Clusters of Galaxies and the Cosmic Light

Author: Shectman, Stephen Alan

Year: 1974

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Gunn, James E.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Astronomy

DOI: 10.7907/APSH-4Q39

Abstract

Because galaxies cluster in space, the cosmic background light due to galaxies is not smoothly distributed on the night sky. Part I predicts spatial power spectra for the cosmic light fluctuations, based on the luminosity function for nearby galaxies and on the dumpiness of the galaxy distribution derived from galaxy counts. Part II describes a measurement of the spatial power spectrum of the cosmic light on a series of photographic plates taken with the Palomar 48-inch (122cm) Schmidt camera. This power spectrum is interpreted to provide a measure of the covariance of the galaxy distribution and the mean emissivity of galaxies in space.

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