REVIEW
Transients from Initial Conditions: A Perturbative Analysis
Astrophysics · Submitted 17 Nov 1997 · 40 references
Pith's verdict: A solid, self-contained PT calculation that gave the field both a diagnostic for ZA transients and the 2LPT fix; the abstract's headline numbers are a bit looser than the body.
T0 · AI review
Why Pith says this
Highlight any text to comment on it.
Referee report
The paper
The paper claims
A simulation remembers how it was started: the Zel'dovich approximation imprints wrong higher-order correlations that take a factor of six or more in expansion to wash out, and a cheap second-order Lagrangian upgrade removes them almost at
The reading
What carries the argument
The load-bearing object is the recursion relation for the time-dependent perturbative kernels, built from a $2imes 2$ linear propagator $g_{ab}(z)$ in $z =
Extended reading notes
Core claim
The central claim is that the transient behaviour induced by Zel'dovich initial conditions is not an uncontrolled numerical nuisance but a computable perturbative effect. By keeping the full time dependence of the solutions at every order, the author writes the nonlinear kernels as a recursion (his Eq. 23) in which the initial conditions appear as source terms that excite decaying modes, and the standard growing-mode results are recovered only in the limit of an infinitely early start. Evaluating the tree-level cumulants with top-hat smoothing gives explicit formulas such as $S_3(a) = 34/7 - 3 - 6/(5a) + 12/(35 a^{7/2})$ for standard Zel'dovich velocities, and a different set of coefficients when velocities are recomputed from the displaced particle positions as in Efstathiou et al. The decay rate is set by the effective spectral index at each order, is slower for velocity statistics than for density, and is slower still for models with $
Load-bearing premise
The specific expansion factors come from leading-order perturbation theory, valid only as the variance of the smoothed field goes to zero, whereas real simulations measure these statistics where the variance is of order unity and loop corrections are not negligible.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- For a spectral index near zero, a Zel'dovich-started simulation needs roughly a factor of six in expansion before $S_3$ is good to ten percent, and about fifteen before the velocity analogue $T_3$ is, with the requirement growing sharply with the order $p$.
- An open model with $\Omega = 0.3$ needs about a factor of two more expansion than a critical-density model to reach the same accuracy, because the controlling variable is the linear growth factor rather than the scale factor.
- Assigning initial velocities from the gravitational potential of the displaced particle positions, rather than from the Zel'dovich prescription itself, shortens the transient by a factor of two or three depending on the spectrum.
- Second-order Lagrangian initial conditions eliminate the skewness transient entirely and reduce the expansion needed for $p>3$ by more than an order of magnitude, for the price of two extra fast Fourier transforms and a modest amount of memory.
- Because transients depress the measured $S_p$ while finite-variance loop corrections raise it, a simulation started too late can appear to agree with tree-level perturbation theory over a wider range of scales than it actually does.
Reading between the lines
- Published claims about how far down in scale tree-level perturbation theory remains valid, made from simulations started at modest redshift, should be re-checked with the transient term subtracted; the cancellation the author describes is a concrete, testable reanalysis of existing outputs rather than a new simulation campaign.
- The same decaying-mode bookkeeping should apply to redshift-space cumulants and to the bispectrum, where velocity correlations enter more strongly; the paper flags both but computes neither, so those are open checks of the mechanism rather than of its arithmetic.
- If the velocity-divergence transients are as large as the $T_p$ curves suggest, velocity-based statistics in existing simulations may carry a systematic offset at moderate overdensities, which matters for any test that uses peculiar velocities as a discriminator.
- The second-order Lagrangian residual decays as $a^{-2}$ and $a^{-9/2}$ for the kurtosis, so the required startup redshift is set almost entirely by the target accuracy and hardly at all by box size or resolution, which makes it a clean design parameter.
Original abstract
The standard procedure to generate initial conditions (IC) in numerical simulations is to use the Zel'dovich approximation (ZA). Although the ZA correctly reproduces the linear growing modes of density and velocity perturbations, non-linear growth is inaccurately represented because of the ZA failure to conserve momentum. This implies that it takes time for the actual dynamics to establish the correct statistical properties of density and velocity fields. We extend perturbation theory (PT) to include transients as non-linear excitations of decaying modes caused by the IC. We focus on higher-order statistics of the density contrast and velocity divergence, characterized by the S_p and T_p parameters. We find that the time-scale of transients is determined, at a given order p, by the spectral index n. The skewness factor S_3 (T_3) attains 10% accuracy only after a=6 (a=15) for n=0, whereas higher (lower) n demands more (less) expansion away from the IC. These requirements become much more stringent as p increases. An Omega=0.3 model requires a factor of two larger expansion than an Omega=1 model to reduce transients by the same amount. The predicted transients in S_p are in good agreement with numerical simulations. More accurate IC can be achieved by using 2nd order Lagrangian PT (2LPT), which reproduces growing modes up to 2nd order and thus eliminates transients in the skewness. We show that for p>3 this reduces the required expansion by more than an order of magnitude compared to the ZA. Setting up 2LPT IC only requires minimal, inexpensive changes to ZA codes. We suggest simple steps for its implementation.
