ENEAR Redshift-Distance Survey: Cosmological Constraints

Abstract

We present an analysis of the ENEAR sample of peculiar velocities of elliptical galaxies, obtained with D_n-σdistances. We use the velocity correlation function to analyze the statistics of the field-object's velocities, while the analysis of the cluster data is based on the estimate of their rms peculiar velocity, Vrms. The statistics of the model velocity field is parameterized by the amplitude, η_8=σ_8 Ω_m^{0.6}, and by the shape parameter, Γ. From the velocity correlation statistics we obtain η_8=0.51{-0.09}{+0.24} for Γ=0.25 at the 2σlevel. Even though less constraining, a consistent result is obtained by comparing the measured Vrms of clusters to linear theory predictions. For Γ=0.25 we find η_8=0.63{-0.19}{+0.22}$ at 1σ. Overall, our results point toward a statistical concordance of the cosmic flows traced by spirals and early-type galaxies, with galaxy distances estimated using TF and D_n-σdistance indicators, respectively.

5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters