The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium

Details The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium

Oct 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992a%26a...264..365b&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 264, no. 2, p. 365-378.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

117

Galactic Radiation, Intergalactic Media, Luminous Intensity, Cosmology, Dark Matter, Galactic Evolution, Galactic Halos, Galaxies, Gas Temperature, Spatial Distribution, Stellar Evolution

Scientific paper

The mass function of cosmic structures that arise form gravitational instability in an expanding Einstein-de Sitter universe is studied. Under the assumption that fragmentation processes are negligible and the transition from the linear to nonlinear regime is controlled by the linear density contrast, a general formal expression for the mass function is derived for any kind of fluctuations, whether Gaussian or not. With general assumptions, it is found that the slope can only be shallower than that predicted by the Press and Schechter (1974) prescription. It is argued that the smaller observed slope of the galaxy luminosity function is related to processes of galaxy formation rather than a change in the primordial index. Via an examination of the thermal evolution of gas during galaxy formation, the instantaneous friction of gas able to cool at any epoch is estimated, and it is found that almost all the baryons should have cooled by the present time. It is shown that the existence of hot gas in clusters of galaxies does not provide strong evidence for such a reheating phase.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium 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 The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The origin of the galaxy luminosity function and the thermal evolution of the intergalactic medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1868290