Intrinsic Tidal Shear at the Largest Scales: Galaxy Multiplet Alignment in DESI DR2

We measure the intrinsic alignment (IA) of galaxy multiplets with the large-scale tidal field traced by galaxy positions in DESI Data Release 2. Using the BGS, LRG, and ELG samples spanning 0.01 < z < 1.6, we optimize the scales which define multiplets in each sample to minimize measurement noise. We measure multiplet tidal alignment E+ on scales beyond 100 h-1 Mpc in all samples, and detect alignment over 200 h-1 Mpc, up to 4.5 σ in the highest LRG redshift bin. We additionally present the multiplet shape-shape autocorrelation, E++, which is independent of galaxy bias and provides a consistency check of our NLA (nonlinear alignment) model. We do not detect a baryon acoustic feature in the projected estimator. We also find the alignment strength of multiplets is correlated with redshift and galaxy morphology. Multiplet alignment offers direct access to the tidal shear field in all galaxy samples, even where individual galaxy alignment cannot, and extends IA detection to the largest scales yet probed.