Alignments of clusters of galaxies as a probe for superclusters

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/161860· OSTI ID:6532821

Dekel, A; West, M J; Aarseth, S J

We use N-body simulations of competing cosmological scenarios to study the relative orientations of the principal axes of clusters of galaxies and the lines connecting them to neighboring clusters and find that they provide a sensitive test for the formation of the large-scale structure in the universe. The observed tendency of clusters to point toward each other reflects the existence of 20-50 Mpc h/sup -1/ elongated superclusters that construct a large-scale cell structure. Tidal interactions between clusters are found not to produce similar alignments, presumably because the clusters are surrounded by underdense regions. Hence the scenario in which superclusters have collapsed from excessive fluctuations on large scales in favored over hierarchical clustering from fluctuations on smaller scales. Rich clusters (but not necessarily galaxies) had to be formed after, or during, the aspherical collapse of superclusters, i.e., not long before zapprox.1.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, Yale University
• OSTI ID: 6532821
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 279:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
COSMOLOGY
GALAXY CLUSTERS
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SIMULATION
UNIVERSE