arXiv subjects

Baojiu Li

Publications and source records attributed to Baojiu Li.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

The imprint of $f(R)$ gravity on weak gravitational lensing II : Information content in cosmic shear statistics

We investigate the information content of various cosmic shear statistics on the theory of gravity. Focusing on the Hu-Sawicki-type $f(R)$ model, we perform a set of ray-tracing simulations and measure the convergence bispectrum, peak counts and Minkowski functionals. We first show that while the convergence power spectrum does have sensitivity to the current value of extra scalar degree of freedom $|f_{\rm R0}|$, it is largely compensated by a change in the present density amplitude parameter $σ_{8}$ and the matter density parameter $Ω_{\rm m0}$. With accurate covariance matrices obtained from 1000 lensing simulations, we then examine the constraining power of the three additional statistics. We find that these probes are indeed helpful to break the parameter degeneracy, which can not be resolved from the power spectrum alone. We show that especially the peak counts and Minkowski functionals have the potential to rigorously (marginally) detect the signature of modified gravity with the parameter $|f_{\rm R0}|$ as small as $10^{-5}$ ($10^{-6}$) if we can properly model them on small ($\sim 1\, \mathrm{arcmin}$) scale in a future survey with a sky coverage of 1,500 squared degrees. We also show that the signal level is similar among the additional three statistics and all of them provide complementary information to the power spectrum. These findings indicate the importance of combining multiple probes beyond the standard power spectrum analysis to detect possible modifications to General Relativity.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Subhalo abundance matching in $f(R)$ gravity

Using the liminality N-body simulations of Shi et. al., we present the first predictions for galaxy clustering in $f(R)$ gravity using subhalo abundance matching. We find that, for a given galaxy density, even for an $f(R)$ model with $f_{R0}=-10^{-6}$, for which the cold dark matter clustering is very similar to $Λ$CDM, the predicted clustering of galaxies in the $f(R)$ model is very different from $Λ$CDM. The deviation can be as large as $40\%$ for samples with mean densities close to that of $L_*$ galaxies. This large deviation is testable given the accuracy that future large-scale galaxy surveys aim to achieve. Our result demonstrates that galaxy surveys can provide a stringent test of General Relativity on cosmological scales, which is comparable to the tests from local astrophysical observations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Substructure and galaxy formation in the Copernicus Complexio warm dark matter simulations

We use the Copernicus Complexio (COCO) high resolution $N$-body simulations to investigate differences in the properties of small-scale structures in the standard cold dark matter (CDM) model and in a model with a cutoff in the initial power spectrum of density fluctuations consistent with both a thermally produced warm dark matter (WDM) particle or a sterile neutrino with mass 7 keV and leptogenesis parameter $L_6=8.7$. The latter corresponds to the "coldest" model with this sterile neutrino mass compatible with the identification of the recently detected 3.5 keV X-ray line as resulting from particle decay. CDM and WDM predict very different number densities of subhaloes with mass $\leq 10^9\,h^{-1}\,M_\odot$ although they predict similar, nearly universal, normalised subhalo radial density distributions. Haloes and subhaloes in both models have cuspy NFW profiles, but WDM subhaloes below the cutoff scale in the power spectrum (corresponding to maximum circular velocities $V_{\mathrm{max}}^{z=0} \leq50~\mathrm{kms}^{-1}$) are less concentrated than their CDM counterparts. We make predictions for observable properties using the GALFORM semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. Both models predict Milky Way satellite luminosity functions consistent with observations, although the WDM model predicts fewer very faint satellites. This model, however, predicts slightly more UV bright galaxies at redshift $z>7$ than CDM, but both are consistent with observations. Gravitational lensing offers the best prospect of distinguishing between the models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

The Distribution of Dark and Luminous Matter in the Unique Galaxy Cluster Merger Abell 2146

Abell 2146 ($z$ = 0.232) consists of two galaxy clusters undergoing a major merger. The system was discovered in previous work, where two large shock fronts were detected using the $\textit{Chandra X-ray Observatory}$, consistent with a merger close to the plane of the sky, caught soon after first core passage. A weak gravitational lensing analysis of the total gravitating mass in the system, using the distorted shapes of distant galaxies seen with ACS-WFC on $\textit{Hubble Space Telescope}$, is presented. The highest peak in the reconstruction of the projected mass is centred on the Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG) in Abell 2146-A. The mass associated with Abell 2146-B is more extended. Bootstrapped noise mass reconstructions show the mass peak in Abell 2146-A to be consistently centred on the BCG. Previous work showed that BCG-A appears to lag behind an X-ray cool core; although the peak of the mass reconstruction is centred on the BCG, it is also consistent with the X-ray peak given the resolution of the weak lensing mass map. The best-fit mass model with two components centred on the BCGs yields $M_{200}$ = 1.1$^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$$\times$10$^{15}$M$_{\odot}$ and 3$^{+1}_{-2}$$\times$10$^{14}$M$_{\odot}$ for Abell 2146-A and Abell 2146-B respectively, assuming a mass concentration parameter of $c=3.5$ for each cluster. From the weak lensing analysis, Abell 2146-A is the primary halo component, and the origin of the apparent discrepancy with the X-ray analysis where Abell 2146-B is the primary halo is being assessed using simulations of the merger.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Can background cosmology hold the key for modified gravity tests?

