arXiv subjects

Mirt Gramann

Publications and source records attributed to Mirt Gramann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Quasi-spherical superclusters

Generally the dynamical state of superclusters is poorly known. We study properties of superclusters and select a sample of quasi-spherical superclusters, the dynamics of which can be studied using the $Λ$ significance diagram. We extracted our supercluster sample with an adaptive local threshold density method from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) data and estimated their masses using the dynamical masses for member galaxies and groups. We used topological analysis based on Minkowski functionals and the positions of galaxies and galaxy groups in superclusters. Finally, we highlight the dynamical state of a few exceptional types of superclusters found in this study using the $Λ$ significance diagram. Our final sample contains 65 superclusters in the distance range of 130 to 450 Mpc. Supercluster masses range between $1.1 \times 10^{15} M_{\sun}$ and $1.4 \times 10^{16} M_{\sun}$ and sizes between 25 Mpc and 87 Mpc. We find that pancake-type superclusters form the low-luminosity, small, poor and low-mass end of superclusters. We find four superclusters of unusual types, exhibiting exceptionally spherical shapes. These so-called quasi-spherical systems contain a high-density core surrounded by a relatively spherical density and galaxy distribution.The mass-to-light ratio of these quasi-sphericals is higher than those of the other superclusters, suggesting a relatively high dark matter content. Using the $Λ$ significance diagram for oblate and prolate spheroids, we find that three quasi-spherical superclusters are gravitationally bound at the present epoch. Quasi-spherical superclusters are among the largest gravitationally bound systems found to date, and form a special class of giant systems that, dynamically, are in between large gravitationally unbound superclusters and clusters of galaxies in an equilibrium configuration.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

The evolution of high-density cores of the BOSS Great Wall superclusters

High-density cores (HDCs) of galaxy superclusters that embed rich clusters and groups of galaxies are the earliest large objects to form in the cosmic web, and the largest objects that may collapse in the present or future. We study the dynamical state and possible evolution of the HDCs in the BOSS Great Wall (BGW) superclusters at redshift $z \approx 0.5$ in order to understand the growth and evolution of structures in the Universe. We derived the density contrast values for the spherical collapse model in a wide range of redshifts and used these values to study the dynamical state and possible evolution of the HDCs of the BGW superclusters. The masses of the HDCs were calculated using stellar masses of galaxies in them. We found the masses and radii of the turnaround and future collapse regions in the HDCs and compared them with those of local superclusters. We determined eight HDCs in the BGW superclusters. The masses of their turnaround regions are in the range of $M_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 0.4 - 3.3\times~10^{15}h^{-1}M_\odot,$ and radii are in the range of $R_{\mathrm{T}} \approx 3.5 - 7 h^{-1}$Mpc. The radii of their future collapse regions are in the range of $R_{\mathrm{FC}} \approx 4 - 8h^{-1}$Mpc. Distances between individual cores in superclusters are much larger: of the order of $25 - 35h^{-1}$Mpc. The richness and sizes of the HDCs are comparable with those of the HDCs of the richest superclusters in the local Universe. The BGW superclusters will probably evolve to several poorer superclusters with masses similar to those of the local superclusters. This may weaken the tension with the $Λ$CDM model, which does not predict a large number of very rich and large superclusters in our local cosmic neighbourhood, and explains why there are no superclusters as elongated as those in the BGW in the local Universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Supercluster A2142 and collapse in action - infalling and merging groups and galaxy transformations

