Large-scale Structure Formation Research Articles

Modulational Instability, Wave Breaking, and Formation of Large-Scale Dipoles in the Atmosphere

We use direct numerical simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations for a two-phase flow (water and air) to study the dynamics of the modulational instability of free surface waves and its contribution to the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere. If the steepness of the initial wave exceeds a threshold value, we observe wave-breaking events and the formation of large-scale dipole structures in the air. Because of the multiple steepening and breaking of the waves under unstable wave packets, a train of dipoles is released in the atmosphere; those dipoles propagate at a height comparable with the wavelength. The amount of energy dissipated by the breaker in water and air is considered, and contrary to expectations, we observe that the energy dissipation in air is greater than that in water. The possible consequences on the wave modeling and on the exchange of aerosols and gases between air and water are discussed.

Cosmological perturbations in theories with non-minimal coupling between curvature and matter

In this work, we examine how the presence of a non-minimal coupling between spacetime curvature and matter affects the evolution of cosmological perturbations on a homogeneous and isotropic Universe, and hence the formation of large-scale structure. This framework places constraints on the terms which arise due to the coupling with matter and, in particular, on the modified growth of matter density perturbations. We derive approximate analytical solutions for the evolution of matter overdensities during the matter dominated era and discuss the compatibility of the obtained results with the hypothesis that the late time acceleration of the Universe is driven by a non-minimal coupling.

Cosmological perturbations during the Bose-Einstein condensation of dark matter

In the present work, we analyze the evolution of the scalar and tensorial perturbations and the quantities relevant for the physical description of the Universe, as the density contrast of the scalar perturbations and the gravitational waves energy density during the Bose-Einstein condensation of dark matter. The behavior of these parameters during the Bose-Einstein phase transition of dark matter is analyzed in details. To study the cosmological dynamics and evolution of scalar and tensorial perturbations in a Universe with and without cosmological constant we use both analytical and numerical methods. The Bose-Einstein phase transition modifies the evolution of gravitational waves of cosmological origin, as well as the process of large-scale structure formation.

Post-Newtonian celestial dynamics in cosmology: Field equations

Post-Newtonian celestial dynamics is a relativistic theory of motion of massive bodies and test particles under the influence of relatively weak gravitational forces. The standard approach for development of this theory relies upon the key concept of the isolated astronomical system supplemented by the assumption that the background spacetime is flat. The standard post-Newtonian theory of motion was instrumental in the explanation of the existing experimental data on binary pulsars, satellite, and lunar laser ranging, and in building precise ephemerides of planets in the Solar System. Recent studies of the formation of large-scale structures in our Universe indicate that the standard post-Newtonian mechanics fails to describe more subtle dynamical effects in motion of the bodies comprising the astronomical systems of larger size---galaxies and clusters of galaxies---where the Riemann curvature of the expanding Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker universe interacts with the local gravitational field of the astronomical system and, as such, cannot be ignored. The present paper outlines theoretical principles of the post-Newtonian mechanics in the expanding Universe. It is based upon the gauge-invariant theory of the Lagrangian perturbations of cosmological manifold caused by an isolated astronomical $N$-body system (the Solar System, a binary star, a galaxy, and a cluster of galaxies). We postulate that the geometric properties of the background manifold are described by a homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker metric governed by two primary components---the dark matter and the dark energy. The dark matter is treated as an ideal fluid with the Lagrangian taken in the form of pressure along with the scalar Clebsch potential as a dynamic variable. The dark energy is associated with a single scalar field with a potential which is hold unspecified as long as the theory permits. Both the Lagrangians of the dark matter and the scalar field are formulated in terms of the field variables which play a role of generalized coordinates in the Lagrangian formalism. It allows us to implement the powerful methods of variational calculus to derive the gauge-invariant field equations of the post-Newtonian celestial mechanics of an isolated astronomical system in an expanding universe. These equations generalize the field equations of the post-Newtonian theory in asymptotically flat spacetime by taking into account the cosmological effects explicitly and in a self-consistent manner without assuming the principle of liner superposition of the fields or a vacuole model of the isolated system, etc. The field equations for matter dynamic variables and gravitational field perturbations are coupled in the most general case of an arbitrary equation of state of matter of the background universe. We introduce a new cosmological gauge which generalizes the de Donder (harmonic) gauge of the post-Newtonian theory in asymptotically flat spacetime. This gauge significantly simplifies the gravitational field equations and allows one to find out the approximations where the field equations can be fully decoupled and solved analytically. The residual gauge freedom is explored and the residual gauge transformations are formulated in the form of the wave equations for the gauge functions. We demonstrate how the cosmological effects interfere with the local system and affect the local distribution of matter of the isolated system and its orbital dynamics. Finally, we worked out the precise mathematical definition of the Newtonian limit for an isolated system residing on the cosmological manifold. The results of the present paper can be useful in the Solar System for calculating more precise ephemerides of the Solar System bodies on extremely long time intervals, in galactic astronomy to study the dynamics of clusters of galaxies, and in gravitational wave astronomy for discussing the impact of cosmology on generation and propagation of gravitational waves emitted by coalescing binaries and/or merging galactic nuclei.

