Probing the evolution of the gas mass fraction with the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect

Majumdar, Subhabrata (2001) Probing the evolution of the gas mass fraction with the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. In: The Astrophysical Journal, 555 (1, Par). L7-L10.

PDF PROBING_THE_EVOLUTION_OF_THE.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (93kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Study of the primary anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) can be used to determine the cosmological parameters to a very high precision. The power spectrum of the secondary CMB anisotropies due to the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZE) by clusters of galaxies can then be studied, to constrain more cluster-specific properties (like gas mass). We show the SZE power spectrum from clusters to be a sensitive probe of any possible evolution (or constancy) of the gas mass fraction. The position of the peak of the SZE power spectrum is a strong scriminatory signature of different gas mass fraction evolution models. For example, for a flat universe, there can be a difference in the l-values (of the peak) of as much as 2500 between a constant gas mass fraction model and an evolutionary one. Moreover, observational determination of the power spectrum, from blank-sky surveys, is devoid of any selection effects that can possibly affect targeted X-ray or radio studies of gas mass fractions in galaxy clusters.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:	Institute of physics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to American Astronomical Society.
Keywords:	cosmic microwave background;cosmology : observations;cosmology : theory;galaxies : clusters : general
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Astronomy and Astrophysics Programme Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2010 07:25
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:56
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/17315

Actions (login required)

View Item