We present a simple model that accurately describes various statistical properties of peculiar velocities of dark matter halos. We pay particular attention to the following two effects; first, the evolution of the halo peculiar velocity depends on the local matter density, instead of the global density. Second, dark matter halos are biased tracers of the underlying mass distribution, thus halos tend to be located preferentially at high density regions. For the former, we develop an empirical model calibrated with N-body simulations, while for the latter, we use a conventional halo bias models based on the extended Press-Schechter model combined with an empirical log-normal probability distribution function of the mass density distribution. We find that compared with linear theory, the present model significantly improves the accuracy of predictions of statistical properties of the halo peculiar velocity field including the velocity dispersion, the probability distribution function, and the pairwise velocity dispersion at large separations. Thus our model predictions may be useful in analyzing future observations of the peculiar velocities of galaxy clusters.

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The Two-Point Correlation of Galaxy Groups: Probing the Clustering of Dark Matter Haloes

We analyze the 2-point correlation function (2PCF) of galaxy groups identified from the 2-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey with the halo based group finder recently developed by Yang et al (2004b). With this group catalogue we are able to estimate the 2PCFs for systems ranging from isolated galaxies to rich clusters of galaxies. The real-space correlation length obtained for these systems ranges from $\sim 4\mpch$ to $\sim 15\mpch$, respectively. The observed correlation amplitude (and the corresponding bias factor) as a function of group abundance is well reproduced by associating galaxy groups with dark matter haloes in the standard $Λ$CDM model. Redshift distortions are clearly detected in the redshift-space correlation function, the degree of which is consistent with the assumption of gravitational clustering and halo bias in the cosmic density field. In agreement with previous studies we find a strong increase of the correlation length with the mean inter-group separation. Although well determined observationally, we show that current theoretical predictions are not yet accurate enough to allow for stringent constraints on cosmological parameters. Finally, we use our results to explore the power-law nature of the 2PCF of galaxies. We split the 2PCF in 1-group and 2-group terms, equivalent to the 1-halo and 2-halo terms in halo occupation models, and show that the power-law form of the 2PCF is broken, when only including galaxies in the more massive systems.

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Correcting for the alias effect when measuring the power spectrum using FFT

Because of mass assignment onto grid points in the measurement of the power spectrum using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the raw power spectrum $\la |δ^f(k)|^2\ra$ estimated with FFT is not the same as the true power spectrum $P(k)$. In this paper, we derive the formula which relates $\la |δ^f(k)|^2\ra$ to $P(k)$. For a sample of $N$ discrete objects, the formula reads: $\la |δ^f(k)|^2\ra=\sum_{\vec n} [|W(\kalias)|^2P(\kalias)+1/N|W(\kalias)|^2]$, where $W(\vec k)$ is the Fourier transform of the mass assignment function $W(\vec r)$, $k_N$ is the Nyquist wavenumber, and $\vec n$ is an integer vector. The formula is different from that in some of previous works where the summation over $\vec n$ is neglected. For the NGP, CIC and TSC assignment functions, we show that the shot noise term $\sum_{\vec n} 1/N|W(\kalias)|^2]$ can be expressed by simple analytical functions. To reconstruct $P(k)$ from the alias sum $\sum_{\vec n}|W(\kalias)|^2 P(\kalias)$, we propose an iterative method. We test the method by applying it to an N-body simulation sample, and show that the method can successfully recover $P(k)$. The discussion is further generalized to samples with observational selection effects.

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A Halo-Based Galaxy Group Finder: Calibration and Application to the 2dFGRS

We use the halo occupation model to calibrate galaxy group finders in magnitude-limited redshift surveys. Since, according to the current scenario of structure formation, galaxy groups are associated with cold dark matter halos, we make use of the properties of the halo population in the design of our group finder. The method starts with an assumed mass-to-light ratio to assign a tentative mass to each group. This mass is used to estimate the size and velocity dispersion of the underlying halo that hosts the group, which in turn is used to determine group membership (in redshift space). This procedure is repeated until no further changes occur in group memberships. We find that the final groups selected this way are insensitive to the mass-to-light ratio assumed. We use mock catalogues, constructed using the conditional luminosity function (CLF), to test the performance of our group finder in terms of completeness of true members and contamination by interlopers. Our group finder is more successful than the conventional Friends-of-Friends group finder in assigning galaxies in common dark matter halos to a single group. We apply our group finder to the 2-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey and compare the resulting group properties with model predictions based on the CLF. For the $Λ$CDM `concordance' cosmology we find a clear discrepancy between the model and data in the sense that the model predicts too many rich groups. In order to match the observational results we have to either increase the mass-to-light ratios of rich clusters to a level significantly higher than current observational estimates, or to assume $σ_8 \simeq 0.7$, compared to the `concordance' value of 0.9.