The X-ray/SZ view of the virial region

We measure the thermodynamic properties of cluster outer regions to provide constraints on the processes that rule the formation of large scale structures. We derived the thermodynamic properties of the intracluster gas (temperature, entropy) by combining the SZ thermal pressure from Planck and the X-ray gas density from ROSAT. This method allowed us to reconstruct for the first time temperature and entropy profiles out to the virial radius and beyond in a large sample of objects. At variance with several recent Suzaku studies, we find that the entropy rises steadily with radius, albeit at at a somewhat lower rate than predicted by self-similar expectations. We note significant differences between relaxed, cool-core systems and unrelaxed clusters in the outer regions. Relaxed systems appear to follow the self-similar expectations more closely than perturbed objects. Our results indicate that the well-known entropy excess observed in cluster cores extends well beyond the central regions. When correcting for the gas depletion, the observed entropy profiles agree with the prediction from gravitational collapse only, especially for cool-core clusters.

Effects of Primordial Non-Gaussianities on the Large Scale Structure Formation(Current Topics)

Effects of Primordial Non-Gaussianities on the Large Scale Structure Formation(Current Topics)

Simulation of large scale structure formation

Large scale structures were studied in simulation using gadget-2 code for Lambda cold dark matter model. The dark matter and gas which are the main components of the large scale structures are simulated. At redshift z=0, the group and clustering of dark matter and gas particles were shown differently and then at the same redshift. The construction of cluster and super clusters are shown clearly. In the present work we focused on the history of star formation and the number of stars formed at different redshifts. During the study it appeared that stars born as a result of gas cooling process. It also appeared that the stars construct groups and clusters gradually from relatively high redshift z=3.04 to the redshift z=0.

Modification of the Newtonian Dynamics in &#923FRW-Cosmology an Alternative Approach to Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MoND) is an empirically motivated modification of Newtonian gravity at largest scales, to explain rotation curves of galaxies, as an alternative to nonbaryonic dark matter. But MoND theories can hardly connect to the formalism of relativistic cosmology type Friedmann-Robertson-Walker. Presently work intends the existence of one scalar potential, with non gravitational origin, that would solve these problems. This potential Yukawa type inverse is build starting from a specular reflection of the potential of Yukawa: null in very near solar system, slightly attractiveness in ranges of interstellar distances, very attractiveness in distance ranges comparable to galaxies cluster and repulsive to cosmic scales. The consequences of this potential are discussed, through Cosmological Model Tipe Friedmann-Roberston-Walker with cosmological term in function of the distance (lambda like function of r). In the cosmological model so raised the critical density of matter is consistent with the observed density does not include dark matter, MoND theory is deduced for interstellar scales and consequently would explain rotation curves. Also it is shown that Yukawa type inverse does not alter the predictions of the Cosmic Microwave Background neither the primordial nucleosynthesis in early universe; and can be explain the large-scale structure formation.

