Narrow Results

First-ranked galaxies in rich clusters are among the brightest objects in the Universe. Their extremely uniform luminosities have been the cause of much debate. Are these objects a special class of galaxies or merely the tail end of a distribution? A model can be constructed for the distribution in luminosity of these galaxies using a classical result from extreme value theory by Fisher and Tippett in 1928. Their amazing result on the distribution of extremes and its application in resolving the debate on the nature of the brightest galaxies is discussed here.

We study the concentration parameters, their mass dependence and redshift evolution, of dark-matter halos in different dark-energy cosmologies with constant and time-variable equation of state, and compare them with "standard" ΛCDM and OCDM models. The dependence of averaged halo concentrations on mass and redshift permits a simple fit of the form (1+z)c=c₀(M/M₀)^α, with α≈-0.1 throughout. We find that the cluster concentration depends on the dark energy equation of state at the cluster formation redshift z_coll through the linear growth factor D₊(z_coll). As a simple correction accounting for dark-energy cosmologies, we propose scaling c₀ from ΛCDM with the ratio of linear growth factors, c₀→c₀D₊(z_coll)/D₊,ΛCDM(z_coll).

We perform a set of ray-tracing simulations, using numerical cluster models, aiming at evaluating how the galaxy cluster efficiency for producing strong lensing events changes in different cosmological models with dark energy. The sample of investigated clusters for which we present our results here is composed by 7 dark matter halos. Each of them was simulated in 8 different cosmological models with constant and time-variable equation of state of dark energy. For all the clusters in the sample, we have measured the lensing cross sections for producing giant arcs, i.e. arcs having a minimum length-to-width ratio. We find that the lensing cross section for giant arcs is sensitive to the equation of state of quintessence. Indeed, the optical depth, which can be translated into a number of arcs by multiplying by the correct density of source galaxy on the sky, spans more than one order of magnitude among different cosmological models.

We consider a toy model to analyze the consequences of dark matter interaction with a dark energy background on the overall rotation of galaxy clusters and the misalignment between their dark matter and baryon distributions when compared to ΛCDM predictions. The interaction parameters are found via a genetic algorithm search. The results obtained suggest that interaction is a basic phenomenon whose effects are detectable even in simple models of galactic dynamics.

The presence of dark matter (DM), though well established by indirect evidence, is yet to be observed directly. Various DM detection experiments running for several years have yielded no positive results. In view of these negative results, we had earlier proposed alternate models by postulating a minimum gravitational field strength (minimum curvature) and a minimum acceleration. These postulates led to the modified Newtonian dynamics and modified Newtonian gravity (MONG). The observed flat rotation curves of galaxies were also accounted for through these postulates. Here, we extend these postulates to galaxy clusters and model the dynamical velocity-distance curve for a typical cluster such as the Virgo cluster. The radial velocities of galaxies in the Virgo cluster are also obtained through this model. Observations show an inconsistency in the Hubble flow at a mean cluster distance of 17 Mpc, which is expected in regions of high matter density. This decrease in velocity is predicted by our model of modified gravity (MONG). The radial velocity versus distance relation for galaxies in the Virgo cluster obtained using MONG is in agreement with observations.

In this paper, we study the effect of nonfactorizable background geometry on the thermodynamics of the clustering of galaxies. A canonical partition function is derived for the gravitating system of galaxies treated as point particles contained in cells of appropriate dimensions. Various thermodynamic equations of state, like Helmholtz free energy and entropy, among others, are also obtained. We also estimate the effect of the corrected Newton’s law on the distribution function of galaxies. Remarkably, the effect of the modified Newton’s law is seen only in the clustering parameter while the standard structure of the equations is preserved. A comparison of the modified clustering parameter $(b^{\ast })$ with that of the original clustering parameter is made to visualize the effect of the correction on the time scale of clustering. The possibility of system symmetry breaking is also analyzed by investigating the behavior of the specific heat with increasing system temperature.

We address three relevant questions related to the search for the size and shape of our Universe: (i) How do the actual observation of multiple images of certain cosmic objects, e.g. galaxy clusters, constrain the possible models for the shape of our Universe?, (ii) What kind of predictions can be done once a pair of cosmic objects have been identified to be topological images related by a translation?, and (iii) Is it possible to determine if two regions of space are topologically identified, even when distortions on the distributions of cosmic sources due to observational limitations are not negligible? We give examples answering the first two questions using the suggestion of Roukema and Edge that the clusters RXJ 1347.5-1145 and CL 09104+4109 might be topological images of the Coma cluster. For the third question, we suggest a method based on the analysis of PSH's noise correlations which seems to give a positive answer.

