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Excess Clustering on Large Scales in the MegaZ DR7 Photometric Redshift Survey

Shaun A. Thomas, Filipe B. Abdalla, and Ofer Lahav
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 241301 – Published 13 June 2011
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Abstract

We observe a large excess of power in the statistical clustering of luminous red galaxies in the photometric SDSS galaxy sample called MegaZ DR7. This is seen over the lowest multipoles in the angular power spectra C in four equally spaced redshift bins between 0.45z0.65. However, it is most prominent in the highest redshift band at 4σ and it emerges at an effective scale k0.01hMpc1. Given that MegaZ DR7 is the largest cosmic volume galaxy survey to date (3.3(Gpch1)3) this implies an anomaly on the largest physical scales probed by galaxies. Alternatively, this signature could be a consequence of it appearing at the most systematically susceptible redshift. There are several explanations for this excess power that range from systematics to new physics. We test the survey, data, and excess power, as well as possible origins.

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  • Received 10 December 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.241301

© 2011 American Physical Society

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Cosmic smoothness

Published 13 June 2011

On the largest distance scales, the distribution of galaxies appears to be clumpier than the standard cosmological model predicts.

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Authors & Affiliations

Shaun A. Thomas, Filipe B. Abdalla, and Ofer Lahav

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 24 — 17 June 2011

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