First observational detection of the moving lens effect via cross-correlation of ACT CMB temperature with DESI galaxies, yielding amplitude b_ML = 1.24 ± 0.26 at 4.8σ consistent with halo-model prediction.
Precision Kinematic Sunyaev--Zel'dovich Measurements Across Halo Mass and Redshift with DESI DR2 and ACT DR6: Part I. Luminous Red Galaxies
6 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We present the most precise measurements of the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ) effect around luminous red galaxies to date, detecting the signal at $18\sigma$ significance in both harmonic and configuration space. Our analysis cross-correlates 2.4 million spectroscopic LRGs from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) DR2 sample with Data Release 6 (DR6) of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT). We develop a novel harmonic-space cross-correlation approach using momentum-weighted kSZ templates, yielding nearly uncorrelated bandpowers within a framework consistent with other large-scale structure analyses. By incorporating the LRG halo occupation distribution (HOD) and its uncertainty, we convert measured galaxy gas profiles into halo gas profiles and provide generalized Navarro-Frenk-White (GNFW) fitting profiles, providing empirical targets for tuning feedback efficiency in hydrodynamical simulations and for baryonic modeling in large-scale structure analyses. We find strong evidence that gas profiles do not trace dark matter, providing direct evidence for gas redistribution beyond gravitational collapse. Comparing to hydrodynamical simulations, our measurements favor feedback efficiencies exceeding those in the Battaglia profile, suggesting more efficient gas ejection in group-scale halos than previously predicted. Splitting by redshift, we detect the kSZ signal at SNR $\approx 5$--$10$ in each of four bins and find amplitude evolution consistent with the expected decline in mean halo mass at fixed comoving number density. Splitting by stellar mass, we study the scaling of kSZ amplitude with galaxy properties. Together with BGS and ELG measurements in Paper II, these results span $0.1 \lesssim z \lesssim 1.6$ across three galaxy populations, demonstrating the potential of spectroscopic kSZ to map circumgalactic gas and constrain baryonic feedback.
years
2026 6verdicts
UNVERDICTED 6representative citing papers
AGN feedback creates a mass-independent entropy ceiling that allows outflows to escape halos only below M_200m = 10^13.7 M_sun, explaining depleted gas in groups versus near-cosmic fractions in clusters.
Directional stacking signals are reconstructed without information loss as cross-power spectra between the target field and the E/B modes of the spin field weighted by galaxy density.
Radio contamination must be jointly fit with tSZ and CIB in unWISE-Planck/ACT cross-spectra; its inclusion yields positive signals to ℓ ≃ 6000 that match a two-parameter generalized NFW pressure profile.
Presents 24 AREPO+IllustrisTNG zoom-in simulations of clusters above 10^15 solar masses showing converged magnetic fields with volume-averaged plasma beta approximately 100 inside R200 after z~1.2, declining Faraday rotation profiles, and intermittent Braginskii heating approaching cooling rates in
A review summarizing direct and auxiliary large-scale structure probes for constraining dark energy and demonstrating their combined precision and accuracy.
citing papers explorer
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First detection of the moving lens effect with ACT and DESI LS
First observational detection of the moving lens effect via cross-correlation of ACT CMB temperature with DESI galaxies, yielding amplitude b_ML = 1.24 ± 0.26 at 4.8σ consistent with halo-model prediction.
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The limits of feedback from active galactic nuclei
AGN feedback creates a mass-independent entropy ceiling that allows outflows to escape halos only below M_200m = 10^13.7 M_sun, explaining depleted gas in groups versus near-cosmic fractions in clusters.
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Dipoles for everyone: the pseudo-$C_\ell$ approach to directional stacking
Directional stacking signals are reconstructed without information loss as cross-power spectra between the target field and the E/B modes of the spin field weighted by galaxy density.
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Thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich cross-correlations with unWISE galaxies: disentangling radio contamination, dust properties, and electron pressure
Radio contamination must be jointly fit with tSZ and CIB in unWISE-Planck/ACT cross-spectra; its inclusion yields positive signals to ℓ ≃ 6000 that match a two-parameter generalized NFW pressure profile.
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The PICO-Cluster Project: presenting the galaxy cluster sample and studying magnetic field growth, Faraday rotation and Braginskii heating
Presents 24 AREPO+IllustrisTNG zoom-in simulations of clusters above 10^15 solar masses showing converged magnetic fields with volume-averaged plasma beta approximately 100 inside R200 after z~1.2, declining Faraday rotation profiles, and intermittent Braginskii heating approaching cooling rates in
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The large scale structure probes of dark energy
A review summarizing direct and auxiliary large-scale structure probes for constraining dark energy and demonstrating their combined precision and accuracy.