Modified gravity theories are a popular alternative to dark energy as a possible explanation for the observed accelerating cosmic expansion, and their cosmological tests are currently an active research field. Studies in recent years have been increasingly focused on testing these theories in the nonlinear regime, which is computationally demanding. Here we show that, under certain circumstances, a whole class of theories can be ruled out by using background cosmology alone. This is possible because certain classes of models (i) are fundamentally incapable of producing specific background expansion histories, and (ii) said histories are incompatible with local gravity tests. As an example, we demonstrate that a popular class of models, $f(R)$ gravity, would not be viable if observations suggest even a slight deviation of the background expansion history from that of the $Λ$CDM paradigm.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

RAY-RAMSES: a code for ray tracing on the fly in N-body simulations

We present a ray tracing code to compute integrated cosmological observables on the fly in AMR N-body simulations. Unlike conventional ray tracing techniques, our code takes full advantage of the time and spatial resolution attained by the N-body simulation by computing the integrals along the line of sight on a cell-by-cell basis through the AMR simulation grid. Moroever, since it runs on the fly in the N-body run, our code can produce maps of the desired observables without storing large (or any) amounts of data for post-processing. We implemented our routines in the RAMSES N-body code and tested the implementation using an example of weak lensing simulation. We analyse basic statistics of lensing convergence maps and find good agreement with semi-analytical methods. The ray tracing methodology presented here can be used in several cosmological analysis such as Sunyaev-Zel'dovich and integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect studies as well as modified gravity. Our code can also be used in cross-checks of the more conventional methods, which can be important in tests of theory systematics in preparation for upcoming large scale structure surveys.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Constraining $f(R)$ Gravity Theory Using Weak Lensing Peak Statistics from the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Lensing Survey

In this Letter, we report the observational constraints on the Hu-Sawicki $f(R)$ theory derived from weak lensing peak abundances, which are closely related to the mass function of massive halos. In comparison with studies using optical or x-ray clusters of galaxies, weak lensing peak analyses have the advantages of not relying on mass-baryonic observable calibrations. With observations from the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope Lensing Survey, our peak analyses give rise to a tight constraint on the model parameter $|f_{R0}|$ for $n=1$. The $95\%$ CL limit is $\log_{10}|f_{R0}| < -4.82$ given WMAP9 priors on $(Ω_{\rm m}, A_{\rm s})$. With Planck15 priors, the corresponding result is $\log_{10}|f_{R0}| < -5.16$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

An accurate method of modeling cluster scaling relations in modified gravity

We propose a new method to model cluster scaling relations in modified gravity. Using a suite of non-radiative hydrodynamical simulations, we show that the scaling relations of cumulative gas quantities, such as the Sunyaev Zel'dovich effect (Compton-y parameter) and the x-ray Compton-Y parameter, can be accurately predicted using the known results in the $Λ$CDM model with a precision of $\sim3\%$. This method provides a reliable way to analyze the gas physics in modified gravity using the less-demanding and much more efficient pure cold dark matter simulations. Our results therefore have important theoretical and practical implications in constraining gravity using cluster surveys.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Probing Theories of Gravity with Phase Space-Inferred Potentials of Galaxy Clusters

Modified theories of gravity provide us with a unique opportunity to generate innovative tests of gravity. In Chameleon f(R) gravity, the gravitational potential differs from the weak-field limit of general relativity (GR) in a mass dependent way. We develop a probe of gravity which compares high mass clusters, where Chameleon effects are weak, to low mass clusters, where the effects can be strong. We utilize the escape velocity edges in the radius/velocity phase space to infer the gravitational potential profiles on scales of 0.3-1 virial radii. We show that the escape edges of low mass clusters are enhanced compared to GR, where the magnitude of the difference depends on the background field value |fR0|. We validate our probe using N-body simulations and simulated light cone galaxy data. For a DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) Bright Galaxy Sample, including observational systematics, projection effects, and cosmic variance, our test can differentiate between GR and Chameleon f(R) gravity models, |fR0| = 4e-6 (2e-6) at > 5σ (> 2σ), more than an order of magnitude better than current cluster-scale constraints.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Speeding up N-body simulations of modified gravity: Vainshtein screening models

