Total Gravitational Mass Research Articles

Black hole-neutron star mergers with massive neutron stars in numerical relativity

We study the merger of black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) binaries in numerical relativity, focusing on the properties of the remnant disk and the ejecta, varying the mass of compactness of the NS and the mass and spin of the BH. We find that within the precision of our numerical simulations, the remnant disk mass and ejecta mass normalized by the NS baryon mass (M^rem and M^eje, respectively), and the cutoff frequency fcut normalized by the initial total gravitational mass of the system at infinite separation approximately agree among the models with the same NS compactness CNS=MNS/RNS, mass ratio Q=MBH/MNS, and dimensionless BH spin χBH irrespective of the NS mass MNS in the range of 1.092−1.691M⊙. This result shows that the merger outcome depends sensitively on Q, χBH, and CNS but only weakly on MNS. This justifies the approach of studying the dependence of NS tidal disruptions on the NS compactness by fixing the NS mass but changing the EOS. We further perform simulations with massive NSs of MNS=1.8M⊙, and compare our results of M^rem and M^eje with those given by existing fitting formulas to test their robustness for more compact NSs. We find that the fitting formulas obtained in the previous studies are accurate within the numerical errors assumed, while our results also suggest that further improvement is possible by systematically performing more precise numerical simulations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The 700 ks Chandra Spiderweb Field

Aims. We present the X-ray imaging and spectral analysis of the diffuse emission around the radio galaxy J1140-2629 (the Spiderweb galaxy) at z = 2.16 and of its nuclear emission, based on a deep (700 ks) Chandra observation. Methods. We obtained a robust characterization of the unresolved nuclear emission, and carefully computed the contamination in the surrounding regions due to the wings of the instrument point spread function. Then, we quantified the extended emission within a radius of 12 arcsec. We used the Jansky Very Large Array radio image to identify the regions overlapping the jets, and performed X-ray spectral analysis separately in the jet regions and in the complementary area. Results. We find that the Spiderweb galaxy hosts a mildly absorbed quasar, showing a modest yet significant spectral and flux variability on a timescale of ∼1 year (observed frame). We find that the emission in the jet regions is well described by a power law with a spectral index of Γ ∼ 2 − 2.5, and it is consistent with inverse-Compton upscattering of the cosmic microwave background photons by the relativistic electrons. We also find a roughly symmetric, diffuse emission within a radius of ∼100 kpc centered on the Spiderweb galaxy. This emission, which is not associated with the jets, is significantly softer and consistent with thermal bremsstrahlung from a hot intracluster medium (ICM) with a temperature of kT = 2.0−0.4+0.7 keV, and a metallicity of Z < 1.6 Z⊙ at 1σ c.l. The average electron density within 100 kpc is ne = (1.51 ± 0.24 ± 0.14) × 10−2 cm−3, corresponding to an upper limit for the total ICM mass of ≤(1.76 ± 0.30 ± 0.17) × 1012 M⊙ (where error bars are 1σ statistical and systematic, respectively). The rest-frame luminosity L0.5 − 10 keV = (2.0 ± 0.5) × 1044 erg s−1 is about a factor of 2 higher than the extrapolated L − T relation for massive clusters, but still consistent within the scatter. If we apply hydrostatic equilibrium to the ICM, we measure a total gravitational mass M(<100 kpc) = (1.5−0.3+0.5) × 1013 M⊙ and, extrapolating at larger radii, we estimate a total mass M500 = (3.2−0.6+1.1) × 1013 M⊙ within a radius of r500 = (220 ± 30) kpc. Conclusions. We conclude that the Spiderweb protocluster shows significant diffuse emission within a radius of 12 arcsec, whose major contribution is provided by inverse-Compton scattering associated with the radio jets. Outside the jet regions, we also identified thermal emission within a radius of ∼100 kpc, revealing the presence of hot, diffuse baryons that may represent the embryonic virialized halo of the forming cluster.