Experimental and numerical investigation of unsteady behaviour in the near-field of pure thermal planar plumes

A near-field, unsteady buoyant plume exhibits puffing behaviour, characterised by the periodic formation of large-scale vortical structures (puffs). It has been observed in numerical simulations of pure thermal plumes with a finite area source that the periodic formation of puffs is associated with an instability of the lapping flow that develops over the heated region away from the plume centreline, producing bulge-like structures. Experiments using a shadowgraph technique and two-dimensional, two-component particle image velocimetry are conducted to validate our numerical results for the near-field, unsteady behaviours of a pure thermal planar plume, with water as the working fluid. The formations of bulges in the lapping flow and associated puffs are also observed in transient flow fields obtained in the experiments. Further, quantitative comparison of mean velocity field and oscillation frequencies obtained in the experiments and numerical simulation shows reasonable agreement. This experimental study confirms the important effect of the lapping flow instability on the near-field unsteady behaviour, which has been highlighted in numerical simulations.

Screening Modifications of Gravity Through Disformally Coupled Fields

It is shown that extensions to general relativity, which introduce a strongly coupled scalar field, can be viable if the interaction has a nonconformal form. Such disformal coupling depends upon the gradients of the scalar field. Thus, if the field is locally static and smooth, the coupling becomes invisible in the Solar System: this is the disformal screening mechanism. A cosmological model is considered where the disformal coupling triggers the onset of accelerated expansion after a scaling matter era, giving a good fit to a wide range of background observational data. Moreover, the interaction leaves signatures in the formation of large-scale structure that can be used to probe such couplings.

Cosmology on compact and stable supergravity background

We propose a cosmological model of D3-brane universe on compact and stable supergravity background of wrapped D7-branes in type IIB string theory previously argued to be dual to pure N=1 SU(N) gauge theory in four dimensions. A model universe of order Planck size near the UV boundary dynamically flows toward the IR with constant total energy density and accelerating expansion followed by smooth transition to decelerating expansion and collides with the wrapped D7-branes at the IR boundary. The model addresses the horizon and flatness problems with most of the expansion produced during the decelerating expansion phase. The inflationary scenario is used to generate sources of inhomogeneities in the cosmic microwave background radiation and seeds for large scale structure formation from quantum fluctuations which exit the Hubble radius early during the accelerating expansion phase and the model addresses the inhomogeneity problem with red tilt in the power spectrum. We propose that the kinetic energy of the model universe is converted to matter and radiation by the collision followed by formation of baryons that stabilizes the model universe against gravitational force from the background at a finite distance from the IR boundary with the wrapped D7-branes serving as sources of color. Friedmann evolution then takes over with a positive cosmological constant term coming from the remaining potential energy density which is interpreted as dark energy. The magnitude of dark energy density is smaller than the total energy density during the flow by a ratio of the scale factor when the model universe appears in the UV to the scale factor at the moment of collision and stays constant while the matter-radiation density falls during Friedmann expansion.

Suzaku Observations of Abell 1555 and Abell 1558: Searching for Non-Thermal Emission from Large-Scale Structure Formation

We report on X-ray observations of two galaxy clusters, Abell 1555 and Abell 1558, with Suzaku, which are included in a large-scale filamentary structure and a supercluster, to search for non-thermal emission driven by shocks produced during structure formation. These two clusters were detected by Suzaku/XIS for the first time in the X-ray band of 0.5–7 keV. No significant flux has been detected by HXD in the energy band of 13–40 keV, and upper limits are reported. From an analysis of the XIS data, we found that the spectrum of A 1555 could be fit by a thermal plus power-law model, significantly better than a single-temperature pure thermal spectrum. If this power-law component is due to inverse-Compton scattering, the fraction of the total baryon energy imparted to non-thermal electrons is consistent with the typical value inferred from observations of other clusters. However, other scenarios (e.g., underlying AGNs, multi-temperature thermal models) cannot be excluded, and further investigation of this system is desired. Basic physical properties of A 1555 (e.g., total mass) are also reported.