We discuss the possibility that the cold dark matter mass profiles contain information on the cosmological constant $\mathrm{\Lambda }$, and that such information constrains the nature of cold dark matter (CDM). We call this approach Modified Dark Matter (MDM). In particular, we examine the ability of MDM to explain the observed mass profiles of 13 galaxy clusters. Using general arguments from gravitational thermodynamics, we provide a theoretical justification for our MDM mass profile. In order to properly fit the shape of the mass profiles in galaxy clusters, we find it necessary to generalize the MDM mass profile from the one we used previously to fit galactic rotation curves. We successfully compare it to the NFW mass profiles both on cluster and galactic scales, though differences in form appear with the change in scales. Our results suggest that indeed the CDM mass profiles contain information about the cosmological constant in a nontrivial way.

The equilibrium of globular and galaxy clusters is analyzed using a gravitomagnetic (GM) model for a fluid in stationary, axially-symmetric motion. An oblique change of coordinates leads to a free-fall nonlinear force balance equation relating the GM flux function and the gravitational potential. An approximate internal solution of the force balance is obtained introducing trial functions in the form of a sedimentation equilibrium. The internal solution defines the tangential component of the GM field acting on the surface of the cluster. This GM component constitutes the boundary condition that must be used to obtain a self-consistent solution together with Gauss’ and Ampère’s laws. The complete solution is postponed for future work, but a simple application to the classic Coma Cluster problem indicates that the rotating velocity on the surface of the cluster is within the range of observed values, without introducing dark matter.

We discuss the relevance of gamma-ray observations of galaxy clusters, to unveil several issues that are relevant for Cosmology and Astro-Particle Physics of cosmic structures: the nature of Dark Matter, the origin of cosmic rays and the impact of black holes.

Clusters of galaxies are believed to contain a significant population of cosmic rays. From the radio and probably hard X-ray bands it is known that clusters are the spatially most extended emitters of non-thermal radiation in the Universe. Due to their content of cosmic rays, galaxy clusters are also potential sources of VHE (> 100 GeV) gamma rays. Recently, the massive, nearby cluster Abell 85 has been observed with the H.E.S.S. experiment in VHE gamma rays with a very deep exposure as part of an ongoing campaign. No significant gamma-ray signal has been found at the position of the cluster. The non-detection of this object with H.E.S.S. constrains the total energy of cosmic rays in this system. For a hard spectral index of the cosmic rays of -2.1 and if the cosmic-ray energy density follows the large scale gas density profile, the limit on the fraction of energy in these non-thermal particles with respect to the total thermal energy of the intra-cluster medium is 8% for this particular cluster. This value is at the lower bounds of model predictions.

Constraints on the Hubble parameter, H₀, via X-ray surface brightness and Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect (SZE) observations of the galaxy clusters depend on the validity of the cosmic distance duality relation (DD relation), η = D_L(z)(1+z)^-2/D_A(z) = 1, where D_L and D_A are the luminosity distance and angular diameter distance (ADD), respectively. In this work, we argue that if the DD relation does not hold, the X-ray plus SZE technique furnishes a . We use 25 ADD of galaxy clusters to obtain simultaneous constraints on H₀ and possible violation of the DD relation in a flat ΛCDM model. Such a violation is parametrized by two functions: η(z) = 1 + η₀z and η(z) = 1 + η₀z/(1+z), where η₀ is a constant parameter quantifying possible departures from the strict validity. Finally, by marginalizing on the η₀ in both parametrizations, we obtain constraints on H₀ regardless of the validity of the DD relation. For the linear and nonlinear η(z) functions, we obtain km/s/Mpc and km/s/Mpc, respectively (without systematic errors). Our results support recent H₀ measurements by using X-ray and SZE observations of galaxy clusters which have taken the distance duality as valid.

In this paper, we focus on the astrophysical results and the related cosmological implications derived from recent microwave surveys, with emphasis to those coming from the Planck mission. We critically discuss the impact of systematic effects and the role of methods to separate the cosmic microwave background (CMB) signal from the astrophysical emissions and each different astrophysical component from the others. We then review the state-of-the-art diffuse emissions, extragalactic sources, cosmic infrared background and galaxy clusters, addressing the information they provide to our global view of the cosmic structure evolution and for some crucial physical parameters, as the neutrino mass. Finally, we present three different kinds of scientific perspectives for fundamental physics and cosmology offered by the analysis of on-going and future CMB projects at different angular scales dedicated to anisotropies in total intensity and polarization and to absolute temperature.