Moment of inertia of slowly rotating anisotropic neutron stars in f(R,T) gravity

Within the framework of [Formula: see text] theories of gravity, we investigate the hydrostatic equilibrium of anisotropic neutron stars with a physically relevant equation of state (EoS) for the radial pressure. In particular, we focus on the [Formula: see text] model, where [Formula: see text] is a minimal coupling constant. In the slowly rotating approximation, we derive the modified TOV equations and the expression for the relativistic moment of inertia. The main properties of neutron stars, such as radius, mass and moment of inertia, are studied in detail. Our results reveal that the main consequence of the [Formula: see text] term is a substantial increase in the surface radius for low enough central densities. Nevertheless, such a term slightly modifies the total gravitational mass and moment of inertia of the slowly rotating stars. Furthermore, the changes are noticeable when anisotropy is incorporated into the stellar fluid, and it is possible to obtain higher masses that are consistent with the current observational data.

Charged quark stars in f(R,T) gravity* *JMZP acknowledges financial support from the PCI program of the Brazilian agency "Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico"–CNPq. T. Tangphati was supported by King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi's Post-doctoral Fellowship. A. Pradhan thanks IUCCA, Pune, India for providing facilities under associateship programmes

Recent advances in nuclear theory and new astrophysical observations have led to the need for specific theoretical models applicable to dense-matter physics phenomena. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predicts the existence of non-nucleonic degrees of freedom at high densities in neutron-star matter, such as quark matter. Within a confining quark matter model, which consists of homogeneous, neutral 3-flavor interacting quark matter with corrections, we examine the structure of compact stars composed of a charged perfect fluid in the context of gravity. The system of differential equations describing the structure of charged compact stars has been derived and numerically solved for a gravity model with . For simplicity, we assumed that the charge density is proportional to the energy density, namely, . It is demonstrated that the matter-geometry coupling constant β and charge parameter α affect the total gravitational mass and the radius of the star.

High-accuracy high-mass-ratio simulations for binary neutron stars and their comparison to existing waveform models

The subsequent observing runs of the advanced gravitational-wave detector network will likely provide us with various gravitational-wave observations of binary neutron star systems. For an accurate interpretation of these detections, we need reliable gravitational-wave models. To test and to point out how existing models could be improved, we perform a set of high-resolution numerical relativity simulations for four different physical setups with mass ratios $q=1.25$, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, and total gravitational mass $M=2.7\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$. Each configuration is simulated with five different resolutions to allow a proper error assessment. Overall, we find approximately second-order converging results for the dominant (2,2) mode, but also the subdominant (2,1), (3,3), and (4,4) modes, while generally, the convergence order reduces slightly for an increasing mass ratio. Our simulations allow us to validate waveform models, where we find generally good agreement between state-of-the-art models and our data, and to prove that scaling relations for higher modes currently employed for binary black hole waveform modeling also apply for the tidal contribution. Finally, we also test if the current nrtidal model used to describe tidal effects is a valid description for high-mass-ratio systems. We hope that our simulation results can be used to further improve and test waveform models in preparation for the next observing runs.

Mass Distribution and “Mass Gap” of Compact Stellar Remnants in Binary Systems

The highest critical mass of neutron stars (NSs) was reviewed in the context of equation of state and observationsl results/ It was predicted that the maximum NS mass (MNS) exists in the range MNS ~ 2.2-2.9 M_Sun. However, recent observations of gravitationsl waves and other studies had suggested the higher mass limit of NSs, MNS ~ 3/2 M_Sun. The NS mass up to the value of MNS ~ 2 M_Sun is well understood, and with such a mass value it was meaning ful to discuss the "mass gap" ("m-gap") between the NS and black hole (BH) collapsars.The "m-gap" exists in between the highest mass of NS and the lowest mass of BH collapsars (Mm-gap ~ 2-5 M_Sun). in the mass distribution, the maximim population of NSs and BHs is located at MNS = 1.4 M_Sun and MBH = 6.7 M_Sun, respectively. However, recent ofservational results predicted filling the "m-gap" by the compact objects. In this paper, the concept of gravidynamics was reported to resolve the problem of peak likelihood value of gravitational mass at Mpeak = 6.7 M_Sun and the "m-gap" (Mm-gap ~ 2-5 M_Sun). This concept was based on a non-metric scalar-tensor model of gravitational interaction with localizable field energy. The gravidynamics model shows the total mass (MQ) of a compact relativistic object filled with matter of quark-gluon plasma of the radius r* = GMQ/c2 ~ 10 km, consistent with the "m-gap". It was conceptualized that the total measurable gravitational mass of such an extremely dense object consists of both matter and field, which is described by scalar-tensor components. This model is also useful for predicting the collapsars within the "m-gap".

