The integrated Sachs-Wolfe imprints of cosmic superstructures: a problem for \Lambda CDM

TL;DR

This paper examines the discrepancy between observed and predicted ISW signals from large cosmic structures in bc CDM, suggesting potential issues with the standard cosmological model or the nature of superstructures.

Contribution

It provides a revised linear theory calculation of the ISW effect considering selection effects, highlighting a significant tension with observations.

Findings

Observed ISW signal exceeds bc CDM predictions by >3sigma

Huge underdense voids are more common than expected in bc CDM

Revised calculations still cannot fully explain the observed signal

Abstract

A crucial diagnostic of the \Lambda CDM cosmological model is the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect of large-scale structure on the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The ISW imprint of superstructures of size \sim100\;h^{-1} Mpc at redshift $z\sim0.5$ has been detected with $>4\sigma$ significance, however it has been noted that the signal is much larger than expected. We revisit the calculation using linear theory predictions in \Lambda CDM cosmology for the number density of superstructures and their radial density profile, and take possible selection effects into account. While our expected signal is larger than previous estimates, it is still inconsistent by $>3\sigma$ with the observation. If the observed signal is indeed due to the ISW effect then huge, extremely underdense voids are far more common in the observed universe than predicted by \Lambda CDM.