REVIEW
eROSITA cosmology with galaxy groups: Hot gas budget out to the virial radius
Astrophysics of Galaxies · Submitted 18 Aug 2026 · Published version
Pith's verdict: First unstacked eROSITA gas fractions out to R200 for a complete group sample, with a robust sub-cosmic answer—but the headline precision misses a known ~30% gas-mass systematic.
T0 · AI review
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Referee report
The paper
The paper claims
Galaxy groups keep only a third to half of their cosmic share of hot gas even at the virial radius, and the strongest feedback variants of the FLAMINGO simulation cannot reproduce the data.
The reading
What carries the argument
The central object is the cumulative hot gas fraction profile $f_{\mathrm{gas}}(<r) = M_{\mathrm{gas}}(<r)/M_{\mathrm{NFW}}(<r)$, obtained by converting background-subtracted eROSITA surface brightness profiles into emission-measure profiles under a single-temperature assumption from the XXL $L_X$–$T$ relation, deprojecting them to 3D gas density via a multiscale King-function decomposition, and dividing by NFW total masses whose concentrations come from a mass–concentration relation. Two devices carry the argument: the aperture-covariance correction, which uses the $\beta$-model identity $f_{\mathrm{gas}} \propto M_{\mathrm{tot}}^{-\beta}$ to remove the artificial flattening of scaling relations whose two axes share an integration radius, and the SP(k) model, which converts the fitted baryon-fraction–mass relation into a prediction for the suppression of the matter power spectrum. The scaling relations themselves come from a Bayesian hierarchical fit whose true-mass prior is calibrated with a velocity-dispersion–mass relation.
Extended reading notes
Core claim
From eROSITA surface brightness profiles of 25 low-redshift galaxy groups ($0.01<z<0.025$) selected from the 2MRS-eRASS1 cross-match, the paper reports uniformly flat inner X-ray profiles with a mean slope parameter $\beta = 0.38\pm0.04$ inside $R_{500}$, steepening to $\beta = 0.76\pm0.19$ between $R_{500}$ and $R_{200}$. The hot gas fraction rises with radius yet stays sub-cosmic: $4.32\pm0.42\%$ at $R_{500}$ and $5.78\pm0.69\%$ at $R_{200}$, roughly a third to a half of the expected cosmic share of hot gas. The gas-mass–total-mass and luminosity–mass relations, corrected for the covariance between axes that share an integration radius, are inconsistent with the strongest FLAMINGO feedback variants at the 2.5–8$\sigma$ level, while fiducial FLAMINGO, BAHAMAS, and SIMBA match at the 1–2$\sigma$ level. Combined with stellar fractions, the measured baryon budget implies a 10–15 percent suppression of the matter power spectrum at $k = 5\,h\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ relative to a dark-matter-only universe.
Load-bearing premise
The gas mass measurement assumes that each group's hot gas is at one constant temperature given by the XXL luminosity–temperature scaling relation, with a fixed 0.3 solar metallicity; the paper notes this can shift the inferred gas mass by up to 30 percent for the $\sim\!1$ keV systems in the sample, and the quoted $f_{\mathrm{gas}}$ uncertainties do not include that term.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- Even at the virial radius the groups hold only about 44 percent of their cosmic share of hot gas, so AGN-driven ejection must extend past $R_{200}$ for typical group-scale halos.
- Strong-feedback FLAMINGO variants underpredict the X-ray luminosity at the sample median mass by 6.5$\sigma$ and 8.6$\sigma$, excluding the most energetic AGN injection schemes as descriptions of group outskirts.
- The matter power spectrum is suppressed by 10–15 percent at $k = 5\,h\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ relative to a dark-matter-only universe, consistent with fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS, a range narrow enough to matter for weak-lensing survey analyses.
- The outer density profile steepening ($\beta$ rising from $0.38\pm0.04$ to $0.76\pm0.19$) means group outskirts, not just cores, carry a measurable feedback signature.
- The steeper-than-self-similar $M_{\mathrm{gas}}$–$M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ slope ($B = 1.59^{+0.34}_{-0.28}$ at $R_{500}$) quantifies how gas expulsion grows toward lower masses.
Reading between the lines
- The aperture-covariance correction of this paper implies that any $f_{\mathrm{gas}}$–$M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ comparison that mixes mass proxies with shared radii is partly geometric; re-analysing published samples with the $f_{\mathrm{gas}} \propto M_{\mathrm{tot}}^{-\beta}$ correction would likely steepen their slopes and shrink the apparent scatter.
- Because the quoted $f_{\mathrm{gas}}$ uncertainties exclude the up-to-30 percent single-temperature systematics, the absolute normalization of the 10–15 percent power-spectrum suppression is less secure than the relative ranking of simulation variants; per-group spectral temperatures would convert this constraint from conditional to absolute.
