Dark energy domination in the Virgocentric flow

The standard \LambdaCDM cosmological model implies that all celestial bodies are embedded in a perfectly uniform dark energy background, represented by Einstein's cosmological constant, and experience its repulsive antigravity action. Can dark energy have strong dynamical effects on small cosmic scales as well as globally? Continuing our efforts to clarify this question, we focus now on the Virgo Cluster and the flow of expansion around it. We interpret the Hubble diagram, from a new database of velocities and distances of galaxies in the cluster and its environment, using a nonlinear analytical model which incorporates the antigravity force in terms of Newtonian mechanics. The key parameter is the zero-gravity radius, the distance at which gravity and antigravity are in balance. Our conclusions are: 1. The interplay between the gravity of the cluster and the antigravity of the dark energy background determines the kinematical structure of the system and controls its evolution. 2. The gravity dominates the quasi-stationary bound cluster, while the antigravity controls the Virgocentric flow, bringing order and regularity to the flow, which reaches linearity and the global Hubble rate at distances \ga 15 Mpc. 3. The cluster and the flow form a system similar to the Local Group and its outflow. In the velocity-distance diagram, the cluster-flow structure reproduces the group-flow structure with a scaling factor of about 10; the zero-gravity radius for the cluster system is also 10 times larger. The phase and dynamical similarity of the systems on the scales of 1-30 Mpc suggests that a two-component pattern may be universal for groups and clusters: a quasi-stationary bound central component and an expanding outflow around it, due to the nonlinear gravity-antigravity interplay with the dark energy dominating in the flow component.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics (accepted

Dark energy and key physical parameters of clusters of galaxies

We study physics of clusters of galaxies embedded in the cosmic dark energy background. Under the assumption that dark energy is described by the cosmological constant, we show that the dynamical effects of dark energy are strong in clusters like the Virgo cluster. Specifically, the key physical parameters of the dark mater halos in clusters are determined by dark energy: 1) the halo cut-off radius is practically, if not exactly, equal to the zero-gravity radius at which the dark matter gravity is balanced by the dark energy antigravity; 2) the halo averaged density is equal to two densities of dark energy; 3) the halo edge (cut-off) density is the dark energy density with a numerical factor of the unity order slightly depending on the halo profile. The cluster gravitational potential well in which the particles of the dark halo (as well as galaxies and intracluster plasma) move is strongly affected by dark energy: the maximum of the potential is located at the zero-gravity radius of the cluster.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Energy composition of the Universe: time-independent internal symmetry

The energy composition of the Universe, as emerged from the Type Ia supernova observations and the WMAP data, looks preposterously complex, -- but only at the first glance. In fact, its structure proves to be simple and regular. An analysis in terms of the Friedmann integral enables to recognize a remarkably simple time-independent covariant robust recipe of the cosmic mix: the numerical values of the Friedmann integral for vacuum, dark matter, baryons and radiation are approximately identical. The identity may be treated as a symmetry relation that unifies cosmic energies into a regular set, a quartet, with the Friedmann integral as its common genuine time-independent physical parameter. Such cosmic internal (non-geometrical) symmetry exists whenever cosmic energies themselves exist in nature. It is most natural for a finite Universe suggested by the WMAP data. A link to fundamental theory may be found under the assumption about a special significance of the electroweak energy scale in both particle physics and cosmology. A freeze-out model developed on this basis demonstrates that the physical nature of new symmetry might be due to the interplay between electroweak physics and gravity at the cosmic age of a few picoseconds. The big `hierarchy number' of particle physics represents the interplay in the model. This number quantifies the Friedmann integral and gives also a measure to some other basic cosmological figures and phenomena associated with new symmetry. In this way, cosmic internal symmetry provides a common ground for better understanding of old and recent problems that otherwise seem unrelated; the coincidence of the observed cosmic densities, the flatness of the co-moving space, the initial perturbations and their amplitude, the cosmic entropy are among them.Comment: 32 page

On Friedmann integrals coincidence

Expansion of the two-component universe with arbitrary spatial curvature has been considered. It has been shown that the Friedmann integrals of the almost flat universe do not coincide.Comment: 2 pages, LaTeX2e, 1 eps figure, to appear in Astronomy Letter

