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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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arXiv ID2608.17735 (version 2)
Pith IDYDDJEDJ4, Pith's permanent record of this paper and its review
CitationA. Finoguenov, D. Eckert, E. Tempel, F. Gastaldello, H. Khalil, L. Lovisari, R. Seppi. "eROSITA cosmology with galaxy groups: Hot gas budget out to the virial radius." arXiv:2608.17735 (2026). https://pith.science/paper/YDDJEDJ4
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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

This paper sets out to establish that galaxy groups, the most common dark-matter halos, hold far less hot gas than the cosmic baryon budget predicts, even at the virial radius: $f_{\mathrm{gas,500}} = 4.32\pm0.42\%$ at $M_{500} = 2.54\times10^{13}\,M_\odot$ and $f_{\mathrm{gas,200}} = 5.78\pm0.69\%$ at $M_{200} = 3.69\times10^{13}\,M_\odot$, against a cosmic gas fraction of roughly 13 percent. That matters because the gas expelled from groups is the main agent by which baryonic feedback suppresses the matter power spectrum on megaparsec scales, a leading systematic for weak-lensing cosmology. Using the same 25 groups, the paper finds that the strongest AGN feedback variants of the FLAMINGO simulation are excluded at 2.5–8$\sigma$, while fiducial FLAMINGO and BAHAMAS match the data, and infers a 10–15 percent suppression of the matter power spectrum at $k = 5\,h\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$. A sympathetic reader would take this as the first individual-system X-ray census of the group baryon budget out to $R_{200}$ with enough precision to discriminate between feedback implementations.

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

Editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

  • 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.

Compiled by classifier-1.13.0 via TypeSafe API, question bank abstract-p1-20260923, 2026-09-23: 1 request, 7,821 input tokens.

What the abstract itself states, as probabilities: claims first 0.03 · states limitation 0.19 · human participants 0.01 · controlled comparison 0.39 · randomized assignment 0.01 · states quantitative result 0.99 · compares with prior results 0.93 · mentions code or data availability 0.03.

The abstract, sentence by sentence

arXiv listing abstract v2. Results and the main claim are underlined; .

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

What the classifier reports for each sentence. The number is the probability it gave the label.
#sentencerolethe authors' own workstates the main conclusionstrength
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 kind of paper the classifier reports this is: empirical study 1.00 · evidence from observation or experiment 0.60.

What was examined, and what was not

sources read
  • arXiv listing abstract v2
not examined
  • full text
  • figures and tables
  • references and citing sentences
  • relations to other papers
levels run
  • P abstract
not run
  • S sections
  • T body sentences
  • C citations
  • R cross-paper relations

Every quoted sentence on this record is the authors'. Every label is from Pith's closed vocabulary, with the probability shown beside it. Every number in the measurements table is the authors', checked by code. Record as JSON

Figures
Figure 1. Selection criteria for the sample studied in this work.
Figure 2. All-sky distribution of the 2MRS-eRASS1 galaxy group
Figure 3. Background-subtracted X-ray surface brightness profiles
Figure 4. Hot gas mass and hot gas fraction profiles of the 2MRS-eRASS1 groups studied in this work.
Figure 5. Cumulative hot gas mass fractions of the 2MRS-eRASS1
Figure 6. X-ray luminosity vs. total mass at R500c. Top: The blue curve shows the covariance-corrected LX − Mtot relation for the 2MRS-eRASS1 sample studied. The blue shaded region is the 1σ confidence interval of the slope and normalisation. The or￾ange curve shows the prediction of BAHAMAS, while the other curves represent different FLAMINGO feedback model varia￾tions (Braspenning et al. 2024). Bottom: Difference in log10 LX between the explored simulations and our observed relation at the median mass. Text annotations indicate the offset signifi￾cance on the σ level. The relation at R200c…
Figure 7. Gas mass vs. total mass relation inside R500c. The blue curve represents the best-fit relation for 2MRS-eRASS1. The blue shaded region is the 1σ confidence interval of the slope and normalisation. The orange curve indicates the result of the HSC￾XXL sample (Akino et al. 2022), while the teal curve shows Popesso et al. (2026)’s result from stacking eROSITA data of GAMA galaxy groups. The relation inside R200c is shown in Fig. J.1. 4.3.4. Mgas − Mtot The gas mass vs. total mass relation probes the hot gas budget in group atmospheres. In a self-similar scenario, the gas fraction…
Figure 8. Hot gas fraction as a function of total mass inside
Figure 9. Aperture covariance correction. The best-fit corrected re
Figure 11. Suppression of the matter power spectrum. The black shaded area indicates our constraint on the power suppression implied

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

Each citing sentence is taken from the citing paper's LaTeX source and typed by Pith's classifier. A label appears at probability 0.8 or more (0.95 for support), a contest at 0.7 or more; the quoted words are the citing authors'. How each label was checked · JSON

What it cites · 17 sentences without a confident label

Uses the method or tool of 2 papers
  • 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

  • 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
  • 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
Cites as background 3 papers
  • 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

  • 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

  • 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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