Dr Ian Lewis

Abstract:

We measure the redshift-space reduced void probability function (VPF) for 2dFGRS volume-limited galaxy samples covering the absolute magnitude range MbJ -5log10 h = -18 to -22. Theoretically, the VPF connects the distribution of voids to the moments of galaxy clustering of all orders, and can be used to discriminate clustering models in the weakly nonlinear regime. The reduced VPF measured from the 2dFGRS is in excellent agreement with the paradigm of hierarchical scaling of the galaxy clustering moments. The accuracy of our measurement is such that we can rule out, at a very high significance, popular models for galaxy clustering, including the lognormal distribution. We demonstrate that the negative binomial model gives a very good approximation to the 2dFGRS data over a wide range of scales, out to at least 20 h-1 Mpc. Conversely, the reduced VPF for dark matter in a A cold dark matter ( ACDM) universe does appear to be lognormal on small scales but deviates significantly beyond ∼4 h-1 Mpc. We find little dependence of the 2dFGRS reduced VPF on galaxy luminosity. Our results hold independently in both the North and South Galactic Pole survey regions.

Abstract:

We reconstruct the underlying density field of the Two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) for the redshift range 0.035 < z < 0.200 using the Wiener filtering method. The Wiener filter suppresses shot noise and accounts for selection and incompleteness effects. The method relies on prior knowledge of the 2dF power spectrum of fluctuations and the combination of matter density and bias parameters, however the results are only slightly affected by changes to these parameters. We present maps of the density field. We use a variable smoothing technique with two different effective resolutions: 5 and 10 h-1 Mpc at the median redshift of the survey. We identify all major superclusters and voids in the survey. In particular, we find two large superclusters and two large local voids. The full set of colour maps can be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~pirin.

Abstract:

Complementary one-, two- and three-dimensional tests for detecting the presence of substructure in clusters of galaxies are applied to recently obtained data from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey. The sample of 25 clusters used in this study includes 16 clusters not previously investigated for substructure. Substructure is detected at or greater than the 99 per cent confidence level in at least one test for 21 of the 25 clusters studied here. From the results, it appears that low-richness clusters commonly contain subclusters participating in mergers. About half of the clusters have two or more components within 0.5 h-1 Mpc of the cluster centroid, and at least three clusters (Abell 1139, Abell 1663 and Abell S333) exhibit velocity-position characteristics consistent with the presence of possible cluster rotation, shear, or infall dynamics. The geometry of certain features is consistent with influence by the host supercluster environments. In general, our results support the hypothesis that low-richness clusters relax to structureless equilibrium states on very long dynamical time-scales (if at all).

Abstract:

We derive the fraction of blue galaxies in a sample of clusters at z < 0.11 and the general field at the same redshift. The value of the blue fraction is observed to depend on the luminosity limit adopted, cluster-centric radius and, more generally, local galaxy density, but it does not depend on cluster properties. Changes in the blue fraction are due to variations in the relative proportions of red and blue galaxies but the star formation rate for these two galaxy groups remains unchanged. Our results are most consistent with a model where the star formation rate declines rapidly and the blue galaxies tend to be dwarfs and do not favour mechanisms where the Butcher-Oemler effect is caused by processes specific to the cluster environment.

Abstract:

The clustering properties of local, S1.4 GHz ≥ 1 mJy, radio sources are investigated for a sample of 820 objects drawn from the joint use of the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at 20 cm (FIRST) and 2dF Galaxy Redshift surveys. To this aim, we present 271 new bJ ≤ 19.45 spectroscopic counterparts of FIRST radio sources to be added to those already introduced in our previous paper. The two-point correlation function for the local radio population is found to be entirely consistent with estimates obtained for the whole sample of 2dFGRS galaxies. From measurements of the redshift-space correlation function Θ(s) we derive a redshift-space clustering length s0 = 10.7-0.7+0.8 Mpc, while from the projected correlation function ζ (rT) we estimate the parameters of the real-space correlation function ζ (r) = (r/r0) -γ, r0 = 6.7-1.10.9 Mpc and γ = 1.6 ± 0.1, where h = 0.7 is assumed. Different results are instead obtained if we only consider sources that present signatures of active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity in their spectra. These objects are shown to be very strongly correlated, with r0 = 10.9-1.2+10 Mpc and γ = 2 ± 0.1, a steeper slope than has been claimed in other recent works. No difference is found in the clustering properties of radio-AGNs of different radio luminosity. Comparisons with models for ζ (r) show that AGN-fuelled sources reside in dark matter haloes more massive than ∼1013.4 M⊙, higher than the corresponding figure for radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects. This value can be converted into a minimum black hole mass associated with radio-loud, AGN-fuelled objects of M BHmin ∼ 109 M⊙. The above results then suggest - at least for relatively faint radio objects - the existence of a threshold black hole mass associated with the onset of significant radio activity such as that of radio-loud AGNs; however, once the activity is triggered, there appears to be no evidence for a connection between black hole mass and level of radio output.