2000ApJ...532....1R -
Astrophys. J., 532, 1-16 (2000/March-3)
Constraining primordial non-gaussianity with the abundance of high-redshift clusters.
ROBINSON J., GAWISER E. and SILK J.
Abstract (from CDS):
We show how observations of the evolution of the galaxy cluster number abundance can be used to constrain primordial non-Gaussianity in the universe. We carry out a maximum likelihood analysis incorporating a number of current data sets and accounting for a wide range of sources of systematic error. Under the assumption of Gaussianity, the current data prefer a universe with matter density Ωm≃0.3 and are inconsistent with Ωm=1 at the 2 σ level. If we assume Ωm=1, the predicted degree of cluster evolution is consistent with the data for non-Gaussian models where the primordial fluctuations have at least twice as many peaks of height 3 σ or more as a Gaussian distribution does. These results are robust to almost all sources of systematic error considered: in particular, the Ωm=1 Gaussian case can only be reconciled with the data if a number of systematic effects conspire to modify the analysis in the right direction. Given an independent measurement of Ωm, the techniques described here represent a powerful tool with which to constrain non-Gaussianity in the primordial universe, independent of specific details of the non-Gaussian physics. We discuss the prospects and strategies for improving the constraints with future observations.
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Journal keyword(s):
Cosmology: Theory - Galaxies: Clusters: General - Galaxies: Distances and Redshifts
Simbad objects:
4
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