Year: 1994
Type: article
Abstract: We analyze the consequences of models of structure formation for higher order (n-point) galaxy correlation functions in the mildly nonlinear regime. Several variations of the standard {OMEGA} = 1 cold dark matter model with scale-invariant primordial perturbations have recently been introduced to obtain more power on large scales, R_p_~20 h^-1^ Mpc, e.g., low matter-density (nonzero cosmological constant) models, "tilted" primordial spectra, and scenarios with a mixture of cold and hot dark matter. They also include models with an effective scale- dependent bias, such as the cooperative galaxy formation scenario of Bower et al. We show that higher-order (n-point) galaxy correlation functions can provide a useful test of such models and can discriminate between models with true large-scale power in the density field and those where the galaxy power arises from scale-dependent bias: a bias with rapid scale dependence leads to a dramatic decrease of the hierarchical amplitudes Q_J_ at large scales, r >~ R_p_. Current observational constraints on the three-point amplitudes Q_3_ and S_3_ can place limits on the bias parameter(s) and appear to disfavor, but not yet rule out, the hypothesis that scale-dependent bias is responsible for the extra power observed on large scales.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/173995
Authors: Joshua A. Frieman, Enrique Gaztanaga
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2024609656