Definition of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex]

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In summary, the conversation is about the definition of \sigma_8 in terms of the power spectrum and a reference for it. The answer is given as the last paragraph of a webpage and a page from a book, both mentioning using ##r=8## in the equation. It is also clarified that this is for the matter power spectrum and there are other power spectrums used in cosmology.
  • #1
Einj
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Hi everyone,
apologies if this question has been asked already. My search didn't give any results.

Can anyone tell me the definition of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] in terms of the power spectrum? A reference where I could find it is perfect too!

Thanks a lot
 
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Thanks a lot! Does that simply mean [itex]\sigma_8=\mathcal{P}(k=1/8 \,h/Mpc)[/itex]? Where [itex]\mathcal{P}[/itex] is the power spectrum.
 
  • #4
Einj said:
Thanks a lot! Does that simply mean [itex]\sigma_8=\mathcal{P}(k=1/8 \,h/Mpc)[/itex]? Where [itex]\mathcal{P}[/itex] is the power spectrum.

I have attached one page from the second edition of "Fundamentals of Cosmology" by James Rich. Take ##r=8## in equation (7.32).
 

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  • #5
Einj said:
Thanks a lot! Does that simply mean [itex]\sigma_8=\mathcal{P}(k=1/8 \,h/Mpc)[/itex]? Where [itex]\mathcal{P}[/itex] is the power spectrum.
And just to clarify, this is the matter power spectrum. There are other power spectrums that are used in cosmology.
 
  • #6
All clear now! Thank you so much everyone!
 

Related to Definition of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex]

What is the definition of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex]?

The definition of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] is a measure of the amplitude of matter fluctuations on a scale of 8 megaparsecs. It is commonly used in cosmology to quantify the level of clustering of matter in the universe.

How is [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] calculated?

[itex]\sigma_8[/itex] is typically calculated using data from large-scale surveys of the distribution of galaxies or cosmic microwave background radiation. It involves measuring the density of matter on a scale of 8 megaparsecs and comparing it to a theoretical prediction based on the standard cosmological model.

What does a high or low value of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] indicate?

A high value of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] indicates a strong level of clustering of matter on large scales, while a low value indicates a weaker level of clustering. This can have implications for the formation of large-scale structures in the universe.

What is the current accepted value of [itex]\sigma_8[/itex]?

The most recent measurements from various surveys have yielded a value of [itex]\sigma_8 = 0.8[/itex] with a margin of error of about 0.02. This value is in agreement with the predictions of the standard cosmological model.

Why is [itex]\sigma_8[/itex] an important parameter in cosmology?

[itex]\sigma_8[/itex] is an important parameter in cosmology because it is related to the growth rate of structures in the universe. It can also provide constraints on the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and help test the validity of different cosmological models.

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