Shapefinders: A New shape diagnostic for large scale structure
Jan, 19987 pages
Published in:
- Astrophys.J.Lett. 495 (1998) L5-L8
e-Print:
- astro-ph/9801053 [astro-ph]
DOI:
Report number:
- IUCAA-2-98
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Abstract: (arXiv)
We construct a set of shape-finders which determine shapes of compact surfaces (iso-density surfaces in galaxy surveys or N-body simulations) without fitting them to ellipsoidal configurations as done earlier. The new indicators arise from simple, geometrical considerations and are derived from fundamental properties of a surface such as its volume, surface area, integrated mean curvature and connectivity characterized by the Genus. These `Shapefinders' could be used to diagnose the presence of filaments, pancakes and ribbons in large scale structure. Their lower-dimensional generalization may be useful for the study of two-dimensional distributions such as temperature maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background.References(15)
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