Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Determination Of Malmquist Bias And Selection Effects From Monte Carlo Simulations, Wolfram Freudling, Luiz N. Da Costa, Gary Wegner, Riccardo Giovanelli

Dartmouth Scholarship

Maps of the peculiar velocity field derived from distance relations are affected by Malmquist type bias and selection effects. Because of the large number of interdependent effects, they are in most cases difficult to treat analytically. Monte Carlo simulations are used to understand and evaluate these effects. In these simulations the "true" spatial distribution and relevant properties of galaxies as well as selection effects and observational uncertainties are realistically modeled. The results of the simulation can be directly applied to correct observed peculiar velocity maps. The simulation is used to investigate biases in samples of measured peculiar velocities by Lynden-Bell …