Redshift distortions in one-dimensional power spectra

We present a model for one-dimensional (1D) matter power spectra in redshift space as estimated from data provided along individual lines of sight. We derive analytic expressions for these power spectra in the linear and nonlinear regimes, focusing on redshift distortions arising from peculiar velocities. In the linear regime, redshift distortions enhance the 1D power spectra only on small scales and do not affect the power on large scales. This is in contrast to the effect of distortions on three-dimensional (3D) power spectra estimated from data in 3D space, where the enhancement is independent of scale. For CDM cosmologies the 1D power spectra in redshift and real space are similar for wavenumbers q < ∼ 0.1 hMpc where both have a spectral index close to unity, independent of the details of the 3D power spectrum. Nonlinear corrections drive the 1D power spectrum in redshift space into a nearly universal shape over scales q < ∼ 10 hMpc, and suppress the power on small scales as a result of the strong velocity shear and random motions. The redshift space 1D power spectrum is mostly sensitive to the amplitude of the initial density perturbations. Our results are useful in particular for power spectra computed from the SDSS quasars sample.