We study the dynamical state and properties of galaxies and groups in the supercluster SClA2142 that has a collapsing core, to understand its possible formation and evolution. We find the substructure of galaxy groups using normal mixture modelling. We have used the projected phase space (PPS) diagram, spherical collapse model, clustercentric distances, and magnitude gap between the brightest galaxies in groups to study the dynamical state of groups and to analyse group and galaxy properties. We compared the alignments of groups and their brightest galaxies with the supercluster axis. The supercluster core has a radius of about $8 h^{-1}$Mpc and total mass $M_{\mathrm{tot}} \approx 2.3\times~10^{15}h^{-1}M_\odot$ and is collapsing. Galaxies in groups on the supercluster axis have older stellar populations than off-axis groups, with median stellar ages $4 - 6$ and $< 4$Gyr, correspondingly. The cluster A2142 and the group Gr8 both host galaxies with the oldest stellar populations among groups in SClA2142 having the median stellar age $t > 8$Gyr. Recently quenched galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are mostly located at virial radii or in merging regions of groups, and at clustercentric distances $D_c \approx 6 h^{-1}$ Mpc. The most elongated groups lie along the supercluster axis and are aligned with it. Magnitude gaps between the brightest galaxies of groups are less than one magnitude, suggesting that groups in SClA2142 are dynamically young. The collapsing core of the supercluster, infall of galaxies and groups, and possible merging groups, which affect galaxy properties and may trigger the activity of AGNs, show how the whole supercluster is evolving.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

Infalling groups and galaxy transformations in the cluster A2142

We study galaxy populations and search for possible merging substructures in the rich galaxy cluster A2142. Normal mixture modelling revealed in A2142 several infalling galaxy groups and subclusters. The projected phase space diagram was used to analyse the dynamics of the cluster and study the distribution of various galaxy populations in the cluster and subclusters. The cluster, supercluster, BCGs, and one infalling subcluster are aligned. Their orientation is correlated with the alignment of the radio and X-ray haloes of the cluster. Galaxies in the centre of the main cluster at the clustercentric distances $0.5~h^{-1}Mpc$ have older stellar populations (with the median age of $10 - 11$~Gyrs) than galaxies at larger clustercentric distances. Star-forming and recently quenched galaxies are located mostly in the infall region at the clustercentric distances $D_{\mathrm{c}} \approx 1.8~h^{-1}Mpc$, where the median age of stellar populations of galaxies is about $2$~Gyrs. Galaxies in A2142 have higher stellar masses, lower star formation rates, and redder colours than galaxies in other rich groups. The total mass in infalling groups and subclusters is $M \approx 6\times10^{14}h^{-1}M_\odot$, approximately half of the mass of the cluster, sufficient for the mass growth of the cluster from redshift $z = 0.5$ (half-mass epoch) to the present. The cluster A2142 may have formed as a result of past and present mergers and infallen groups, predominantly along the supercluster axis. Mergers cause complex radio and X-ray structure of the cluster and affect the properties of galaxies in the cluster, especially in the infall region. Explaining the differences between galaxy populations, mass, and richness of A2142, and other groups and clusters may lead to better insight about the formation and evolution of rich galaxy clusters.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

BOSS Great Wall: morphology, luminosity, and mass

We study the morphology, luminosity and mass of the superclusters from the BOSS Great Wall (BGW), a recently discovered very rich supercluster complex at the redshift $z = 0.47$. We have employed the Minkowski functionals to quantify supercluster morphology. We calculate supercluster luminosities and masses using two methods. Firstly, we used data about the luminosities and stellar masses of high stellar mass galaxies with $\log(M_*/h^{-1}M_\odot) \geq 11.3$. Secondly, we applied a scaling relation that combines morphological and physical parameters of superclusters to obtain supercluster luminosities, and obtained supercluster masses using the mass-to-light ratios found for local rich superclusters. We find that the BGW superclusters are very elongated systems, with shape parameter values of less than $0.2$. This value is lower than that found for the most elongated local superclusters. The values of the fourth Minkowski functional $V_3$ for the richer BGW superclusters ($V_3 = 7$ and $10$) show that they have a complicated and rich inner structure. We identify two Planck SZ clusters in the BGW superclusters, one in the richest BGW supercluster, and another in one of the poor BGW superclusters. The luminosities of the BGW superclusters are in the range of $1 - 8\times~10^{13}h^{-2}L_\odot$, and masses in the range of $0.4 - 2.1\times~10^{16}h^{-1}M_\odot$. Supercluster luminosities and masses obtained with two methods agree well. We conclude that the BGW is a complex of massive, luminous and large superclusters with very elongated shape. The search and detailed study, including the morphology analysis of the richest superclusters and their complexes from observations and simulations can help us to understand formation and evolution of the cosmic web.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Sloan Great Wall as a complex of superclusters with collapsing cores