Do the cosmological observational data prefer phantom dark energy?

The dynamics of expansion and large scale structure formation of the Universe are analyzed for models with dark energy in the form of a phantom scalar field which initially mimics a $\Lambda$-term and evolves slowly to the Big Rip singularity. The discussed model of dark energy has three parameters -- the density and the equation of state parameter at the current epoch, $\Omega_{de}$ and $w_0$, and the asymptotic value of the equation of state parameter at $a\rightarrow\infty$, $c_a^2$. Their best-fit values are determined jointly with all other cosmological parameters by the MCMC method using observational data on CMB anisotropies and polarization, SNe Ia luminosity distances, BAO measurements and more. Similar computations are carried out for $\Lambda$CDM and a quintessence scalar field model of dark energy. It is shown that the current data slightly prefer the phantom model, but the differences in the maximum likelihoods are not statistically significant. It is also shown that the phantom dark energy with monotonically increasing density in future will cause the decay of large scale linear matter density perturbations due to the gravitational domination of dark energy perturbations long before the Big Rip singularity.

Relative information entropy and Weyl curvature of the inhomogeneous Universe

Penrose conjectured a connection between entropy and Weyl curvature of the Universe. This is plausible, as the almost homogeneous and isotropic Universe at the onset of structure formation has negligible Weyl curvature, which then grows (relative to the Ricci curvature) due to the formation of large-scale structure, and thus reminds us of the second law of thermodynamics. We study two scalar measures to quantify the deviations from a homogeneous and isotropic space-time: the relative information entropy and a Weyl tensor invariant, and show their relation to the averaging problem. We calculate these two quantities up to second order in standard cosmological perturbation theory and find that they are correlated and can be linked via the kinematical backreaction of a spatially averaged universe model.

The dark matter distribution inz ~ 0.5 clusters of galaxies

The total mass of clusters of galaxies is a key parameter to study massive halos. It relates to numerous gravitational and baryonic processes at play in the framework of large scale structure formation, thus rendering its determination important but challenging. From a sample of the 11 X-ray bright clusters selected from the excpres sample, we investigate the optical and X-ray properties of clusters with respect to their total mass derived from weak gravitational lensing. From multi-color wide field imaging obtained with MegaCam at CFHT, we derive the shear profile of each individual cluster of galaxies. We perform a careful investigation of all systematic sources related to the weak lensing mass determination. The weak lensing masses are then compared to the X-ray masses obtained from the analysis of XMM observations and assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. We find a good agreement between the two mass proxies although a few outliers with either perturbed morphology or poor quality data prevent to derive robust mass estimates. The weak lensing mass is also correlated with the optical richness and the total optical luminosity, as well as with the X-ray luminosity, to provide scaling relations within the redshift range 0.4<z<0.6. These relations are in good agreement with previous works at lower redshifts. For the L_X-M relation we combine our sample with two other cluster and group samples from the literature, thus covering two decades in mass and X-ray luminosity, with a regular and coherent correlation between the two physical quantities.

Optical and radio properties of giant radio quasars: central black hole characteristics

We analysed the optical and radio properties of lobe-dominated giant-sized (> 0.72 Mpc) radio quasars and compared the results with those derived for a sample of smaller radio sources to determine whether the large size of some extragalactic radio sources is related to the properties of their nuclei. We compiled the largest (to date) sample of giant radio quasars, including 24 new and 21 previously-known objects, and calculated a number of important parameters of their nuclei such as the black hole mass and the accretion rate. We conclude that giant radio quasars have properties similar to those of smaller size and that giant quasars do not have more powerful central engines than other radio quasars. The results obtained are consistent with evolutionary models of extragalactic radio sources which predict that giant radio quasars could be more evolved (aged) sources compared to smaller radio quasars. In addition we found out that the environment may play only a minor role in formation of large-scale radio structures.

