ABSTRACT. We determine the shape, multiplicity, size, and radial structure of superclusters in the ΛCDM concordance cosmology from z = 0 to z = 2. Superclusters are defined as clusters of clusters in our large-scale cosmological simulation. We find that superclusters are triaxial in shape; many have flattened since early times to become nearly two-dimensional structures at present, with a small fraction of filamentary systems. The size and multiplicity functions are presented at different redshifts. Supercluster sizes extend to scales of ~100-200 h^-1 Mpc. The supercluster multiplicity (richness) increases linearly with supercluster size. The density profile in superclusters is approximately isothermal (~R^-2) and steepens on larger scales. These results can be used as a new test of the current cosmology when compared with upcoming observations of large-scale surveys.

Subject headings: cosmology: theory; galaxies: clusters: general; large-scale structure of universe

Print publication: Issue 2 (2006 December 1)
Received 2006 March 2, accepted for publication 2006 August 22