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The pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies: luminosity dependence and a new test of galaxy formation models

We present the first determination of the pairwise velocity dispersion (PVD) for galaxies in different luminosity intervals using the final release of the Two-Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS). We have discovered quite surprisingly that the relative velocities of the faint galaxies at small separation are very high, around $700 \kms$, reaching similar values as the brightest galaxies. At intermediate luminosities $M^*-1$ ($M^*$ is the characteristic luminosity of the Schechter function), the relative velocities exhibit a well defined steep minimum near $400 \kms$. This result has been derived using a novel method to determine the real space power spectrum and the PVD from the redshift space power spectrum of the 2dFGRS. Both quantities can be determined quite reliably. We have taken the parameter $β$ equal to 0.45. But we have also checked that the results are changed very little, if we allow a variation of $β$ with luminosity. The result is a challenge to the current halo model of galaxies of Yang et al. that was obtained by matching the clustering and luminosity function of the 2dFGRS, but cannot reproduce the luminosity dependence of the PVD. It may also be an mportant constraint in general on theories of galaxy formation, such as semi-analytical models and hydro/N-body simulations of galaxy formation. Combined with the observed luminosity dependence of clustering, our result implies that a substantial fraction of faint galaxies, as well as the brightest ones, are in massive halos of galaxy cluster size, but most of the $M^*$ galaxies are in galactic halos.

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Velocity of galaxies with different luminosity

We present the first determination of the pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies at different luminosity with the final release of the Two-Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS). Our result surprisingly shows that the random velocities of the faint galaxies are very high, around $ 700 \kms$, reaching similar values as the brightest galaxies. At intermediate luminosities slightly brighter than the characteristic luminosity $M_\star$, the velocities exhibit a well defined steep minimum near $ 400 \kms$. The result challenges the current halo model of galaxies of Yang et al. that was obtained by matching the clustering and luminosity function of 2dFGRS, and can be an important constraint in general on theories of galaxy formation, e.g., the semi-analytical model. Combining the observed luminosity dependence of clustering, our result implies that quite a fraction of faint galaxies are in massive halos of galaxy clusters as the brightest ones, but most of the $M_\star$ galaxies are in galactic halos.

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The Three-point Correlation Function of Galaxies Determined from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

In a detailed analysis of the three point correlation function (3PCF) for the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey we have accurately measured the 3PCF for galaxies of different luminosity. The 3PCF amplitudes [$\Qsu$ or $\Qrpu$] of the galaxies generally decrease with increasing triangle size and increase with the shape parameter $v$, in qualitative agreement with the predictions for the clustering of dark matter in popular hierarchical CDM models. The 2dFGRS results agree well with the results of Jing & Börner for the Las Camapanas Redshift Survey (LCRS), though the measurement accuracy is greatly improved in the present study. The dependence of the 3PCF on luminosity is not significant, but there seems to be a trend for the brightest galaxy sample to have a lower amplitude than the fainter ones. Comparing the measured 3PCF amplitudes [$\Qsu$ or $\Qrpu$] to the prediction of a WMAP concordance model, we find that the measured values are consistently lower than the predicted ones for dark matter. This is most pronounced for the brightest galaxies, for which about one-half of the predicted $Q$ value provides a good description of $\Qrpu$ for the 2dFGRS data. For a less luminous sample, the $Q$ values are also smaller than in the dark matter model on small scales, but on scales larger than $s=8 \mpc$ and $r_p=3.25 \mpc$ they reach the model values. We discuss implications for current theories of galaxy formation.