We provide a description of the latest status and performance of the Planck satellite, focusing on the final predicted sensitivity of Planck. The optimization of the observational strategy for the additional surveys following the nominal 15 months of integration (about two surveys) originally allocated and the limitation represented by astrophysical foreground emissions are presented. An outline of early and intermediate astrophysical results from the Planck Collaboration is provided. A concise view of some fundamental cosmological results that will be achieved by exploiting Planck's full set of temperature and polarization data are presented. Finally, the perspectives opened by Planck in answering some key questions in fundamental physics, with particular attention to parity symmetry analyses, are described.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in building new galaxy clusters samples, at low and high redshifts, from wide-area surveys, particularly exploiting the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) effect. A large effort is underway to identify and characterize these new systems with optical/NIR and X-ray facilities, thus opening new avenues to constraint cosmological models using structure growth and geometrical tests. A census of galaxy clusters sets constraints on reionization mechanisms and epochs, which need to be reconciled with recent limits on the reionization optical depth from cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. Future advances in SZ effect measurements will include the possibility to (unambiguously) measure directly the kinematic SZ effect, to build an even larger catalogue of galaxy clusters able to study the high redshift universe, and to make (spatially-)resolved galaxy cluster maps with even spectral capability to (spectrally-)resolve the relativistic corrections of the SZ effect.

The novel idea is that the undergoing accelerated expansion of the universe happens due to infrared quantum gravity modifications at intermediate astrophysical scales of galaxies or galaxy clusters, within the framework of Asymptotically Safe gravity. The reason is that structures of matter are associated with a scale-dependent positive cosmological constant of quantum origin. In this context, no extra unproven energy scales or fine-tuning are used. Furthermore, this model was confronted with the most recent observational data from a variety of probes, and with the aid of Bayesian analysis, the most probable values of the free parameters were extracted. Finally, the model proved to be statistically equivalent with $\mathrm{\Lambda }$CDM, and thus being able to resolve naturally the concept of dark energy and its associated cosmic coincidence problem.

We discuss the existence of an acceleration scale in galaxies and galaxy clusters and its relevance for the nature of dark matter. The presence of the same acceleration scale found at very different length scales, and in very different astrophysical objects, strongly supports the existence of a fundamental acceleration scale governing the observed gravitational physics. We comment on the implications of such a fundamental acceleration scale for constraining cold dark matter models as well as its relevance for structure formation to be explored in future numerical simulations.

Cosmological and astrophysical surveys in various wavebands, in particular from the radio to the far-infrared, offer a unique view of the universe’s properties and the formation and evolution of its structures. After a preamble on the so-called tension problem, which occurs when different types of data are used to determine cosmological parameters, we discuss the role of fast radio bursts in cosmology, in particular for the missing baryon problem, and the perspectives from the analysis of the 21 cm redshifted line from neutral hydrogen. We then describe the Planck Legacy Archive, its wealth of scientific information and next developments, and the promising perspectives expected from higher resolution observations, in particular for the analysis of the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect. Three cosmological results of the Planck mission are presented next: the implications of the map of Comptonization fluctuations, the dipole analysis from cross-correlating cosmic microwave background anisotropy and Comptonization fluctuation maps, and the constraints on the primordial tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio. Finally, we discuss some future perspectives and alternative scenarios in cosmology, such as the study of the Lorentz invariance violation with the cosmic microwave background polarization, the introduction of new gravitational degrees of freedom to solve the dark matter problem, and the exploitation of the magnification bias with high-redshift sub-millimeter galaxies to constrain cosmological parameters.

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 catalogs of galaxy groups. These catalogs 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.

Cosmological and astrophysical surveys in various wavebands, in particular from the radio to the far-infrared, offer a unique view of the universe’s properties and the formation and evolution of its structures. After a preamble on the so-called tension problem, which occurs when different types of data are used to determine cosmological parameters, we discuss the role of fast radio bursts in cosmology, in particular for the missing baryon Bologna, Italy problem, and the perspectives from the analysis of the 21 cm redshifted line from neutral hydrogen. We then describe the Planck Legacy Archive, its wealth of scientific information and next developments, and the promising perspectives expected from higher resolution observations, in particular for the analysis of the thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect. Three cosmological results of the Planck mission are presented next: the implications of the map of Comptonization fluctuations, the dipole analysis from cross-correlating cosmic microwave background anisotropy and Comptonization fluctuation maps, and the constraints on the primordial tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio. Finally, we discuss some future perspectives and alternative scenarios in cosmology, such as the study of the Lorentz invariance violation with the cosmic microwave background polarization, the introduction of new gravitational degrees of freedom to solve the dark matter problem, and the exploitation of the magnification bias with high-redshift sub-millimeter galaxies to constrain cosmological parameters.