Citation
Sebok, William Lawrence (1981) Use of an Automated Photographic Object Detection System to Analyse the Effect of Magnitude on the Angular Correlation Function of Galaxies. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/179j-3364. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-09052008-130643
Abstract
An automated system is created which scans photographic plates, locating, measuring, and identifying the objects on these plates. Four deep red sensitive plates from the Palomar 1.2 m. telescope are examined with this system. The objects classified as galaxies are divided into subcatalogs of different apparent magnitudes. The angular correlation function w(θ) (a measure of how galaxies cluster) is computed for each subcatalog for galaxy separations between 18" and 4'32". This enables an analysis of the behavior of the angular correlation function with changing apparent magnitude.
The slope of log correlation function versus log angle, for galaxies 16 < mr < 20.5, is measured to be -1.23 ± 0.18, with a hint of higher negative slopes at fainter magnitudes. This is inconsistent at the 2σ level with the standard slope of -0.8, but may be possible if the slope is a function of magnitude or an effect of the smaller angular size (~ 1 arc. min.) used here.
The slope of the log correlation function as a function of magnitude is most consistent with the slope of the log correlation function as a function of angle for bright galaxies being about -1.1, consistent with the above result.
If this slope is -0.8, then moderate to strong correlation function evolution is favored. If the slope of the log correlation function versus angle is higher then less correlation function evolution is needed.
If the slope is allowed to float to its preferred higher value, then amount of correlation function evolution cannot be distinguished.
No luminosity or color evolution is included in the models, but the models have no trouble fitting the data without it.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.)) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject Keywords: | Astronomy | |||||||||
| Degree Grantor: | California Institute of Technology | |||||||||
| Division: | Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy | |||||||||
| Major Option: | Astronomy | |||||||||
| Thesis Availability: | Public (worldwide access) | |||||||||
| Research Advisor(s): |
| |||||||||
| Group: | Astronomy Department | |||||||||
| Thesis Committee: |
| |||||||||
| Defense Date: | 18 May 1981 | |||||||||
| Record Number: | CaltechETD:etd-09052008-130643 | |||||||||
| Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-09052008-130643 | |||||||||
| DOI: | 10.7907/179j-3364 | |||||||||
| Related URLs: |
| |||||||||
| Default Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | |||||||||
| ID Code: | 3341 | |||||||||
| Collection: | CaltechTHESIS | |||||||||
| Deposited By: | Imported from ETD-db | |||||||||
| Deposited On: | 11 Sep 2008 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 16 Apr 2021 22:15 |
Thesis Files
|
PDF
- Final Version
See Usage Policy. 4MB |
Repository Staff Only: item control page