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Populating Dark Matter Haloes with Galaxies: Comparing the 2dFGRS with Mock Galaxy Redshift Surveys

In two recent papers, we developed a powerful technique to link the distribution of galaxies to that of dark matter haloes by considering halo occupation numbers as function of galaxy luminosity and type. In this paper we use these distribution functions to populate dark matter haloes in high-resolution N-body simulations of the standard LCDM cosmogony with Omega_m=0.3 and sigma_8=0.9. Stacking simulation boxes of 100 Mpc/h and 300 Mpc/h with 512^3 CDM particles each we construct Mock Galaxy Redshift Surveys out to a redshift of z=0.2. We use these mock surveys to investigate various clustering statistics. The projected correlation functions for galaxies with different luminosities and types match the observations well on scales larger than about 3 Mpc/h. On smaller scales, however, the model overpredicts the clustering power by about a factor two. Furthermore, the model predicts pairwise velocity dispersions (PVD) that are about 400 km/s too high at projected pair separations of ~1 Mpc/h. A strong velocity bias in massive haloes can reduce the predicted PVD to the observed level, but does not help to resolve the over-prediction of clustering power on small scales. Consistent results can be obtained within the standard LCDM model only when the mass-to-light ratio of clusters is almost twice the observed value. Alternatively, a LCDM model with sigma_8=0.75 can also reproduce the observational results.

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Anomalous Flux Ratios in Gravitational Lenses: For or Against CDM?

We review the evidence for substructures from the anomalous flux ratios in gravitational lenses. Using high-resolution numerical simulations, we show that at typical image positions, the fraction of surface mass density in substructures is <~ 0.5% with mass above 10^{-4} virial masses in the ``concordance'' LCDM cosmology. Substructures outside the virial radius (but projected at typical lens image positions) only increase the fraction moderately. Several effects, in particular baryonic settling and the requirement of compactness, may further decrease the predictions by a factor of few. The predicted fraction with appropriate properties thus appears to be lower than that required by lensing, although both are still uncertain. More speculative substructures such as massive black holes (M ~ 10^5-10^6 solar masses) in the halo may offer viable alternatives.

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What X-rays tell us about dark matter halos

We present a detailed non-spherical modeling of dark matter halos on the basis of a careful analysis of state-of-the art N-body simulations. The fitting formulae presented here form a complete and accurate description of the triaxial density profiles of halos in Cold Dark Matter(CDM) models. This modeling allows us to quantitatively discuss implications for shape observations of galactic and cluster halos. The predictions of the concordance $λ$CDM model are confronted with the shape observations from the Milky Way to X-ray clusters.

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Angular momentum distribution of hot gas and implications for disk galaxy formation

We study the angular momentum profiles both for dark matter and for gas within virialized halos, using a statistical sample of halos drawn from cosmological hydrodynamics simulations. Three simulations have been analyzed, one is the ``non-radiative'' simulation, and the other two have radiative cooling. We find that the gas component on average has a larger spin and contains a smaller fraction of mass with negative angular momentum than its dark matter counterpart in the non-radiative model. As to the cooling models, the gas component shares approximately the same spin parameter as its dark matter counterpart, but the hot gas has a higher spin and is more aligned in angular momentum than dark matter, while the opposite holds for the cold gas. After the mass of negative angular momentum is excluded, the angular momentum profile of the hot gas component approximately follows the universal function originally proposed by Bullock et al. for dark matter, though the shape parameter $μ$ is much larger for hot gas and is comfortably in the range required by observations of disk galaxies. Since disk formation is related to the distribution of hot gas that will cool, our study may explain the fact that the disk component of observed galaxies contains a smaller fraction of low angular momentum material than dark matter in halos.

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Formation time distribution of dark matter haloes: theories versus N-body simulations

This paper uses numerical simulations to test the formation time distribution of dark matter haloes predicted by the analytic excursion set approaches. The formation time distribution is closely linked to the conditional mass function and this test is therefore an indirect probe of this distribution. The excursion set models tested are the extended Press-Schechter (EPS) model, the ellipsoidal collapse (EC) model, and the non-spherical collapse boundary (NCB) model. Three sets of simulations (6 realizations) have been used to investigate the halo formation time distribution for halo masses ranging from dwarf-galaxy like haloes ($M=10^{-3} M_*$, where $M_*$ is the characteristic non-linear mass scale) to massive haloes of $M=8.7 M_*$. None of the models can match the simulation results at both high and low redshift. In particular, dark matter haloes formed generally earlier in our simulations than predicted by the EPS model. This discrepancy might help explain why semi-analytic models of galaxy formation, based on EPS merger trees, under-predict the number of high redshift galaxies compared with recent observations.

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