The robustness of the galaxy distribution function to effects of merging and evolution

TL;DR

This paper investigates how galaxy merging and evolution influence the distribution function of galaxies, finding it remains largely unchanged and analyzing the effects on clustering parameters over cosmic time.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the galaxy distribution function is robust to merging and evolution, and provides predictions for the evolution of clustering parameters with redshift.

Findings

Galaxy distribution function remains stable despite merging.

Bound pairs follow similar distribution as individual galaxies.

Clustering parameter b evolves with redshift.

Abstract

We examine the evolution of the spatial counts-in-cells distribution of galaxies and show that the form of the galaxy distribution function does not change significantly as galaxies merge and evolve. In particular, bound merging pairs follow a similar distribution to that of individual galaxies. From the adiabatic expansion of the universe we show how clustering, expansion and galaxy mergers affect the clustering parameter b. We also predict the evolution of b with respect to redshift.