MULTIFRACTALITY AS A LINK BETWEEN LUMINOSITY AND SPACE DISTRIBUTION OF VISIBLE MATTER

Citation
Fs. Labini et L. Pietronero, MULTIFRACTALITY AS A LINK BETWEEN LUMINOSITY AND SPACE DISTRIBUTION OF VISIBLE MATTER, The Astrophysical journal, 469(1), 1996, pp. 26-39
Citations number
58
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
ISSN journal
0004637X
Volume
469
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Part
1
Pages
26 - 39
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(1996)469:1<26:MAALBL>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
We discuss how luminosity and space distributions of galaxies are natu rally linked in view of their multifractal properties. In particular, we show that the mass (luminosity) function corresponding to a multifr actal distribution in a given observed volume consists of a power law followed by an exponential cutoff. This implies that the amplitude phi of the Schechter function scales with the sample depth, as confirmed by various observational data. This effect is analogous to the scalin g of the space density due to the fractal, nature of the space distrib ution. This has the important consequence that the luminosity function can be defined properly only in a volume-limited sample. Also, the so -called luminosity segregation and the concept of bias correspond to a natural consequence of multifractality. This implies, however, that t hey should be considered from a different perspective with respect to the usual one, Such a concept allows us to unify the space and luminos ity distributions as being shaped by a single cause: multifractality, which should therefore claim a central stage in theoretical investigat ions.