Abstract
What is the role of clusters of galaxies in probing the large-scale velocity field of the universe? We investigate the distribution of peculiar velocities of clusters of galaxies in the popular low-density (Ω = 0.3) flat cold dark matter (CDM) cosmological model, which best fits many large-scale structure observations. An Ω = 1 CDM model is also studied for comparison. We find that clusters of galaxies are efficient tracers of the large-scale velocity field. The clusters exhibit a Maxwellian distribution of peculiar velocities, as expected from Gaussian initial density fluctuations. The cluster three-dimensional velocity distribution for the Ω = 0.3 model peaks at υ ∼ 400 km s-1 and extends to high velocities of υ ∼ 1200 km s-1. The rms peculiar velocity of the clusters is 440 km s-1. Approximately 10% of all model clusters move with high peculiar velocities υ ≥ 700 km s-1. The observed velocity distribution of clusters of galaxies is compared with the predictions from cosmological models. The observed data exhibit a larger velocity tail than seen in the model simulations; however, due to the large observational uncertainties, the data are consistent at a ∼ 3 σ level with the model predictions, and with a Gaussian initial density field. The large peculiar velocities reported for some clusters of galaxies (υ ≳ 3000 km s-1) are likely to be overestimated, if the current model is viable.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | L13-L16 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 430 |
Issue number | 1 PART 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 20 1994 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- Cosmology: theory
- Galaxies: clustering