High-definition imaging of a filamentary connection between a close quasar pair at z=3

2024/06/24 by Davide Tornotti, Michele Fumagalli, Matteo Fossati +22 · 4 voices · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #astro-ph.CO #astro-ph.GA

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02463-w

openalex publication_date 2024/06/24 · arxiv published 2024/06/24 · openalex created_date 2024/06/27 · arxiv updated 2025/01/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Filaments connecting halos are a long-standing prediction of cold dark matter theories. We present a detection of the cosmic web emission connecting two quasar-host galaxies at redshift z ~3.22 in the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF). The very deep observations unlock a high-definition view of the filament morphology, a measure of the transition radius between the intergalactic and circumgalactic medium, and the characterization of the surface brightness profiles along the filament and in the transverse direction. Through systematic comparisons with simulations, we validate the filaments' typical density predicted in the current cold dark-matter model. Our analysis of the MUDF field, an excellent laboratory for quantitatively studying filaments in emission, opens a new avenue to constrain the physical properties of the cosmic web and to trace the distribution of dark matter on large scales.

Citations

• emcee: The MCMC Hammer
• Extensive diffuse Lyman-α emission correlated with cosmic structure
• Matplotlib: A 2D Graphics Environment
• SciPy 1.0--Fundamental Algorithms for Scientific Computing in Python
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• Array programming with NumPy
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Cited by

• A MUltiwavelength Study of ELAN Environments (AMUSE²): The Impact of Dense Environment on Massive Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies at Cosmic Noon

Discussions

• Muy buenos días. Se viene chapa, pero es que no puedo evitarlo. Como astrofísico, hoy me levanto con la magnífica noticia de la observación, por primera vez, de una pequeña parte de los filamentos [bsky, 7 points, 3 comments]
• Free - Accessible publication of the mentioned research paper is here: arxiv.org/abs/2406.17035 [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]
• High-definition imaging of a filamentary connection between a close #quasar pair at z=3: arxiv.org/abs/2406.17035 -> Researchers capture direct high-definition image of the “Cosmic Web”: www.mpa-garch [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
• arxiv.org/pdf/2406.17035 Remember we are to hold perspective. ... [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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• Pearls on a string: Dark and bright galaxies on a strikingly straight and narrow filament