Determination of the abundance of cosmic matter via the cell count
  moments of the galaxy distribution
  We demonstrate that accurate and precise cosmological information can be
extracted from the cell count analysis of the 3D spatial clustering of galaxies
once the second-order ratio between one- and two-point moments of the smoothed
galaxy density distribution is analyzed. This probe does not require the
calibration of any standard rod, the knowledge of the galaxy bias nor the
modeling of galaxy redshift distortions. Using the spectroscopic Sloan Digital
Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 7 (DR7) galaxy sample, no cosmic microwave
background (CMB) information, weak (flat) priors on the value of the curvature
of the universe (Omega_k) and the constant value of the dark energy equation of
state (w), we estimate the abundance of matter (Omega_m) with a relative error
of 11% (at 68% c.l.). The method may be instrumental in searching for evidences
of new physics beyond the standard model of cosmology and in planning future
missions such as BigBOSS or EUCLID.
