A Test of the Cosmological Principle with Reported Superlarge Structures

The objective of this thesis is to investigate and study cross-correlation of large-scale structures as a test of the Cosmological Principle (CP). This begins with an explanation of the importance of CP to cosmology and astronomy, followed by a review of the concept of length scales as it pertains to CP, and a review of quasars and Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). The statistical methods and measurements used in this research will be explained in detail. The resulting statistics are explored for a Gamma-ray burst data set, two quasar data sets with positive and negative galactic latitude, and a data set comprised of quasar-GRB pairs to test for correlations. Statistically significant anomalies appearing in either method are discussed in detail, as well as specific analysis of signals that may relate to the previously reported structures. None of the signals discovered would indicate unusually large structures at a statistically significant level. The correlation study is likewise lacking in statistically significant signals, suggesting no apparent correlation between the GRB and quasar distributions. Lack of statistically significant structures in these distributions suggests that the Cosmological Principle holds. Sources of error are discussed. Potential future studies are laid out, including suggestions on how to increase the number of GRBs with redshift data.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Dlugan, Emery Scott

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Couedel, Lenaic
• Tanaka, Kaori
• Tegtmeier, Susann
• Sowa, Artur

• cosmology, gamma-ray bursts, quasars, cosmological principle, minimal-spanning tree, nearest-neighbor, python, superlarge structures

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14464

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/14464