How does dark matter affect compact star properties and high density constraints of strongly interacting matter

We study the impact of asymmetric bosonic dark matter on neutron star properties, including possible changes of tidal deformability, maximum mass, radius, and matter distribution inside the star. The conditions at which dark matter particles tend to condensate in the star’s core or create an extended halo are presented. We show that dark matter condensed in a core leads to a decrease of the total gravitational mass and tidal deformability compared to a pure baryonic star, which we will perceive as an effective softening of the equation of state. On the other hand, the presence of a dark matter halo increases those observable quantities. Thus, observational data on compact stars could be affected by accumulated dark matter and, consequently, constraints we put on strongly interacting matter at high densities. To confirm the presence of dark matter in the compact star’s interior, and to break the degeneracy between the effect of accumulated dark matter and strongly interacting matter properties at high densities, several astrophysical and GW tests are proposed.

Gravastars in a non-minimally coupled gravity with electromagnetism

In this paper we investigate the gravitational vacuum stars which called gravastars in the non-minimally coupled models with electromagnetic and gravitational fields. We consider two non-minimal models and find the corresponding spherically symmetric exact solutions in the interior of the star consisting of the dark energy condensate. Our models turn out to be Einstein–Maxwell model at the outside of the star and the solutions become the Reissner–Nordström solution. The physical quantities of these models are continuous and non-singular in some range of parameters and the exterior geometry continuously matches with the interior geometry at the surface. We calculate the matter mass, the total gravitational mass, the electric charge and redshift of the star for the two models. We notice that these quantities except redshift are dependent of a subtle free parameter, k, of the model. We also remark a wide redshift range from zero to infinity depending on one free parameter, beta , in the second model.

The gravitational field of a star in quadratic gravity

The characterization of the gravitational field of isolated objects is still an open question in quadratic theories of gravity.We study static equilibrium solutions for a self-gravitating fluid in extensions of General Relativity includingterms quadratic in the Weyl tensor C μνρσ and in the Ricci scalar R, as suggested by one-loop corrections to classical gravity. By the means of a shooting method procedure we link the total gravitational mass and the strength of the Yukawa corrections associated with the quadratic terms with the fluid properties at the center.It is shown that the inclusion of the C μνρσ μνρσ coupling in the lagrangian has a much strongerimpact than the R 2 correction in the determination of the radius and of the maximum mass of a compact object.We also suggest that the ambiguity in the definition of mass in quadratic gravity theories can convenientlybe exploited to detect deviations from standard General Relativity.

Phase diagram and compact stars in a holographic QCD model

A holographic model is used to investigate the thermodynamics and the phase diagram of a heavy quarks system. From such a model we obtain an equation of state and explore its applicability in astrophysical conditions. For this objective, we work in the context of the Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton (EMD) holographic model for quantum chromodynamics (QCD). At first, we show the existence of a critical point where the first-order transitions line ends, later on, we calculated an analytic expression for the equation of state. Additionally, with the aim of investigating the global properties of compact stars, such as the total gravitational mass and radius, the equation of state is used to solve the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations for stellar structure. The numerical results show that our equation of state is able to reproduce the expected behavior of hybrid stars. Our main conclusion is that, by using an equation of state emerging in the framework of the EMD holographic model for QCD, it is possible to obtain quark matter properties and that it is also possible to extend the procedure to astrophysical applications.

Maximum mass cutoff in the neutron star mass distribution and the prospect of forming supramassive objects in the double neutron star mergers

The sample of neutron stars with a measured mass is growing quickly. With the latest sample, we adopt both a flexible Gaussian mixture model and a Gaussian plus Cauchy-Lorentz component model to infer the mass distribution of neutron stars and use the Bayesian model selection to explore evidence for multimodality and a sharp cutoff in the mass distribution. The two models yield rather similar results. Consistent with previous studies, we find evidence for a bimodal distribution together with a cutoff at a mass of $M_{\rm max}=2.26_{-0.05}^{+0.12}M_\odot$ (68% credible interval; for the Gaussian mixture model). If such a cutoff is interpreted as the maximum gravitational mass of nonrotating cold neutron stars, the prospect of forming supramassive remnants is found to be quite promising for the double neutron star mergers with a total gravitational mass less than or equal to 2.7$M_\odot$ unless the thermal pions could substantially soften the equation of state for the very hot neutron star matter. These supramassive remnants have a typical kinetic rotational energy of approximately $1-2\times 10^{53}$ ergs. Together with a high neutron star merger rate approximately $10^{3}~{\rm Gpc^{-3}~yr^{-3}}$, the neutron star mergers are expected to be significant sources of EeV($10^{18}$eV) cosmic-ray protons.

