Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case

Details Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case

2003-06-30

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0307003v1

Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.366:1201-1216,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 11 figures, submitted to MNRAS

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09925.x

We discuss the skeleton as a probe of the filamentary structures of a 2D random field. It can be defined for a smooth field as the ensemble of pairs of field lines departing from saddle points, initially aligned with the major axis of local curvature and connecting them to local maxima. This definition is thus non local and makes analytical predictions difficult, so we propose a local approximation: the local skeleton is given by the set of points where the gradient is aligned with the local curvature major axis and where the second component of the local curvature is negative. We perform a statistical analysis of the length of the total local skeleton, chosen for simplicity as the set of all points of space where the gradient is either parallel or orthogonal to the main curvature axis. In all our numerical experiments, which include Gaussian and various non Gaussian realizations such as \chi^2 fields and Zel'dovich maps, the differential length is found within a normalization factor to be very close to the probability distribution function of the smoothed field. This is in fact explicitly demonstrated in the Gaussian case. This result might be discouraging for using the skeleton as a probe of non Gausiannity, but our analyses assume that the total length of the skeleton is a free, adjustable parameter. This total length could in fact be used to constrain cosmological models, in CMB maps but also in 3D galaxy catalogs, where it estimates the total length of filaments in the Universe. Making the link with other works, we also show how the skeleton can be used to study the dynamics of large scale structure.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Skeleton as a probe of the cosmic web: the 2D case will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-508774