A Redshift Survey in the Direction of a Void near the Pisces-Cetus Supercluster

Abstract

The work described here has two main goals:

1. (1) To test the usefulness of Abell clusters for locating voids

   It is well known that Abell clusters are not uniformly distributed in three-dimensional space (e.g. Bahcall and Soneira, 1983). Recently, Batuski and Bums (1985a, b) have suggested that Abell clusters tend to form filamentary structures between which there appear to be large regions (50–200 Mpc across) devoid of bright galaxies. The technique of using Abell clusters as tracers of voids is controversial because the correlation length of Abell clusters is so much larger than the galaxy-galaxy correlation length. However, compared to an all-sky magnitude-limited survey, the technique, if valid, potentially reduces the amount of telescope time required to identify significant voids and map them in redshift space. To investigate this possibility we have undertaken a redshift survey of galaxies in the direction of a nearby and relatively compact candidate void surrounded by a ring of Abell clusters.

2. (2) To identify a void suitable for more extensive study.

   Ultimately we would like to know not only the degree to which voids are empty, but also to what extent those galaxies that may be found within a void differ from those in the surrounding shell. Some theorists (e.g. Dekel and Silk, 1986 and references therein) suggest that as a result of biased galaxy formation, galaxies within a void might be expected to be preferentially younger, fainter, more irregular, more metal-poor and more gas-rich than shell galaxies. The region we selected for study is one which forms part of the Haynes and Giovanelli (1986 and references therein) 21 cm redshift survey. It was chosen, in part, because it is of interest to compare optical results with radio data to determine whether or not the two techniques reveal the same structure.