Interpreting Sunyaev–Zel’dovich observations with MillenniumTNG: mass and environment scaling relations

Journal Article · 12 September 2023 · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad2751 · OSTI ID:2004633

Hadzhiyska, Boryana ; Ferraro, Simone; Pakmor, Rüdiger ; Bose, Sownak ; Delgado, Ana Maria; Hernández-Aguayo, César ; Kannan, Rahul ; Springel, Volker ; White, Simon D. M. ; Hernquist, Lars

ABSTRACT Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) measurements can dramatically improve our understanding of the intergalactic medium and the role of feedback processes in galaxy formation, allowing us to calibrate important astrophysical systematics in cosmological constraints from weak lensing galaxy clustering surveys. However, the signal is only measured in a two-dimensional projection, and its correct interpretation relies on understanding the connection between observable quantities and the underlying intrinsic properties of the gas, in addition to the relation between the gas and the underlying matter distribution. One way to address these challenges is through the use of hydrodynamical simulations such as the high-resolution, large-volume MillenniumTNG suite. We find that measurements of the optical depth, τ, and the Compton-y parameter, Y, receive large line-of-sight contributions that can be removed effectively by applying a compensated aperture photometry filter. In contrast with other τ probes (e.g. X-rays and fast radio bursts), the kinematic SZ-inferred τ receives most of its signal from a confined cylindrical region around the halo due to the velocity decorrelation along the line of sight. Additionally, we perform fits to the Y–M and τ–M scaling relations and report best-fitting parameters adopting the smoothly broken power law formalism. We note that subgrid physics modelling can broaden the error bar on these by 30 per cent for intermediate-mass haloes ($${\sim }10^{13} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$$). The scatter of the scaling relations can be captured by an intrinsic dependence on concentration and an extrinsic dependence on tidal shear. Finally, we comment on the effect of using galaxies rather than haloes in observations, which can bias the inferred profiles by ∼20 per cent for L* galaxies.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 2004633
• Journal Information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Journal Name: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 526 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 0035-8711
• Publisher: Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English