3D Velocity and Density Reconstructions of the Local Universe with Cosmicflows-1

TL;DR

This paper uses Wiener Filter techniques on Cosmicflows-1 data to reconstruct the 3D velocity and density fields of the local universe, highlighting the influence of voids and local structures on galaxy flows.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed Wiener Filter reconstruction of the local universe's velocity and density fields using Cosmicflows-1 data, emphasizing the role of voids and local structures.

Findings

The local velocity field is dominated by the Local Void and Virgo Cluster.

The Wiener Filter accurately recovers velocity fields on relevant scales.

Void structures significantly influence local galaxy flows.

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the local peculiar velocity field based on the Wiener Filter reconstruction method. We used our currently available catalog of distance measurements containing 1,797 galaxies within 3000 km/s: Cosmicflows-1. The Wiener Filter method is used to recover the full 3D peculiar velocity field from the observed map of radial velocities and to recover the underlying linear density field. The velocity field within a data zone of 3000 km/s is decomposed into a local component that is generated within the data zone and a tidal one that is generated by the mass distribution outside that zone. The tidal component is characterized by a coherent flow toward the Norma-Hydra-Centaurus (Great Attractor) region while the local component is dominated by a flow toward the Virgo Cluster and away from the Local Void. A detailed analysis shows that the local flow is predominantly governed by the Local Void and the Virgo Cluster plays a lesser role. The analysis procedure was tested against a mock catalog. It is demonstrated that the Wiener Filter accurately recovers the input velocity field of the mock catalog on the scale of the extraction of distances and reasonably recovers the velocity field on significantly larger scales. The Bayesian Wiener Filter reconstruction is carried out within the ?CDM WMAP5 framework. The Wiener Filter reconstruction draws particular attention to the importance of voids in proximity to our neighborhood. The prominent structure of the Local Supercluster is wrapped in a horseshoe collar of under density with the Local Void as a major component.