In the cosmic web, galaxy superclusters or their high-density cores are the largest objects that may collapse at present or during the future evolution. We study the dynamical state and possible future evolution of galaxy superclusters from the Sloan Great Wall (SGW), the richest galaxy system in the nearby Universe. We calculated supercluster masses using dynamical masses of galaxy groups and stellar masses of galaxies. We employed normal mixture modelling to study the structure of rich SGW superclusters and search for components (cores) in superclusters. We analysed the radial mass distribution in the high-density cores of superclusters centred approximately at rich clusters and used the spherical collapse model to study their dynamical state. We found that the lower limit of the total mass of the SGW is approximately $M = 2.5\times~10^{16}h^{-1}M_\odot$. Different mass estimators of superclusters agree well, the main uncertainties in masses of superclusters come from missing groups and clusters. We detected three high-density cores in the richest SGW supercluster (SCl~027) and two in the second richest supercluster (SCl~019). They have masses of $1.2 - 5.9 \times~10^{15}h^{-1}M_\odot$ and sizes of up to $\approx 60 h^{-1}$ Mpc. The high-density cores of superclusters are very elongated, flattened perpendicularly to the line of sight. The comparison of the radial mass distribution in the high-density cores with the predictions of spherical collapse model suggests that their central regions with radii smaller than $8 h^{-1}$Mpc and masses of up to $M = 2\times~10^{15}h^{-1}M_\odot$ may be collapsing. The rich SGW superclusters with their high-density cores represent dynamically evolving environments for studies of the properties of galaxies and galaxy systems.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Characteristic density contrasts in the evolution of superclusters. The case of A2142 supercluster

The formation and evolution of the cosmic web in which galaxy superclusters are the largest relatively isolated objects is governed by a gravitational attraction of dark matter and antigravity of dark energy (cosmological constant). We study the characteristic density contrasts in the spherical collapse model for several epochs in the supercluster evolution and their dynamical state. We analysed the density contrasts for the turnaround, future collapse and zero gravity in different LCDM models and applied them to study the dynamical state of the supercluster A2142 with an almost spherical main body. The analysis of the supercluster A2142 shows that its high-density core has already started to collapse. The zero-gravity line outlines the outer region of the main body of the supercluster. In the course of future evolution the supercluster may split into several collapsing systems. The various density contrasts presented in our study and applied to the supercluster A2142 offer a promising way to characterise the dynamical state and expected future evolution of galaxy superclusters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Unusual A2142 supercluster with a collapsing core: distribution of light and mass

We study the distribution, masses, and dynamical properties of galaxy groups in the A2142 supercluster. We analyse the global luminosity density distribution in the supercluster and divide the supercluster into the high-density core and the low-density outskirts regions. We find galaxy groups and filaments in the regions of different global density, calculate their masses and mass-to-light ratios and analyse their dynamical state with several 1D and 3D statistics. We use the spherical collapse model to study the dynamical state of the supercluster. We show that in A2142 supercluster groups and clusters with at least ten member galaxies lie along an almost straight line forming a 50 Mpc/h long main body of the supercluster. The A2142 supercluster has a very high density core surrounded by lower-density outskirt regions. The total estimated mass of the supercluster is M_est = 6.2 10^{15}M_sun. More than a half of groups with at least ten member galaxies in the supercluster lie in the high-density core of the supercluster, centered at the rich X-ray cluster A2142. Most of the galaxy groups in the core region are multimodal. In the outskirts of the supercluster, the number of groups is larger than in the core, and groups are poorer. The orientation of the cluster A2142 axis follows the orientations of its X-ray substructures and radio halo, and is aligned along the supercluster axis. The high-density core of the supercluster with the global density D8 > 17 and perhaps with D8 > 13 may have reached the turnaround radius and started to collapse. A2142 supercluster with luminous, collapsing core and straight body is an unusual object among galaxy superclusters. In the course of the future evolution the supercluster may be split into several separate systems.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Galaxy structures - Groups, clusters and superclusters

