Origin of the Cosmic Network: Nature vs Nurture

TL;DR

This paper investigates the origins of the cosmic large-scale structure, analyzing how initial density fluctuations and gravitational evolution contribute to the formation of the galaxy network.

Contribution

It combines percolation analysis with N-body simulations to distinguish the roles of initial conditions and gravitational dynamics in cosmic structure formation.

Findings

Initial density field properties influence network formation

Gravitational instability amplifies initial density contrasts

The cosmic network results from both nature and nurture mechanisms

Abstract

The large-scale structure of the Universe, as traced by the distribution of galaxies, is now being revealed by large-volume cosmological surveys. The structure is characterized by galaxies distributed along filaments, the filaments connecting in turn to form a percolating network. Our objective here is to quantitatively specify the underlying mechanisms that drive the formation of the cosmic network: By combining percolation-based analyses with N-body simulations of gravitational structure formation, we elucidate how the network has its origin in the properties of the initial density field (nature) and how its contrast is then amplified by the nonlinear mapping induced by the gravitational instability (nurture).