- The $f_{\mathrm{gas,200}}/f_{\mathrm{gas,500}}$ ratio displayed per system behaves like a feedback-strength indicator, and tracking it across mass and redshift in the deeper eRASS survey could map where baryons close their account without needing absolute gas masses.
- If the steepening beyond $R_{500}$ is generic across optically selected X-ray groups, then cluster stacks that assume a single $\beta$ out to the virial radius will systematically misestimate outskirts emission; this can be tested by re-stacking eRASS1 clusters with the two-slope profile.
Original abstract
Non-gravitational processes that expel hot gas beyond the virial regions of groups and clusters of galaxies, known collectively as baryonic feedback, play a key role in reshaping the matter distribution of the Universe on Mpc scales. We use eROSITA observations of a complete sample of 25 galaxy groups selected from the first public release of the eROSITA-DE data (eRASS1) and identified with the Two Micron Redshift Survey optical group catalogue (2MRS). We extract and fit surface brightness (SBx) profiles and present hot gas mass and hot gas fraction profiles out to $R_{200}$. We perform a Bayesian analysis of $M_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{gas}}$ relations, taking into account the aperture covariance effects. At $R_{500}$, we report uniformly flat SBx profiles with a mean $\beta$ parameter of $0.38 \pm0.04$, steepening to $\beta = 0.76\pm0.19$ beyond $R_{500}$. We measure a sub-cosmic hot gas fraction at the median mass of our sample $M_{500} = 2.54\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$ of $ f_{\mathrm{gas,500}} = 4.32\pm0.42\%$. Similarly, at $R_{200}$ and the median mass $M_{\mathrm{ 200}} = 3.69\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$, we obtain $f_{\mathrm{gas,200}}=5.78\pm0.69\%$. Our $f_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ relations show significant deviations from the predictions of the strong feedback variants of the FLAMINGO simulation ($2.5\sigma$ to $8.0\sigma$ tension), while fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS provide the closest match to our measurements. Using our measured baryon fractions and the SP(k) model, we infer a $10\%-15\%$ reduction in the matter power spectrum at $k = 5\ h\ \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ relative to a dark matter-only universe, in agreement with fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS, while revealing a growing tension on smaller scales with the strong feedback variants.
The compiled record
The paper's own sentences, arranged, kept beside the review and separate from it. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.
The abstract, sentence by sentence
Non-gravitational processes that expel hot gas beyond the virial regions of groups and clusters of galaxies, known collectively as baryonic feedback, play a key role in reshaping the matter distribution of the Universe on Mpc scales. We use eROSITA observations of a complete sample of 25 galaxy groups selected from the first public release of the eROSITA-DE data (eRASS1) and identified with the Two Micron Redshift Survey optical group catalogue (2MRS). We extract and fit surface brightness (SBx) profiles and present hot gas mass and hot gas fraction profiles out to $R_{200}$. We perform a Bayesian analysis of $M_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{gas}}$ relations, taking into account the aperture covariance effects. At $R_{500}$, we report uniformly flat SBx profiles with a mean $\beta$ parameter of $0.38 \pm0.04$, steepening to $\beta = 0.76\pm0.19$ beyond $R_{500}$. We measure a sub-cosmic hot gas fraction at the median mass of our sample $M_{500} = 2.54\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$ of $ f_{\mathrm{gas,500}} = 4.32\pm0.42\%$. Similarly, at $R_{200}$ and the median mass $M_{\mathrm{ 200}} = 3.69\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$, we obtain $f_{\mathrm{gas,200}}=5.78\pm0.69\%$. Our $f_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ relations show significant deviations from the predictions of the strong feedback variants of the FLAMINGO simulation ($2.5\sigma$ to $8.0\sigma$ tension), while fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS provide the closest match to our measurements. Using our measured baryon fractions and the SP(k) model, we infer a $10\%-15\%$ reduction in the matter power spectrum at $k = 5\ h\ \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ relative to a dark matter-only universe, in agreement with fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS, while revealing a growing tension on smaller scales with the strong feedback variants.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | Non-gravitational processes that expel hot gas beyond the virial regions of groups and clusters of galaxies, known collectively as baryonic feedback, play a key role in reshaping the matter distribution of the Universe on Mpc scales. | background 1.00 | 0.04 | 0.05 | asserted 1.00 |
| s1 | We use eROSITA observations of a complete sample of 25 galaxy groups selected from the first public release of the eROSITA-DE data (eRASS1) and identified with the Two Micron Redshift Survey optical group catalogue (2MRS). | method 0.97 | 0.96 | 0.02 | asserted 0.96 |
| s2 | We extract and fit surface brightness (SBx) profiles and present hot gas mass and hot gas fraction profiles out to $R_{200}$. | method 0.66 | 0.97 | 0.03 | asserted 0.98 |
| s3 | We perform a Bayesian analysis of $M_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$, and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{gas}}$ relations, taking into account the aperture covariance effects. | method 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.03 | asserted 0.90 |
