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Scientists discover huge gravitational basins in local universe

  • September 27, 2024
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A new study sheds light on major gravitational zones in the universe, revealing what Sloan says is the Great Wall of China, potentially changing our understanding of local


A new study sheds light on major gravitational zones in the universe, revealing what Sloan says is the Great Wall of China, potentially changing our understanding of local cosmic structures.


Researchers have shed new light on the vast cosmic structures that shape the motion of galaxies by mapping gravitational “gravity basins” in the local universe. Using advanced data from the Cosmicflows-4 collection on the distances and velocities of approximately 56,000 galaxies, the researchers applied advanced algorithms to identify gravity-dominated regions such as the Sloane Great Wall and the Shapley Supercluster. This research shows that the Milky Way is most likely within the larger Shapley basin, changing our understanding of cosmic flows and the role of large structures in shaping the evolution of the universe.

Understanding the structure of the universe

An international team of researchers has made significant progress in unraveling the vast structure of the universe by identifying key gravitational regions known as “gravity basins.”

Research Dr. Valade (under the supervision of Prof. Yehuda Hoffmann from the Hebrew University during his doctoral work) and Prof. AIP Potsdam. It was conducted by Noam Libeskind. Dr. from Paris-Saclay University conducted the study. Pomarede, Dr. from AIP Potsdam. Pfeiffer and Professor Tully of the University of Hawaii and Dr. Kurcchi also participated.

Cosmology and the ΛCDM model

The research is based on the widely accepted standard model of lambda-cold dark matter (ΛCDM) cosmology, which proposes that the large-scale structure of the universe emerged as a result of quantum fluctuations in the early stages of cosmic inflation. These slight density fluctuations evolved over time to form the galaxies and clusters we see today. As these density disturbances grew, they attracted surrounding matter, creating regions where gravitational potential minima, or “gravity pools,” formed.

Advances from Cosmicflows-4 data

Using the latest data from the Cosmicflows-4 (CF4) assembly, the team applied the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm to reconstruct the large-scale structure of the universe at a distance corresponding to approximately one billion light-years. This method allowed researchers to make a probabilistic estimate of the gravitational fields of the universe by identifying the most important gravitational basins that control the movement of galaxies.

Crusts of distinct basins of gravity superimposed on possible centers of convergence of streamlines. The distribution of points reflects the uncertainty in determining gravity basins and centers. Image credit: Daniel Pomared

Laniakea and Shepley Gravity Basins: New Discoveries

Previous catalogs suggested that the Milky Way galaxy was part of a region called the Laniakea Supercluster. However, the new CF4 data offer a slightly different perspective and suggest that Laniakea may be part of a much larger Shapley Gravitational Basin that covers an even larger volume of the local Universe.

Among the newly discovered sites, the Sloane Great Wall stands out as the largest gravitational basin, with a volume of nearly half a billion cubic light-years, more than twice the size of the Shapley Basin, previously thought to be the largest. These findings provide new insights into how galaxies and cosmic structures evolve and interact over time, providing an unprecedented view into the gravitational landscape of the local Universe.

A leap in cosmological understanding

This research provides a deeper understanding of the complex gravitational dynamics of the universe and the forces that shape its structure. The identification of these gravity basins represents a major advance in cosmology and potentially transforms our understanding of cosmic flows and large-scale structures.

This research is important because it deepens our understanding of the large-scale structure of the universe and the gravitational forces that shape it. The study shows how massive cosmic structures influence the movement and formation of galaxies over time. Understanding these dynamics not only helps us better understand the history and current evolution of the universe, but also provides valuable insight into fundamental cosmological questions such as the distribution of dark matter and the forces driving cosmic expansion. This information could improve our models of the universe and guide future astronomical research.

Source: Port Altele

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