Large-Scale Structure and Dynamics of Cosmic Networks
Summary
The Universe on the largest scales exhibits a complex network of filaments, sheets and voids that together form the cosmic web. This web is generated by the gravitational growth of primordial density fluctuations, principally governed by dark matter, with baryonic processes imprinting additional structure. Clusters of galaxies reside at the nodes of this network, while filaments span tens to hundreds of megaparsecs, channel matter into these dense knots. The dynamic interplay between matter infall, expansion of voids and non-linear gravitational evolution sets the stage for a range of phenomena: bulk flows, anisotropic clustering and cosmic shear. Constrained simulations have begun to reproduce local structures with remarkable fidelity, offering insight into the particularity of our cosmic neighbourhood and the statistical properties of large-scale networks in the concordance cosmological model. Observational campaigns reaching unprecedented depths now map the velocity field and density contrast across vast volumes, enabling precision tests of the Lambda cold dark matter paradigm and illuminating the role of environment in galaxy formation. The global significance of this research extends from refining cosmological parameters to improving models of cosmic magnetism and the distribution of intergalactic gas, with practical applications in understanding the evolution of galaxies and the origins of cosmic acceleration.
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Large-Scale Structure and Dynamics of Cosmic Networks publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in large-scale structure and dynamics of cosmic networks across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Filament: A thread-like structure of galaxies and dark matter connecting clusters within the cosmic web.
Void: A large underdense region in the cosmic network with very few galaxies.
Supercluster: A conglomeration of galaxy clusters and groups spanning tens to hundreds of megaparsecs.
Constrained simulation: A numerical model of the Universe that incorporates observational data to reproduce specific large-scale structures.
Peculiar velocity: The deviation of a galaxy’s velocity from the uniform expansion of the Universe, reflecting local gravitational influences.
Density contrast: The relative difference between the local matter density and the cosmic mean density.
References
- Simulating the LOcal Web (SLOW). Astronomy & Astrophysics (2023).
- Identification of Superclusters and Their Properties in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Using the WHL Cluster Catalog. The Astrophysical Journal (2023).
- The large-scale velocity field from the Cosmicflows-4 data. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2023).
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