No Arabic abstract
Using a set of $Lambda$CDM simulations of cosmic structure formation, we study the evolving connectivity and changing topological structure of the cosmic web using state-of-the-art tools of multiscale topological data analysis (TDA). We follow the development of the cosmic web topology in terms of the evolution of Betti number curves and feature persistence diagrams of the three (topological) classes of structural features: matter concentrations, filaments and tunnels, and voids. The Betti curves specify the prominence of features as a function of density level, and their evolution with cosmic epoch reflects the changing network connections between these structural features. The persistence diagrams quantify the longevity and stability of topological features. In this study we establish, for the first time, the link between persistence diagrams, the features they show, and the gravitationally driven cosmic structure formation process. By following the diagrams development over cosmic time, the link between the multiscale topology of the cosmic web and the hierarchical buildup of cosmic structure is established. The sharp apexes in the diagrams are intimately related to key transitions in the structure formation process. The apex in the matter concentration diagrams coincides with the density level at which, typically, they detach from the Hubble expansion and begin to collapse. At that level many individual islands merge to form the network of the cosmic web and a large number of filaments and tunnels emerge to establish its connecting bridges. The location trends of the apex possess a self-similar character that can be related to the cosmic webs hierarchical buildup. We find that persistence diagrams provide a significantly higher and more profound level of information on the structure formation process than more global summary statistics like Euler characteristic or Betti numbers.
We introduce a multiscale topological description of the Megaparsec weblike cosmic matter distribution. Betti numbers and topological persistence offer a powerful means of describing the rich connectivity structure of the cosmic web and of its multiscale arrangement of matter and galaxies. Emanating from algebraic topology and Morse theory, Betti numbers and persistence diagrams represent an extension and deepening of the cosmologically familiar topological genus measure, and the related geometric Minkowski functionals. In addition to a description of the mathematical background, this study presents the computational procedure for computing Betti numbers and persistence diagrams for density field filtrations. The field may be computed starting from a discrete spatial distribution of galaxies or simulation particles. The main emphasis of this study concerns an extensive and systematic exploration of the imprint of different weblike morphologies and different levels of multiscale clustering in the corresponding computed Betti numbers and persistence diagrams. To this end, we use Voronoi clustering models as templates for a rich variety of weblike configurations, and the fractal-like Soneira-Peebles models exemplify a range of multiscale configurations. We have identified the clear imprint of cluster nodes, filaments, walls, and voids in persistence diagrams, along with that of the nested hierarchy of structures in multiscale point distributions. We conclude by outlining the potential of persistent topology for understanding the connectivity structure of the cosmic web, in large simulations of cosmic structure formation and in the challenging context of the observed galaxy distribution in large galaxy surveys.
We present a method that extends the capabilities of the PINpointing Orbit-Crossing Collapsed HIerarchical Objects (PINOCCHIO) code, allowing it to generate accurate dark matter halo mock catalogues in cosmological models where the linear growth factor and the growth rate depend on scale. Such cosmologies comprise, among others, models with massive neutrinos and some classes of modified gravity theories. We validate the code by comparing the halo properties from PINOCCHIO against N-body simulations, focusing on cosmologies with massive neutrinos: $ uLambda$CDM. We analyse the halo mass function, halo two-point correlation function, halo power spectrum and the moments of the halo density field, showing that PINOCCHIO reproduces the results from simulations with the same level of precision as the original code ($sim5-10%$). We demonstrate that the abundance of halos in cosmologies with massless and massive neutrinos from PINOCCHIO matches very well the outcome of simulations, and point out that PINOCCHIO can reproduce the $Omega_ u-sigma_8$ degeneracy that affects the halo mass function. We show that the clustering properties of the halos from PINOCCHIO matches accurately those from simulations both in real and redshift-space, in the latter case up to $k=0.3~h~{rm Mpc}^{-1}$. We finally point out that the first moments of the halo density field from simulations are precisely reproduced by PINOCCHIO. We emphasize that the computational time required by PINOCCHIO to generate mock halo catalogues is orders of magnitude lower than the one needed for N-body simulations. This makes this tool ideal for applications like covariance matrix studies within the standard $Lambda$CDM model but also in cosmologies with massive neutrinos or some modified gravity theories.
Interpreting observations of the Lyman-$alpha$ forest flux power spectrum requires interpolation between a small number of expensive simulations. We present a Gaussian process emulator modelling the 1D flux power spectrum as a function of the amplitude and slope of the small-scale linear matter power spectrum, and the state of the intergalactic medium at the epoch of interest ($2 < z < 4$). This parameterisation enables the prediction of the flux power spectrum in extended cosmological models that are not explicitly included in the training set, eliminating the need to construct bespoke emulators for a number of extensions to $Lambda$CDM. Our emulator is appropriate for cosmologies in which the linear matter power spectrum is described to percent level accuracy by just an amplitude and slope across the epoch of interest, and in the regime probed by eBOSS/DESI data. We demonstrate this for massive neutrino cosmologies, where the emulator is able to predict the flux power spectrum in a $Sigma m_ u=0.3$ eV neutrino cosmology to sub-percent accuracy, without including massive neutrinos in the training simulations. Further parameters would be required to describe models with sharp features in the linear power, such as warm or light axion dark matter. This work will facilitate the combination of upcoming DESI data with observations of the cosmic microwave background, to obtain constraints on neutrino mass and other extensions to $Lambda$CDM cosmology.
We study the topology of the Megaparsec Cosmic Web on the basis of the Alpha Shapes of the galaxy distribution. The simplicial complexes of the alpha shapes are used to determine the set of Betti numbers ($beta_{rm k},k=1,...,D$), which represent a complete characterization of the topology of a manifold. This forms a useful extension of the geometry and topology of the galaxy distribution by Minkowski functionals, of which three specify the geometrical structure of surfaces and one, the Euler characteristic, represents a key aspect of its topology. In order to develop an intuitive understanding for the relation between Betti numbers and the running $alpha$ parameter of the alpha shapes, and thus in how far they may discriminate between different topologies, we study them within the context of simple heuristic Voronoi clustering models. These may be tuned to consist of a few or even only one specific morphological element of the Cosmic Web, ie. clusters, filaments or sheets.
This paper is an extension of the paper by Del Popolo, Chan, and Mota (2020) to take account the effect of dynamical friction. We show how dynamical friction changes the threshold of collapse, $delta_c$, and the turn-around radius, $R_t$. We find numerically the relationship between the turnaround radius, $R_{rm t}$, and mass, $M_{rm t}$, in $Lambda$CDM, in dark energy scenarios, and in a $f(R)$ modified gravity model. Dynamical friction gives rise to a $R_{rm t}-M_{rm t}$ relation differing from that of the standard spherical collapse. In particular, dynamical friction amplifies the effect of shear, and vorticity already studied in Del Popolo, Chan, and Mota (2020). A comparison of the $R_{rm t}-M_{rm t}$ relationship for the $Lambda$CDM, and those for the dark energy, and modified gravity models shows, that the $R_{rm t}-M_{rm t}$ relationship of the $Lambda$CDM is similar to that of the dark energy models, and small differences are seen when comparing with the $f(R)$ models. The effect of shear, rotation, and dynamical friction is particularly evident at galactic scales, giving rise to a difference between the $R_{rm t}-M_{rm t}$ relation of the standard spherical collapse of the order of $simeq 60%$. Finally, we show how the new values of the $R_{rm t}-M_{rm t}$ influence the constraints to the $w$ parameter of the equation of state.