| s4 | At $R_{500}$, we report uniformly flat SBx profiles with a mean $\beta$ parameter of $0.38 \pm0.04$, steepening to $\beta = 0.76\pm0.19$ beyond $R_{500}$. | result 1.00 | 0.96 | 0.07 | asserted 1.00 |
| s5 | We measure a sub-cosmic hot gas fraction at the median mass of our sample $M_{500} = 2.54\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$ of $ f_{\mathrm{gas,500}} = 4.32\pm0.42\%$. | result 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.08 | asserted 1.00 |
| s6 | Similarly, at $R_{200}$ and the median mass $M_{\mathrm{ 200}} = 3.69\times10^{13}M_{\odot}$, we obtain $f_{\mathrm{gas,200}}=5.78\pm0.69\%$. | result 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.06 | asserted 1.00 |
| s7 | Our $f_{\mathrm{gas}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ and $L_{\mathrm{X}}-M_{\mathrm{tot}}$ relations show significant deviations from the predictions of the strong feedback variants of the FLAMINGO simulation ($2.5\sigma$ to $8.0\sigma$ tension), while fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS provide the closest match to our measurements. | result 0.86 | 0.95 | 0.48 | asserted 1.00 |
| s8 | Using our measured baryon fractions and the SP(k) model, we infer a $10\%-15\%$ reduction in the matter power spectrum at $k = 5\ h\ \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ relative to a dark matter-only universe, in agreement with fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS, while revealing a growing tension on smaller scales with the strong feedback variants. | result 0.79 | 0.95 | 0.32 | asserted 0.96 |
What was examined, and what was not
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- P abstract
- S sections
- T body sentences
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Figures
Showing 10 of the paper's 11 figures. See all figures in the PDF ↗ Figures reproduced from arXiv:2608.17735 by the authors.
References
How the literature uses it
What this paper does with the arXiv papers it cites
What it cites · 17 sentences without a confident label
Uses the method or tool of 2 papers
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We model the total mass using a Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile [ref] with [ref] concentrations ($c_200c$): [equation] where the NFW scale radius $r_s = r_200c/c_200c$ and the characteristic density $ρ_s = M_200c/[4πr_s^3 f(c)]$ with $f(c) = ln(1+c)-c/(1+c)$.
The Structure of Cold Dark Matter Halos · Total mass · 0.91
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We follow the same extended source detection method and determination of the flux extraction regions applied in, e.g., [ref] .
AXES-2MRS: A new all-sky catalogue of extended X-ray galaxy groups · eRASS1 catalogue · 1.00
Uses data or values from 1 paper
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Our redshift range $0.01 < z < 0.025$ is conservatively chosen to ensure sensitivity to group outskirts within eRASS1 spatial scales and to avoid source confusion, and is further guided by the AXES-2MRS completeness limit down to $L_X > 3×10^42$ erg s$^-1$ (Figs. 2, 10 in [ref] ).
AXES-2MRS: A new all-sky catalogue of extended X-ray galaxy groups · 2MRS-eRASS1 · 0.89
Compares with 4 papers
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To put our result in context, we compare it in the top panel to a compilation of pre-eROSITA literature X-ray observations, as summarised by the fitting relation introduced by [ref] , including the results on the gas fraction by [ref] .
The physics inside the scaling relations for X-ray galaxy clusters: gas clumpiness, gas mass fraction and slope of the pressure profile · $M_gas-M_tot$ · 0.98
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To put our result in context, we compare it in the top panel to a compilation of pre-eROSITA literature X-ray observations, as summarised by the fitting relation introduced by [ref] , including the results on the gas fraction by [ref] .
Scaling Properties of a Complete X-ray Selected Galaxy Group Sample · $M_gas-M_tot$ · 0.98
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To put our result in context, we compare it in the top panel to a compilation of pre-eROSITA literature X-ray observations, as summarised by the fitting relation introduced by [ref] , including the results on the gas fraction by [ref] .
Chandra studies of the X-ray gas properties of galaxy groups · $M_gas-M_tot$ · 0.98
Cites as background 3 papers
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The connection between the baryon fraction $f_b$ in groups and clusters and the matter power spectrum (MPS) suppression on large scales ($k < 10 h Mpc^-1$) is well established [ref] .
The FLAMINGO project: Baryon effects on the matter power spectrum · Matter power spectrum suppression · 0.96
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The connection between the baryon fraction $f_b$ in groups and clusters and the matter power spectrum (MPS) suppression on large scales ($k < 10 h Mpc^-1$) is well established [ref] .
1810.0862 · Matter power spectrum suppression · 0.96
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In a self-similar scenario, the gas fraction reaches the cosmic value and a linear $M_gas$–$M_tot$ relation is expected, while a steeper slope signals non-gravitational processes expelling gas beyond the virial radius [ref] .
Scaling Properties of a Complete X-ray Selected Galaxy Group Sample · $M_gas-M_tot$ · 0.91
Discussion
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