Orthogonal Alignment of Galaxy Group Angular Momentum with Cosmic Filament Spines: An Observational Study

Abstract

We investigated the alignment between the angular momenta of galaxy groups and the spines of their associated cosmic filaments. Our results demonstrate a significant tendency for these two orientations to be perpendicular, indicating that the rotation of a galaxy group does not originate from the spin of cosmic filaments. Instead, it is driven by the orbital angular momentum contributed by member galaxies as they accrete along the direction of the filament spines. Moreover, the strength of this perpendicular alignment signal varies with the richness of the galaxy groups, with the most pronounced alignment observed among the wealthiest groups. This pronounced alignment is largely due to the more coherent spatial distribution of member galaxies in richer groups relative to the filament spines. Our study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of angular momentum acquisition in galaxy groups from an observational standpoint.