Evolution of Massive Haloes in non-Gaussian Scenarios

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution simulations to explore how primordial non-Gaussianity affects the evolution of dark matter haloes, confirming analytic predictions and aiding in the detection of non-Gaussian features in the universe.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation-based analysis of halo evolution in non-Gaussian scenarios, validating analytic models and highlighting observational tests.

Findings

Halo mass function matches analytic predictions

Redshift evolution of haloes aligns with models

Rare massive objects at high redshift are key indicators

Abstract

We have performed high-resolution cosmological N-body simulations of a concordance LCDM model to study the evolution of virialized, dark matter haloes in the presence of primordial non-Gaussianity. Following a standard procedure, departures from Gaussianity are modeled through a quadratic Gaussian term in the primordial gravitational potential, characterized by a dimensionless non-linearity strength parameter f_NL. We find that the halo mass function and its redshift evolution closely follow the analytic predictions of Matarrese et al.(2000). The existence of precise analytic predictions makes the observation of rare, massive objects at large redshift an even more attractive test to detect primordial non-Gaussian features in the large scale structure of the universe.