Estimating the maximum gravitational mass of nonrotating neutron stars from the GW170817/GRB 170817A/AT2017gfo observation

Assuming that the differential rotation of the massive neutron star (NS) formed in the double NS (DNS) mergers has been effectively terminated by the magnetic braking and a uniform rotation has been subsequently established (i.e., a supramassive NS is formed), we analytically derive in this work an approximated expression for the critical total gravitational mass ($M_{\rm tot,c}$) to form supramassive NS (SMNS) in the DNS mergers, benefited from some equation of state (EoS) insensitive relationships. The maximum gravitational mass of the nonrotating NSs ($M_{\rm TOV}$) as well as the dimensionless angular momentum of the remnant ($j$) play the dominant roles in modifying $M_{\rm tot,c}$, while the radius and mass differences of the premerger NSs do not. The GW170817/GRB 170817A/AT2017gfo observations have provided so far the best opportunity to quantitatively evaluate $M_{\rm TOV}$. Supposing the central engine for GRB 170817A is a black hole quickly formed in the collapse of an SMNS, we find $M_{\rm TOV}=2.13^{+0.09}_{-0.08}M_\odot$ (68.3% credibility interval, including also the uncertainties of the EoS insensitive relationships), which is consistent with the constraints set by current NS mass measurements.

Is GW190425 Consistent with Being a Neutron Star–Black Hole Merger?

Abstract GW190425 is the second neutron star merger event detected by the Advanced LIGO/Virgo detectors. If interpreted as a double neutron star merger, the total gravitational mass is substantially larger than that of the binary systems identified in the Galaxy. In this work we analyze the gravitational-wave data within the neutron star–black hole merger scenario. For the black hole, we yield a mass of and an aligned spin of . As for the neutron star we find a mass of and the dimensionless tidal deformability of . These parameter ranges are for 90% credibility. The inferred masses of the neutron star and the black hole are not in tension with current observations and we suggest that GW190425 is a viable candidate of a neutron star–black hole merger event. Benefitting from the continual enhancement of the sensitivities of the advanced gravitational detectors and the increase of the number of the observatories, similar events are anticipated to be much more precisely measured in the future and the presence of black holes below the so-called mass gap will be unambiguously clarified. If confirmed, the mergers of neutron stars with (quickly rotating) low-mass black holes are likely important production sites of the heaviest r-process elements.

Globular Cluster Systems and X-Ray Atmospheres in Galaxies*

Abstract We compare the empirical relationships between the mass of a galaxy’s globular cluster system (GCS) M GCS, the gas mass in the hot X-ray atmosphere M X within a fiducial radius of 5r e , the total gravitational mass M grav within 5r e , and lastly the total halo mass M h calibrated from weak lensing. We use a sample of 45 early-type galaxies for which both GCS and X-ray data are available; all the galaxies in our sample are relatively high-mass with M h > 1012 M ⊙. We find that , similar to the previously known scaling relation . Both components scale much more steeply than the more well known dependence of total stellar mass for luminous galaxies. These results strengthen previous suggestions that feedback had little effect on formation of the GCS. The current data are also used to measure the relative mass fractions of baryonic matter and dark matter within 5r e . We find a strikingly uniform mean of with few outliers and an rms scatter of ±0.07. This result is in good agreement with two recent suites of hydrodynamic galaxy formation models.