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
The standard procedure to generate initial conditions (IC) in numerical simulations is to use the Zel'dovich approximation (ZA). Although the ZA correctly reproduces the linear growing modes of density and velocity perturbations, non-linear growth is inaccurately represented because of the ZA failure to conserve momentum. This implies that it takes time for the actual dynamics to establish the correct statistical properties of density and velocity fields. We extend perturbation theory (PT) to include transients as non-linear excitations of decaying modes caused by the IC. We focus on higher-order statistics of the density contrast and velocity divergence, characterized by the S_p and T_p parameters. We find that the time-scale of transients is determined, at a given order p, by the spectral index n. The skewness factor S_3 (T_3) attains 10% accuracy only after a=6 (a=15) for n=0, whereas higher (lower) n demands more (less) expansion away from the IC. These requirements become much more stringent as p increases. An Omega=0.3 model requires a factor of two larger expansion than an Omega=1 model to reduce transients by the same amount. The predicted transients in S_p are in good agreement with numerical simulations. More accurate IC can be achieved by using 2nd order Lagrangian PT (2LPT), which reproduces growing modes up to 2nd order and thus eliminates transients in the skewness. We show that for p>3 this reduces the required expansion by more than an order of magnitude compared to the ZA. Setting up 2LPT IC only requires minimal, inexpensive changes to ZA codes. We suggest simple steps for its implementation.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | The standard procedure to generate initial conditions (IC) in numerical simulations is to use the Zel'dovich approximation (ZA). | background 1.00 | 0.04 | 0.02 | asserted 1.00 |
| s1 | Although the ZA correctly reproduces the linear growing modes of density and velocity perturbations, non-linear growth is inaccurately represented because of the ZA failure to conserve momentum. | background 0.90 | 0.08 | 0.05 | asserted 1.00 |
| s2 | This implies that it takes time for the actual dynamics to establish the correct statistical properties of density and velocity fields. | interpretation 0.71 | 0.10 | 0.05 | asserted 0.90 |
| s3 | We extend perturbation theory (PT) to include transients as non-linear excitations of decaying modes caused by the IC. | contribution 0.83 | 0.95 | 0.09 | asserted 0.99 |
| s4 | We focus on higher-order statistics of the density contrast and velocity divergence, characterized by the S_p and T_p parameters. | contribution 0.72 | 0.68 | 0.04 | asserted 0.93 |
| s5 | We find that the time-scale of transients is determined, at a given order p, by the spectral index n. | result 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.20 | asserted 1.00 |
| s6 | The skewness factor S_3 (T_3) attains 10% accuracy only after a=6 (a=15) for n=0, whereas higher (lower) n demands more (less) expansion away from the IC. | result 1.00 | 0.90 | 0.17 | asserted 1.00 |
| s7 | These requirements become much more stringent as p increases. | result 0.94 | 0.81 | 0.08 | asserted 1.00 |
| s8 | An Omega=0.3 model requires a factor of two larger expansion than an Omega=1 model to reduce transients by the same amount. | result 1.00 | 0.85 | 0.07 | asserted 1.00 |
| s9 | The predicted transients in S_p are in good agreement with numerical simulations. | result 1.00 | 0.88 | 0.12 | asserted 0.99 |
| s10 | More accurate IC can be achieved by using 2nd order Lagrangian PT (2LPT), which reproduces growing modes up to 2nd order and thus eliminates transients in the skewness. | result 0.50 | 0.48 | 0.31 | asserted 0.95 |
| s11 | We show that for p>3 this reduces the required expansion by more than an order of magnitude compared to the ZA. | result 0.98 | 0.89 | 0.24 | asserted 1.00 |
| s12 | Setting up 2LPT IC only requires minimal, inexpensive changes to ZA codes. | result 0.32 | 0.45 | 0.06 | asserted 0.99 |
| s13 | We suggest simple steps for its implementation. | method 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.05 | hedged possibility 0.87 |
What was examined, and what was not
- arXiv listing abstract v1
- full text
- figures and tables
- references and citing sentences
- relations to other papers
- P abstract
- S sections
- T body sentences
- C citations
- R cross-paper relations
Figures
Figures reproduced from arXiv:astro-ph/9711187 by the authors.
References
How later papers used it
145 later papers cite it
9 later papers by other authors are listed below: 9 used its method or tool. 1 more paper by the same authors is listed: 1 used its method or tool.