We introduce and demonstrate the power of a method to speed up current iterative techniques for N-body modified gravity simulations. Our method is based on the observation that the accuracy of the final result is not compromised if the calculation of the fifth force becomes less accurate, but substantially faster, in high-density regions where it is weak due to screening. We focus on the nDGP model which employs Vainshtein screening, and test our method by running AMR simulations in which the solutions on the finer levels of the mesh (high density) are not obtained iteratively, but instead interpolated from coarser levels. We show that the impact this has on the matter power spectrum is below $1\%$ for $k < 5h/{\rm Mpc}$ at $z = 0$, and even smaller at higher redshift. The impact on halo properties is also small ($\lesssim 3\%$ for abundance, profiles, mass; and $\lesssim 0.05\%$ for positions and velocities). The method can boost the performance of modified gravity simulations by more than a factor of 10, which allows them to be pushed to resolution levels that were previously hard to achieve.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

f(R) gravity on non-linear scales: The post-Friedmann expansion and the vector potential

Many modified gravity theories are under consideration in cosmology as the source of the accelerated expansion of the universe and linear perturbation theory, valid on the largest scales, has been examined in many of these models. However, smaller non-linear scales offer a richer phenomenology with which to constrain modified gravity theories. Here, we consider the Hu-Sawicki form of $f(R)$ gravity and apply the post-Friedmann approach to derive the leading order equations for non-linear scales, i.e. the equations valid in the Newtonian-like regime. We reproduce the standard equations for the scalar field, gravitational slip and the modified Poisson equation in a coherent framework. In addition, we derive the equation for the leading order correction to the Newtonian regime, the vector potential. We measure this vector potential from $f(R)$ N-body simulations at redshift zero and one, for two values of the $f_{R_0}$ parameter. We find that the vector potential at redshift zero in $f(R)$ gravity can be close to 50\% larger than in GR on small scales for $|f_{R_0}|=1.289\times10^{-5}$, although this is less for larger scales, earlier times and smaller values of the $f_{R_0}$ parameter. Similarly to in GR, the small amplitude of this vector potential suggests that the Newtonian approximation is highly accurate for $f(R)$ gravity, and also that the non-linear cosmological behaviour of $f(R)$ gravity can be completely described by just the scalar potentials and the $f(R)$ field.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Effective dark matter power spectra in $f(R)$ gravity

Using N-body simulations, we measure the power spectrum of the effective dark matter density field, which is defined through the modified Poisson equation in $f(R)$ cosmologies. We find that when compared to the conventional dark matter power spectrum, the effective power spectrum deviates more significantly from the $Λ$CDM model. For models with $f_{R0}=-10^{-4}$, the deviation can exceed 150\% while the deviation of the conventional matter power spectrum is less than 50\%. Even for models with $f_{R0}=-10^{-6}$, for which the conventional matter power spectrum is very close to the $Λ$CDM prediction, the effective power spectrum shows sizeable deviations. Our results indicate that traditional analyses based on the dark matter density field may seriously underestimate the impact of $f(R)$ gravity on galaxy clustering. We therefore suggest the use of the effective density field in such studies. In addition, based on our findings, we also discuss several possible methods of making use of the differences between the conventional and effective dark matter power spectra in $f(R)$ gravity to discriminate the theory from the $Λ$CDM model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Modified Gravity N-body Code Comparison Project

Self-consistent ${\it N}$-body simulations of modified gravity models are a key ingredient to obtain rigorous constraints on deviations from General Relativity using large-scale structure observations. This paper provides the first detailed comparison of the results of different ${\it N}$-body codes for the $f(R)$, DGP, and Symmetron models, starting from the same initial conditions. We find that the fractional deviation of the matter power spectrum from $Λ$CDM agrees to better than $1\%$ up to $k \sim 5-10~h/{\rm Mpc}$ between the different codes. These codes are thus able to meet the stringent accuracy requirements of upcoming observational surveys. All codes are also in good agreement in their results for the velocity divergence power spectrum, halo abundances and halo profiles. We also test the quasi-static limit, which is employed in most modified gravity ${\it N}$-body codes, for the Symmetron model for which the most significant non-static effects among the models considered are expected. We conclude that this limit is a very good approximation for all of the observables considered here.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Distinguishing general relativity and $f(R)$ gravity with the gravitational lensing Minkowski functionals

