eROSITA’s X-ray research could solve the crisis surrounding the ‘heterogeneity’ of the universe

Reconfirm the standard model A new analysis of galaxy cluster evolution, conducted as part of the cosmic X-ray source eROSITA study, could shed light on long-standing mysteries about the heterogeneity of matter in our Universe. Additionally, these results could help unravel other mysteries of the universe.

The first phase of the eROSITA all-sky survey, completed in February 2022, provided precise measurements of the total amount of matter in the Universe and its homogeneity. The data could shed light on the discrepancy between the standard model of cosmology’s predictions and observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which occurred immediately after the Big Bang. The attitude of scientists to the level of heterogeneity of matter in the Universe still remains ambiguous.
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Home News February 22, 2024
eROSITA X-ray study may resolve the crisis over the “heterogeneity” of the Universe
The standard model is confirmed again
A new analysis of the evolution of galaxy clusters in the eROSITA study of cosmic X-ray sources may shed light on the long-standing mystery of the heterogeneity of matter in our Universe. In addition, these results may help unravel other mysteries of space.

The first phase of the eROSITA all-sky survey, completed in February 2022, provided precise measurements of the total amount of matter in the Universe and its homogeneity. The data could shed light on the discrepancy between the standard model of cosmology’s predictions and observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which occurred immediately after the Big Bang. The attitude of scientists to the level of heterogeneity of matter in the Universe still remains ambiguous.

eROSITA X-ray study may resolve the crisis over the “heterogeneity” of the Universe
Galaxy clusters in the eROSITA survey: red dots indicate objects at redshift 1 and blue dots indicate objects at redshift 3. Source: MPE, J. Sanders (eROSITA)
The problem known as the “S8 voltage”, associated with the Hubble voltage, is one of the key studies of the Universe. The S8 parameter is used to quantify the amplitude of matter vibrations over significant spatial scales. Previously, some scientists had suggested that a new physical model would be needed to solve this mystery. However, new eROSITA data allows us to be more optimistic and suggest that the S8 strain can be explained without the need to radically change our understanding of cosmology.

eROSITA has provided precise measurements of the evolution of galaxy clusters, opening new opportunities for further study and understanding of the evolution of the Universe. Esra Bülbül, lead scientist at eROSITA’s Clusters and Cosmology Group, emphasizes that the cosmological parameters measured from galaxy clusters are consistent with observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation. This indicates that the same cosmological model operates from the first moments after the Big Bang until the present.

The standard model of cosmology, known as the cold dark matter model (ΛCDM), states that the Universe immediately after the Big Bang was a hot, dense collection of photons, electrons and protons. During this time, electrons scattered photons endlessly, meaning the universe was essentially opaque. This continued until about 400,000 years later, when the Universe expanded and cooled enough to allow electrons and protons to come close enough to form bonds and create the first hydrogen atoms.

During the era of reionization, the Universe became “transparent” to light. This “first light” now fills the Universe almost perfectly evenly and is known as the CMB. And since this light existed before the first stars and galaxies appeared, the cosmic microwave background radiation is an excellent tool for tracking the evolution of the cosmos.

As the Universe evolved, the first atoms grouped together to form the first gas clouds, then the first stars, which gathered into galaxies, which formed the first galaxy clusters, eventually leading to the formation of some of the largest structures in the known Universe.

Observations of these clusters by eROSITA, the primary instrument on board the Russian-German Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) spacecraft, show that visible matter and dark matter account for 29% of the total energy density of the Universe, consistent with cosmic microwave measurements background.

While observing galaxy clusters, eROSITA was also able to measure the heterogeneity of matter using the S8 parameter. Although previous cosmic microwave background experiments suggested a higher value of S8 than predicted by the standard model, eROSITA’s observations of this cosmic “fossil” background are more consistent with these theoretical predictions.

Thus, new evidence in support of the standard model of cosmology indicates that it has indeed been preserved since the Big Bang and throughout the existence of the Universe.

eROSITA’s observations of galaxy clusters have also helped scientists learn more about neutrinos, which have such low mass and charge that they are almost impossible to detect.