Uses its method or tool 10 of 97 papers with this label · 1 by the same authors
-
Generated its initial particle displacement at z_in=99 using this paper, and its extended version for local non-Gaussian initial conditions.
High-redshift JWST Observations and Primordial Non-Gaussianity (2022) · 0.97 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Advanced its particles using the 2LPT algorithm as described by this paper.
Quantifying distortions of the Lagrangian dark-matter mesh in cosmology (2012) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Calculated its initial conditions with second-order Lagrangian perturbation theory using a modified version of this paper's 2LPTic code.
N-body simulations, halo mass functions, and halo density profile in $f(T)$ gravity (2022) · 0.99 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Generated its N-body initial conditions with the Zel'dovich approximation plus a second-order correction term from this paper, added to the CDM particles only.
Resolving Cosmic Neutrino Structure: A Hybrid Neutrino N-body Scheme (2009) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Initialized its simulations at an initial redshift of z_i=49 using this paper's 2LPT initial conditions code.
Matter Power Spectrum Emulator for f(R) Modified Gravity Cosmologies (2020) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Determined the velocity and evolved density fields needed for its thermal and ionisation states using second-order Lagrangian perturbation theory from this paper.
Exploring the role of the halo mass function for inferring astrophysical parameters during reionisation (2024) · 0.99 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Followed this paper to write the motion equations for a pressureless fluid in the one-flow limit in compact form using a doublet.
Cosmic propagators at two-loop order (2012) · 0.83 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Used a slightly modified version of this paper's publicly available 2LPT code, which gave a detailed prescription for implementing 2LPT displacements in simulations.
Toward an accurate mass function for precision cosmology (2012) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
-
Generated its initial conditions using second-order Lagrangian perturbation theory from this paper with the MUSIC code.
Multi-wavelength mock galaxy catalogs of the low-redshift Universe (2021) · 1.00 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
By the same authors
-
Followed this paper to write the equations of motion for a pressureless fluid in the one-flow limit in compact form using a two-component quantity.
Constructing Regularized Cosmic Propagators (2011) (same authors) · 0.83 · paraphrased: the licence does not allow quoting
How the literature uses it
79 arXiv papers cite this in 101 sentences
Papers citing it · 43 sentences without a confident label
Uses its method or tool 49 papers
-
Employing $1024^3$ dark matter particles in a periodic cube of $(2048 h^-1Mpc)^3$, the gravitational dynamics was solved by a public simulation code [ref] starting from an initial condition set at $z=15$ by solving second-order Lagrangian perturbation theory [ref] .
Redshift-space equal-time angular-averaged consistency relations of the gravitational dynamics · Numerical results · 0.99
-
The simulations contain $512^3$ particles that are evolved from an initial redshift of $z=49$ until today using the $N$-body Gadget-3 code [ref] with 2LPT initial conditions [ref] .
Matter bispectrum of large-scale structure: Three-dimensional comparison between theoretical models and numerical simulations · $N$-body simulations · 0.95
-
The initial particle displacement is generated at $z_in=99$ using [ref] , and its extended version [ref] for local NG initial conditions, using $f_NL=500$ as value for the non-linearity parameter.
High-redshift JWST Observations and Primordial Non-Gaussianity · Testing high-redshift halo mass functions with N-body simulations · 0.97
Compares with it 1 paper
-
(For comparison to a 2LPT prescription, see Appendix D2 of [ref] ).
Quantifying distortions of the Lagrangian dark-matter mesh in cosmology · Particle realizations from the SC approximation · 0.95
Cites it as support 1 paper
-
Therefore, $N$-body simulations with the ZA initial conditions fail to pick up the correct second- and higher-order growing modes hence failing to reproduce the correct statistical properties of the density fluctuation until very late times [ref] .
Transients from initial conditions based on Lagrangian perturbation theory in N-body simulations · Introduction · 0.99
Cites it as background 4 papers
-
For further details we refer the reader to relevant literature for 2LPT [ref] , PM [ref] and COLA [ref] .
Advancing the matter bispectrum estimation of large-scale structure: a comparison of dark matter codes · Fast dark matter algorithms · 0.80
-
Cosmological perturbation theory (CPT; [ref] ) provides highly accurate predictions on large cosmological scales, and in particular plays a crucial role in connecting early- with late-time cosmology, such as by providing initial conditions for numerical simulations [ref] .
Renormalization group and UV completion of cosmological perturbations: Gravitational collapse as a critical phenomenon · Introduction · 0.98
-
Other important applications are to providing initial conditions for cosmological simulations [ref] , and for pairing CPT predictions with simulations in a variety of hybrid approaches [ref] .
Fast and accurate collapse-time predictions for collisionless matter · Introduction · 0.90
Discussion
Disagree with the review, or know something it missed? Leave a comment, highlight any passage above to comment on it, or challenge this review formally.