Polygonal Structures in the Gaseous Disk: Numerical Simulations

The results of numerical simulations of a gaseous disk in the potential of a stellar spiral density wave are presented. The conditions under which straightened spiral arm segments (rows) form in the gas component are studied. These features of the spiral structure were identified in a series of works by A.D. Chernin with coauthors. Gas-dynamic simulations have been performed for a wide range of model parameters: the pitch angle of the spiral pattern, the amplitude of the stellar spiral density wave, the disk rotation speed, and the temperature of the gas component. The results of 2D- and 3D-disk simulations are compared. The rows in the numerical simulations are shown to be an essentially nonstationary phenomenon. A statistical analysis of the distribution of geometric parameters for spiral patterns with rows in the observed galaxies and the constructed hydrodynamic models shows good agreement. In particular, the numerical simulations and observations of galaxies give $\simeq 120^\circ$ for the average angles between straight segments.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure

A graph of dark energy significance on different spatial and mass scales

The current cosmological paradigm sees the formation and evolution of the cosmic large-scale structure as governed by the gravitational attraction of the Dark Matter (DM) and the repulsion of the Dark Energy (DE). We characterize the relative importance of uniform and constant dark energy, as given by the Lambda term in the standard LCDM cosmology, in galaxy systems of different scales, from groups to superclusters. An instructive "Lambda significance graph" is introduced where the matter-DE density ratio /rho_Lambda for different galaxy systems is plotted against the radius R. This presents gravitation and DE dominated regions and shows directly the zero velocity radius, the zero-gravity radius, and the Einstein-Straus radius for any fixed value of mass. Example galaxy groups and clusters from the local universe illustrate the use of the Lambda significance graph. These are generally located deep in the gravity-dominated region /rho_Lambda > 2, being virialized. Extended clusters and main bodies of superclusters can reach down near the border line between gravity-dominated and DE dominated regions /rho_Lambda = 2. The scale--mass relation from the standard 2-point correlation function intersects this balance line near the correlation lenght. The log /rho_Lambda vs. log R diagram is a useful and versatile way to characterize the dynamical state of systems of galaxies within the Lambda dominated expanding universe.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Dynamics and configurations of galaxy triplets

The purpose is to infer the probable dynamical states of galaxy triplets by the observed data on their configurations. Two methods are proposed for describing the distributions of the triplet configuration parameters characterizing a tendency to alignment and hierarchy: (1) obtaining a representative sample of configurations and determining its statistical parameters (moments and percentages); and (2) dividing the region of possible configurations of triple systems (Agekian and Anosova, 1967) into a set of segments and finding the probabilities for the configurations to find themselves in each of them. Both these methods allow representation of the data by numerical simulations as well as observations. The effect of projection was studied. It rather overestimates the alignment and hierarchy of the triple systems. Among the parameters of interest there are found some parameters that are least sensitive to projection effects. The samples consist of simulated galaxy triplets (with hidden mass) as well as of 46 probably physical triple galaxies (Karachentseva et al., 1979). The observed triples as well as numerical models show a tendency to alignment. The triple galaxies do not show any tendency to hierarchy (formation of the temporary binaries), but this tendency may be present for simulated triplets without significant dark matter. The significant hidden mass (of order ten times the total mass of a triplet) decreases the probability of forming a binary and so weakens the hierarchy. Small galaxy groups consisting of 3 to 7 members are probably the most prevalent types of galaxy aggregate (Gorbatsky, 1987). Galaxy triplets are the simplest groups, but dynamically nontrivial ones

The Polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background Due to Primordial Gravitational Waves

We review current observational constraints on the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), with a particular emphasis on detecting the signature of primordial gravitational waves. We present an analytic solution to the Polanarev approximation for CMB polarization produced by primordial gravitational waves. This simplifies the calculation of the curl, or B-mode power spectrum associated with gravitational waves during the epoch of cosmological inflation. We compare our analytic method to existing numerical methods and also make predictions for the sensitivity of upcoming CMB polarization observations to the inflationary gravitational wave background. We show that upcoming experiments should be able either detect the relic gravitational wave background or completely rule out whole classes of inflationary models.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, review published in IJMP