The Square Kilometre Array

AbstractThe Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a global project to design and construct the next-generation international radio telescope operating at metre to cm wavelengths. The SKA will be an interferometric array with a collecting area of up to one million square metres and maximum baseline of at least 3000 km, and is designed to address fundamental questions in cosmology, physics and astronomy. The key science goals range from the epoch of re-ionization, dark energy, the formation and evolution of galaxies and large-scale structure, the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism, strong-field tests of gravity and detection of gravity waves.The SKA project is now entering a final design for an SKA Observatory to begin to be built in the latter half of this decade that will include facilities in South Africa and Western Australia. The SKA design relies on advances in several technologies that will be prototyped over the next few years, and demonstrated for astronomical observations on SKA precursor telescopes. Scientific operations of the first 10% scale phase of the SKA is targeted for 2020.

From Gas to Stars over Cosmic Time

AbstractThe formation of stars from gas drives the evolution of galaxies. Yet, it remains one of the hardest processes to understand when trying to connect observations of modern and high-redshift stellar and galaxy populations to models of large scale structure formation. It has become clear that the star formation rate at redshifts z &gt; 2 drops off rather more quickly than was thought even five years ago. Theoretical models have tended to overpredict the star formation rate at these high redshifts substantially, primarily due to overcooling. Overcooling in galaxies typically occurs because of unphysical radiative cooling. As a result, insufficient turbulence is driven by stellar feedback in galaxies. I show that such turbulence has the net effect of strongly inhibiting star formation, despite its ability to locally promote star formation by compression. Radiation pressure appears less likely to be a dominant driver of the turbulence than has been argued, but supernova and magnetorotational instabilities remain viable mechanisms. Gravity alone cannot be the main driver, as otherwise well-resolved models without feedback would accurately predict star formation rates. Star formation rate surface density correlates well with observed molecular gas surface density, as well as with other tracers of high density material. Correlation does not, however, necessarily imply causation. In this case, it appears that both molecule formation and star formation occur as a consequence of gravitational collapse, with molecules typically playing an important but not an essential role in cooling. The basic concept that gravitational instability drives star formation remains a true guide through the thickets of complexity surrounding this topic. I finally briefly note that understanding ionization heating and radiation pressure from the most massive stars will likely require much higher resolution models (sub-parsec scale) than resolving supernova feedback.

Direct neutrino mass determination: Status and prospects

More than 80 years after the prediction of their existence, there are still many open questions regarding the nature and properties of neutrinos. Among these questions is the issue of neutrino mass. While oscillation experiments have proven that neutrinos possess non-zero masses, these measurements cannot determine the absolute mass scale. Information on absolute neutrino masses can be deduced either from cosmological observations of large scale structure formation, from the search for neutrino-less double β-decay or from the study of the kinematics of weak decays. While the first two methods are subject to model dependencies or rather large systematical uncertainties, measurements based on the kinematics of nuclear β-decay or electron-capture reactions offer a model-independent way to determine the neutrino mass. This paper provides an overview of status and sensitivities of direct neutrino mass experiments currently under construction (KATRIN, MARE) or in development (Project 8, ECHO).

Active Region Formation through the Negative Effective Magnetic Pressure Instability

The negative effective magnetic pressure instability operates on scales encompassing many turbulent eddies and is here discussed in connection with the formation of active regions near the surface layers of the Sun. This instability is related to the negative contribution of turbulence to the mean magnetic pressure that causes the formation of large-scale magnetic structures. For an isothermal layer, direct numerical simulations and mean-field simulations of this phenomenon are shown to agree in many details in that their onset occurs at the same depth. This depth increases with increasing field strength, such that the maximum growth rate of this instability is independent of the field strength, provided the magnetic structures are fully contained within the domain. A linear stability analysis is shown to support this finding. The instability also leads to a redistribution of turbulent intensity and gas pressure that could provide direct observational signatures.