Accuracy of Nonlinear Approximations in Spheroidal Collapse --- Why are Zel'dovich-type approximations so good? ---

Abstract

Among various analytic approximations for the growth of density fluctuations in the expanding Universe, Zel'dovich approximation and its extensions in Lagrangian scheme are known to be accurate even in mildly non-linear regime. The aim of this paper is to investigate the reason why these Zel'dovich-type approximations work accurately beyond the linear regime from the following two points of view: (1) Dimensionality of the system and (2) the Lagrangian scheme on which the Zel'dovich approximation is grounded. In order to examine the dimensionality, we introduce a model with spheroidal mass distribution. In order to examine the Lagrangian scheme, we introduce the Padé approximation in Eulerian scheme. We clarify which of these aspects supports the unusual accuracy of the Zel'dovich-type approximations. We also give an implication for more accurate approximation method beyond the Zel'dovich-type approximations.