Statistics of the Galaxy Distribution / Edition 1

by Vicent J. Martinez, Enn Saar

Overview

Over the last decade, statisticians have developed new statistical tools in the field of spatial point processes. At the same time, observational efforts have yielded a huge amount of new cosmological data to analyze. Although the main tools in astronomy for comparing theoretical results with observation are statistical, in recent years, cosmologists have not been generally aware of the developments in statistics and vice versa.

Statistics of the Galaxy Distribution describes both the available observational data on the distribution of galaxies and the applications of spatial statistics in cosmology. It gives a detailed derivation of the statistical methods used to study the galaxy distribution and the cosmological physics needed to formulate the statistical models. Because the prevalent approach in cosmological statistics has been frequentist, the authors focus on the most widely used of these methods, but they also explore Bayesian techniques that have become popular in large-scale structure studies.

Describing the most popular methods, their latest applications, and the necessary mathematical and astrophysical background, this groundbreaking book presents the state of the art in the statistical description of the large-scale structure of the Universe.
Cosmology's well-defined and growing data sets represent an important challenge for the statistical analysis, and therefore for the statistics community. Statistics of the Galaxy Distribution presents a unique opportunity for researchers in both fields to strengthen the connection between them and, using a common language, explore the statistical description of the universe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584880844
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/20/2001
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Martinez, Vicent J.; Saar, Enn

Table of Contents

The Clumpy Universe. The Standard Model of the Universe. Cosmological Point Processes. Fractal Properties of the Galaxy Distribution. Statistical and Geometrical Models. Formation of Structure. Random Fields in Cosmology. Fourier Analysis of Clustering. Cosmography. Structure Statistics. Appendices. References.

Editorial Reviews

Describes the latest observational results on the distribution of galaxies and the applications of spatial statistics in cosmology. The astronomer authors provide detailed derivations of the basic statistical methods used to study the spatial distribution of galaxies and of the cosmological physics needed to formulate the statistical models. Separate chapters deal with point processes, fractal methods, geometrical models, and Fourier analysis. The book concludes with methods of reconstructing the density field in the nearby universe, and statistical tools that have been developed to highlight morphological features of the galaxy distribution. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)