We explore the Minkowski functionals of weak lensing convergence map to distinguish between $f(R)$ gravity and the general relativity (GR). The mock weak lensing convergence maps are constructed with a set of high-resolution simulations assuming different gravity models. It is shown that the lensing MFs of $f(R)$ gravity can be considerably different from that of GR because of the environmentally dependent enhancement of structure formation. We also investigate the effect of lensing noise on our results, and find that it is likely to distinguish F5, F6 and GR gravity models with a galaxy survey of $\sim3000$ degree$^2$ and with a background source number density of $n_g=30~{\rm arcmin}^{-2}$, comparable to an upcoming survey dark energy survey (DES). We also find that the $f(R)$ signal can be partially degenerate with the effect of changing cosmology, but combined use of other observations, such as the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data, can help break this degeneracy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Weak lensing by voids in modified lensing potentials

We study lensing by voids in Cubic Galileon and Nonlocal gravity cosmologies, which are examples of theories of gravity that modify the lensing potential. We find voids in the dark matter and halo density fields of N-body simulations and compute their lensing signal analytically from the void density profiles, which we show are well fit by a simple analytical formula. In the Cubic Galileon model, the modifications to gravity inside voids are not screened and they approximately double the size of the lensing effects compared to GR. The difference is largely determined by the direct effects of the fifth force on lensing and less so by the modified density profiles. For this model, we also discuss the subtle impact on the force and lensing calculations caused by the screening effects of haloes that exist in and around voids. In the Nonlocal model, the impact of the modified density profiles and the direct modifications to lensing are comparable, but they boost the lensing signal by only $\approx 10\%$, compared with that of GR. Overall, our results suggest that lensing by voids is a promising tool to test models of gravity that modify lensing.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Cluster gas fraction as a test of gravity

We propose a new cosmological test of gravity, by using the observed mass fraction of X-ray emitting gas in massive galaxy clusters. The cluster gas fraction, believed to be a fair sample of the average baryon fraction in the Universe, is a well-understood observable, which has previously mainly been used to constrain background cosmology. In some modified gravity models, such as $f(R)$ gravity, gas temperature in a massive cluster is determined by the effective mass of that cluster, which can be larger than its true mass. On the other hand, X-ray luminosity is determined by the true gas density, which in both modified gravity and $Λ$CDM models depends mainly on $Ω_{\rm b}/Ω_{\rm m}$ and hence the true total cluster mass. As a result, the standard practice of combining gas temperatures and X-ray surface brightnesses of clusters to infer their gas fractions can, in modified gravity models, lead to a larger - in $f(R)$ gravity this can be $1/3$ larger - value of $Ω_{\rm b}/Ω_{\rm m}$ than that inferred from other observations such as the CMB. A quick calculation shows that the Hu-Sawicki $n=1$ $f(R)$ model with $|\bar{f}_{R0}|=3\sim5\times10^{-5}$ is in tension with the gas fraction data of the 42 clusters analysed by Allen et al. (2008). We also discuss the implications for other modified gravity models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Rapid simulation rescaling from standard to modified gravity models

We develop and test an algorithm to rescale a simulated dark-matter particle distribution or halo catalogue from a standard gravity model to that of a modified gravity model. This method is based on that of Angulo & White but with some additional ingredients to account for (i) scale-dependent growth of linear density perturbations and (ii) screening mechanisms that are generic features of viable modified gravity models. We attempt to keep the method as general as possible, so that it may plausibly be applied to a wide range of modified theories, although tests against simulations are restricted to a subclass of $f(R)$ models at this stage. We show that rescaling allows the power spectrum of matter to be reproduced at the $\sim 3$ per cent level in both real and redshift space up to $k=0.1h\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ if we change the box size and alter the particle displacement field; this limit can be extended to $k=1h\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ if we additionally alter halo internal structure. We simultaneously develop an algorithm that can be applied directly to a halo catalogue, in which case the halo mass function and clustering can be reproduced at the $\sim 5$ per cent level. Finally we investigate the clustering of halo particle distributions, generated from rescaled halo catalogues, and find that a similar accuracy can be reached.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Effective Dark Matter Halo catalog in $f(R)$ gravity

We introduce the idea of {\it effective} dark matter halo catalog in $f(R)$ gravity, which is built using the {\it effective} density field. Using a suite of high resolution N-body simulations, we find that the dynamical properties of halos, such as the distribution of density, velocity dispersion, specific angular momentum and spin, in the effective catalog of $f(R)$ gravity closely mimic those in the $Λ$CDM model. Thus, when using effective halos, an $f(R)$ model can be viewed as a $Λ$CDM model. This effective catalog therefore provides a convenient way for studying the baryonic physics, the galaxy halo occupation distribution and even semi-analytical galaxy formation in $f(R)$ cosmologies.

astro-ph.CO↗