Faculty Advisor
Jesus Pando
Abstract
In this study, we examine hierarchical structure at large redshifts utilizing Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Lyman-alpha forest data. Lyman-alpha forests are absorption lines in the spectrum of quasars that serve as tracers for clouds of primordial hydrogen. These data serve as a 1-dimensional probe of the matter density field at high redshift. Using a measure sensitive to hierarchical structure formation assembled around a discrete wavelet transform, we were able to detect hierarchical structure formation in the spectrum of every quasar studied. The nature of the hierarchy seems to pertain to two forms: one that is constant across all scales, and one that seems to have power law distribution. More work is necessary to determine the underlying cause of these differences, and we hope to investigate factors such as redshift dependence with extended research.
Recommended Citation
Becker, Devin
(2019)
"Hierarchical Structure Formation in the SDSS eBOSS Ly-alpha Forests,"
DePaul Discoveries: Volume 8, Article 2.
Available at:
https://via.library.depaul.edu/depaul-disc/vol8/iss1/2