Hydrostatic mass profiles in X-COP galaxy clusters

Aims.We present the reconstruction of hydrostatic mass profiles in 13 X-ray luminous galaxy clusters that have been mapped in their X-ray and Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) signals out toR200for theXMM-NewtonCluster Outskirts Project (X-COP).Methods.Using profiles of the gas temperature, density, and pressure that have been spatially resolved out to median values of 0.9R500, 1.8R500, and 2.3R500, respectively, we are able to recover the hydrostatic gravitating mass profile with several methods and using different mass models.Results.The hydrostatic masses are recovered with a relative (statistical) median error of 3% atR500and 6% atR200. By using several different methods to solve the equation of the hydrostatic equilibrium, we evaluate some of the systematic uncertainties to be of the order of 5% at bothR500andR200. A Navarro-Frenk-White profile provides the best-fit in 9 cases out of 13; the remaining 4 cases do not show a statistically significant tension with it. The distribution of the mass concentration follows the correlations with the total mass predicted from numerical simulations with a scatter of 0.18 dex, with an intrinsic scatter on the hydrostatic masses of 0.15 dex. We compare them with the estimates of the total gravitational mass obtained through X-ray scaling relations applied toYX, gas fraction, andYSZ, and from weak lensing and galaxy dynamics techniques, and measure a substantial agreement with the results from scaling laws, from WL at bothR500andR200(with differences below 15%), from cluster velocity dispersions. Instead, we find a significant tension with the caustic masses that tend to underestimate the hydrostatic masses by 40% atR200. We also compare these measurements with predictions from alternative models to the cold dark matter, like the emergent gravity and MOND scenarios, confirming that the latter underestimates hydrostatic masses by 40% atR1000, with a decreasing tension as the radius increases, and reaches ∼15% atR200, whereas the former reproducesM500within 10%, but overestimatesM200by about 20%.Conclusions.The unprecedented accuracy of these hydrostatic mass profiles out toR200allows us to assess the level of systematic errors in the hydrostatic mass reconstruction method, to evaluate the intrinsic scatter in the NFWc − Mrelation, and to robustly quantify differences among different mass models, different mass proxies, and different gravity scenarios.

GW170817 and the Prospect of Forming Supramassive Remnants in Neutron Star Mergers

Abstract The gravitational wave data of GW170817 favor the equation of state (EoS) models that predict compact neutron stars (NSs), consistent with the radius constraints from X-ray observations. Motivated by such remarkable progress, we examine the fate of the remnants formed in NS mergers and focus on the roles of the angular momentum and the mass distribution of the binary NSs. In the mass-shedding limit (for which the dimensionless angular momentum equals the Keplerian value, i.e., j = j Kep), the adopted seven EoS models, except for H4 and ALF2, yield supramassive NSs in more than half of the mergers. However, for j ≲ 0.7 j Kep, the presence or absence of a non-negligible fraction of supramassive NSs formed in the mergers depends sensitively on both the EoS and the mass distribution of the binary systems. The NS mergers with a total gravitational mass ≤ 2.6 M ⊙ are found to be able to shed valuable light on both the EoS model and the angular momentum of the remnants if supramassive NSs are still absent. We have also discussed the uncertainty on estimating the maximum gravitational mass of nonrotating NSs (M max) due to the unknown j of the precollapse remnants. With the data of GW170817 and the assumption of the mass loss of 0.03 M ⊙, we have M max < (2.19, 2.32) M ⊙ (90% confidence level) for j = (1.0, 0.8) j Kep, respectively.

Internal Structure of Charged Particles in a GRT Gravitational Model

With the help of an exact solution of the Einstein and Maxwell equations, the internal structure of a multiply connected space of wormhole type with two unclosed static throats leading out of it into two parallel vacuum spaces or into one space is investigated in GRT for a free electric field and dust-like matter. The given geometry is considered as a particle–antiparticle pair with fundamental constants arising in the form of first integrals in the solution of the Cauchy problem – electric charges ±e of opposite sign in the throats and rest mass m0 – the total gravitational mass of the inner world of the particle in the throat. With the help of the energy conservation law, the unremovable rotation of the internal structure is included and the projection of the angular momentum of which onto the rotation axis is identified with the z-projection of the spin of the charged particle. The radius of 2-Gaussian curvature of the throat R* is identified with the charge radius of the particle, and the z-projection of the magnetic moment and the g-factor are found. The feasibility of the given gravitational model is confirmed by the found condition of independence of the spin quantum number of the electron and the proton s = 1/2 of the charge radius R* and the relativistic rest mass m* of the rotating throat, which is reliably confirmed experimentally, and also by the coincidence with high accuracy of the proton radius calculated in the model R*p = 0.8412·10–13 cm with the value of the proton charge radius obtained experimentally by measuring the Lamb shift on muonic hydrogen. The electron in the given model also turns out to be a structured particle with radius R*e = 3.8617·10–11 cm.