We provide a brief summary of the history of galaxy structure studies. We also introduce several large-scale redshift surveys and summarize the most commonly used methods to identify the groups and clusters of galaxies. We present several catalogues of galaxy groups.These catalogues can be used to study the galaxy groups in different environments. We also consider the properties of superclusters of galaxies in the nearby Universe and describe the largest system of galaxies observed - the Sloan Great Wall.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2003

Peculiar velocities of galaxy clusters: a comparison with the linear theory

We investigate peculiar velocities predicted for clusters in Lambda cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM) models assuming that the initial density fluctuation field is Gaussian. To study the non-linear regime, we use N-body simulations. We investigate the rms velocity and the probability distribution function of cluster peculiar velocities for different cluster masses. To identify clusters in the simulation we use two methods: the standard friends-of-friends (FOF) method and the method, where the clusters are defined as maxima of a smoothed density field (DMAX). The density field is smoothed with a top-hat window, using the smoothing radii $R_s=1.5h^{-1}$ Mpc and $R_s=1.0h^{-1}$ Mpc. The peculiar velocity of the DMAX clusters is defined to be the mean peculiar velocity of matter within a sphere of the radius $R_s$. We find that the rms velocity of the FOF clusters decreases as the cluster mass increases. The rms velocity of the DMAX clusters is almost independent of the cluster mass and is well approximated by the linear rms peculiar velocity smoothed at the radius $R=R_s$. The velocity distribution function of the DMAX clusters is similar to a Gaussian.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

The rms peculiar velocity of galaxy clusters for different cluster masses and radii

We investigate the rms peculiar velocity of galaxy clusters in the Lambda cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM) and tau cold dark matter ($τ$CDM) cosmological models using N-body simulations. Cluster velocities for different cluster masses and radii are examined. To identify clusters in the simulations we use two methods: the standard friends-of-friends (FOF) method and the method, where the clusters are defined as the maxima of the density field smoothed on the scale $R\sim 1h^{-1}$ Mpc (DENSMAX). If we use the DENSMAX method, the size of the selected clusters is similar for all clusters. We find that the rms velocity of clusters defined with the DENSMAX method is almost independent of the cluster density and similar to the linear theory expectations. The rms velocity of FOF clusters decreases with the cluster mass and radius. In the $Λ$CDM model, the rms peculiar velocity of massive clusters with an intercluster separation $d_{cl}=50h^{-1}$ Mpc is $\approx$15% smaller than the rms velocity of the clusters with a separation $d_{cl}=10h^{-1}$Mpc.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Dynamical state of superclusters of galaxies: do superclusters expand or have they started to collapse?

We investigate the dynamical state of superclusters in Lambda cold dark matter ($Λ$CDM) cosmological models, where the density parameter $Ω_0=0.2-0.4$ and $σ_8$ (the rms fluctuation on the $8h^{-1}$Mpc scale) is $0.7-0.9$. To study the nonlinear regime, we use N-body simulations. We define superclusters as maxima of the density field smoothed on the scale $R=10h^{-1}$Mpc. Smaller superclusters defined by the density field smoothed on the scale $R=5h^{-1}$Mpc are also investigated. We find the relations between the radially averaged peculiar velocity and the density contrast in the superclusters for different cosmological models. These relations can be used to estimate the dynamical state of a supercluster on the basis of its density contrast. In the simulations studied, all the superclusters defined with the $10h^{-1}$Mpc smoothing are expanding by the present epoch. Only a small fraction of the superclusters defined with $R=5h^{-1}$Mpc has already reached their turnaround radius and these superclusters have started to collapse. In the model with $Ω_0=0.3$ and $σ_8=0.9$, the number density of objects which have started to collapse is $5 \times 10^{-6}h^3$Mpc$^{-3}$. The results for superclusters in the N-body simulations are compared with the spherical collapse model. We find that the radial peculiar velocities in N-body simulations are systematically smaller than those predicted by the spherical collapse model ($\sim 25$% for the $R=5h^{-1}$Mpc superclusters).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Primordial Feature at the Scale of Superclusters of Galaxies

