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Main Authors: Zhang, Ryan Yuran, Kamionkowski, Marc
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.15287
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author Zhang, Ryan Yuran
Kamionkowski, Marc
author_facet Zhang, Ryan Yuran
Kamionkowski, Marc
contents Predictions for observables involving the cosmological 21-cm background require calculations of spatial correlations of star formation rate densities (SFRDs) which have a nonlinear dependence on the baryon-dark matter relative velocity. Prior work derived these SFRD correlations with a simplifying assumption that neglected the difference between the correlations of the components of the velocity parallel and perpendicular to the separation between the two points being correlated. Here we calculate the full joint PDF of the squares of the peculiar velocity at two different points. The error that arises in predictions for 21-cm fluctuations if this subtlety is overlooked is generally less than a few percent, but it can be larger for some values of wavenumber $k$ and redshift $z$ if there are cancellations between different contributions to the total signal. The correct expression is easily implemented and increases the run time of the code by only a few percent.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_15287
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Peculiar-velocity distribution functions and 21-cm fluctuations
Zhang, Ryan Yuran
Kamionkowski, Marc
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
Predictions for observables involving the cosmological 21-cm background require calculations of spatial correlations of star formation rate densities (SFRDs) which have a nonlinear dependence on the baryon-dark matter relative velocity. Prior work derived these SFRD correlations with a simplifying assumption that neglected the difference between the correlations of the components of the velocity parallel and perpendicular to the separation between the two points being correlated. Here we calculate the full joint PDF of the squares of the peculiar velocity at two different points. The error that arises in predictions for 21-cm fluctuations if this subtlety is overlooked is generally less than a few percent, but it can be larger for some values of wavenumber $k$ and redshift $z$ if there are cancellations between different contributions to the total signal. The correct expression is easily implemented and increases the run time of the code by only a few percent.
title Peculiar-velocity distribution functions and 21-cm fluctuations
topic Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.15287