Correlation between the Total Gravitating Mass of Groups and Clusters and the Supermassive Black Hole Mass of Brightest Galaxies

Abstract Supermassive black holes (BHs) residing in the brightest cluster galaxies are over-massive relative to the stellar bulge mass or central stellar velocity dispersion of their host galaxies. As BHs residing at the bottom of the galaxy cluster’s potential well may undergo physical processes that are driven by the large-scale characteristics of the galaxy clusters, it is possible that the growth of these BHs is (indirectly) governed by the properties of their host clusters. In this work, we explore the connection between the mass of BHs residing in the brightest group/cluster galaxies (BGGs/BCGs) and the virial temperature, and hence total gravitating mass, of galaxy groups/clusters. To this end, we investigate a sample of 17 BGGs/BCGs with dynamical BH mass measurements and utilize XMM-Newton X-ray observations to measure the virial temperatures and infer the mass of the galaxy groups/clusters. We find that the relation is significantly tighter and exhibits smaller scatter than the relations. The best-fitting power-law relations are and = . Thus, the BH mass of BGGs/BCGs may be set by physical processes that are governed by the properties of the host galaxy group/cluster. These results are confronted with the Horizon-AGN simulation, which reproduces the observed relations well, albeit the simulated relations exhibit notably smaller scatter.

GALAXY INFALL BY INTERACTING WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF 340 GALAXY CLUSTERS

ABSTRACT To study systematically the evolution of the angular extents of the galaxy, intracluster medium (ICM), and dark matter components in galaxy clusters, we compiled the optical and X-ray properties of a sample of 340 clusters with redshifts <0.5, based on all the available data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Chandra/XMM-Newton. For each cluster, the member galaxies were determined primarily with photometric redshift measurements. The radial ICM mass distribution, as well as the total gravitational mass distribution, was derived from a spatially resolved spectral analysis of the X-ray data. When normalizing the radial profile of galaxy number to that of the ICM mass, the relative curve was found to depend significantly on the cluster redshift; it drops more steeply toward the outside in lower-redshift subsamples. The same evolution is found in the galaxy-to-total mass profile, while the ICM-to-total mass profile varies in an opposite way. The behavior of the galaxy-to-ICM distribution does not depend on the cluster mass, suggesting that the detected redshift dependence is not due to mass-related effects, such as sample selection bias. Also, it cannot be ascribed to various redshift-dependent systematic errors. We interpret that the galaxies, the ICM, and the dark matter components had similar angular distributions when a cluster was formed, while the galaxies traveling in the interior of the cluster have continuously fallen toward the center relative to the other components, and the ICM has slightly expanded relative to the dark matter although it suffers strong radiative loss. This cosmological galaxy infall, accompanied by an ICM expansion, can be explained by considering that the galaxies interact strongly with the ICM while they are moving through it. The interaction is considered to create a large energy flow of 1044−45 erg s−1 per cluster from the member galaxies to their environment, which is expected to continue over cosmological timescales.

Evolution of cosmic filaments and of their galaxy population from MHD cosmological simulations

Despite containing about a half of the total matter in the Universe, at most wavelengths the filamentary structure of the cosmic web is difficult to observe. In this work, we use large unigrid cosmological simulations to investigate how the geometrical, thermodynamical and magnetic properties of cosmological filaments vary with mass and redshift (z $\leq 1$). We find that the average temperature, length, volume and magnetic field of filaments are tightly log-log correlated with the underlying total gravitational mass. This reflects the role of self-gravity in shaping their properties and enables statistical predictions of their observational properties based on their mass. We also focus on the properties of the simulated population of galaxy-sized halos within filaments, and compare their properties to the results obtained from the spectroscopic GAMA survey. Simulated and observed filaments with the same length are found to contain an equal number of galaxies, with very similar distribution of halo masses. The total number of galaxies within each filament and the total/average stellar mass in galaxies can now be used to predict also the large-scale properties of the gas in the host filaments across tens or hundreds of Mpc in scale. These results are the first steps towards the future use of galaxy catalogues in order to select the best targets for observations of the warm-hot intergalactic medium.