We investigate a spatially-flat cold dark matter model (with the matter density parameter $Ω_m=0.3$) with a primordial feature in the initial power spectrum. We assume that there is a bump in the power spectrum of density fluctuations at wavelengths $λ\sim 30-60h^{-1}$Mpc, which correspond to the scale of superclusters of galaxies. There are indications for such a feature in the power spectra derived from redshift surveys and also in the power spectra derived from peculiar velocities of galaxies. We study the mass function of clusters of galaxies, the power spectrum of the CMB temperature fluctuations, the rms bulk velocity and the rms peculiar velocity of clusters of galaxies. The baryon density is assumed to be consistent with the BBN value. We show that with an appropriately chosen feature in the power spectrum of density fluctuations at the scale of superclusters, the mass function of clusters, the CMB power spectrum and peculiar velocities are in good agreement with the observed data.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

CDM models with a steplike initial power spectrum

We investigate the properties of clusters of galaxies in the $Λ$CDM models with a steplike initial power spectrum. We examine the mass function, the peculiar velocities and the power spectrum of clusters in models with different values of the density parameter $Ω_0$, the normalized Hubble constant h and the spectral parameter p, which describes the shape of the initial power spectrum. The results are compared with observations. We also investigate the rms bulk velocity in the models, where the properties of clusters are consistent with the observed data. We find that the power spectrum of clusters is in good agreement with the observed power spectrum of the Abell-ACO clusters, if the spectral parameter p is in the range p=0.6-0.8. The power spectrum and the rms peculiar velocity of clusters are consistent with observations only if $Ω_0<0.4$. The $Ω_0=0.3$ models are consistent with the observed properties of clusters, if h=0.50-0.63. For h=0.65, we find that $Ω_0=0.20 -0.27$.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The Power Spectrum of Clusters of Galaxies and the Press-Schechter Approximation

We examine the power spectrum of clusters in the Press-Schechter (PS) theory and in N-body simulations to see how the power spectrum of clusters is related to the power spectrum of matter density fluctuations in the Universe. An analytic model for the power spectrum of clusters for their given number density is presented, both for real space and redshift space. We test this model against results from N-body simulations and find that the agreement between the analytic theory and the numerical results is good for wavelengths $λ>60h^{-1}$ Mpc. On smaller scales non-linear processes that are not considered in the linear PS approximation influence the result. We also use our analytic model to study the redshift-space power spectrum of clusters in cold dark matter models with a cosmological constant ($Λ$CDM) and with a scale-invariant Harrison-Zel'dovich initial spectrum of density fluctuations. We find that power spectra of clusters in these models are not consistent with the observed power spectra of the APM and Abell-ACO clusters. One possible explanation for the observed power spectra of clusters is an inflationary scenario with a scalar field with the potential that has a localized steplike feature. We use the PS theory to examine the power spectrum of clusters in this model.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Two cosmological models for clusters of galaxies

We investigate the properties of clusters of galaxies in two cosmological models using N-body simulations and the Press-Schecter (PS) theory. In the first model, the initial power spectrum of density fluctuations is in the form P(k) \propto k^{-2} at wavelengths λ<120h^{-1} Mpc. In the second model, the initial linear power spectrum of density fluctuations contains a feature (bump) at wavelengths λ\sim 30-60h^{-1} Mpc which correspond to the scale of superclusters of galaxies. We examine the mass function, peculiar velocities, the power spectrum and the correlation function of clusters in both models for different values of the density parameter Ω_0 and σ_8. The results are compared with observations. We show that in many aspects the second model fits the observed data better than the first simple power law model. We examine the linear theory predictions for the peculiar velocities of peaks in the Gaussian field and compare these to the peculiar velocities of clusters in N-body simulations. The numerical results show that the rms peculiar velocity of clusters increases with cluster richness. The rms peculiar velocity of small clusters is similar to the linear theory expectations, while the rms peculiar velocity of rich clusters is higher than that predicted in the linear theory (\sim 18% for clusters with a mean intercluster separation d_{cl} \sim 30h^{-1} Mpc).

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

The Motions of Clusters and Groups of Galaxies

The distributions of peculiar velocities of rich clusters and of groups of galaxies are investigated for different cosmological models and are compared with observations. Four cosmological models are studied: standard ($Ω=1$) CDM, low-density ($Ω=0.3$) CDM, HDM ($Ω=1$), and PBI ($Ω=0.3$), all COBE normalized. We find that rich clusters of galaxies exhibit a Maxwellian distribution of peculiar velocities in all models,as expected from a Gaussian initial density field. The cluster 3-D velocity distribution typically peaks at $v \sim 600$ km s$^{-1}$, and extends to high cluster velocities of $v \sim 2000$ km s$^{-1}$. The low-density CDM model exhibits somewhat lower velocities: it peaks at $\sim 400$ km s$^{-1}$, and extends to $\sim 1200$ km s$^{-1}$. Approximately 10\% ($\sim$1\% for low- density CDM) of all model rich clusters move with high peculiar velocities of $v \ge 10^3$ km s$^{-1}$. The highest velocity clusters frequently originate in dense superclusters. The model velocity distributions of groups and clusters of galaxies are compared with observations. The data exhibit a larger high-velocity tail, to $v_r \geq 2000$ km s$^{-1}$, than seen in the model simulations (except HDM). Due to the large observational uncertainties, however, the data are consistent at a $\sim 1$ to $3σ$ level with the model predictions and with a Gaussian initial density field. Accurate observations of cluster peculiar velocities, especially at the high-velocity tail, should provide powerful constraints on the cosmological models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1994

Velocity Correlations of Galaxy Clusters

We determine the velocity correlation function, pairwise peculiar velocity difference, and root-mean-square pairwise peculiar velocity dispersion of rich clusters of galaxies, as a function of pair separation, for three cosmological models: Omega=1 and Omega=0.3 CDM, and Omega=0.3 PBI models (all flat and COBE-normalized). We find that close cluster pairs, with separation r<10Mpc/h, exhibit strong attractive peculiar velocities in all models; the cluster pairwise velocities depend sensitively on the model. The mean pairwise attractive velocity of clusters on 5Mpc/h scale ranges from 1700 km/s for Omega=1 CDM, to 1000 km/s for PBI, to 700 km/s for Omega=0.3 CDM. The small-scale pairwise velocities depend also on cluster mass: richer, more massive clusters exhibit stronger attractive velocities than less massive clusters. On large scales, from 20 to 200Mpc/h, the cluster peculiar velocities are increasingly dominated by bulk and random motions; they are independent of cluster mass. The cluster velocity correlation function, which reflects the bulk motion minus the relative motion of pairs, is negative on small scales for Omega=1 and Omega=0.3 CDM, and positive for PBI; this indicates stronger pairwise motion than bulk motion on small scales for CDM, and relatively larger bulk motions for PBI. The cluster velocity correlation function is positive on very large scales, from 10 to 200Mpc/h, for all models. These positive correlations, which decrease monotonically with scale, indicate significant bulk motions of clusters up to 200Mpc/h. The strong dependence of the cluster velocity functions on models, especially at small separations, makes them useful tools in constraining cosmological models when compared with observations.

astro-ph↗