Clusters of galaxies: A fundamental pillar of cosmology
Abstract
Clusters of galaxies are used in a variety of ways to do cosmology. Some of them are presented here. Their X-ray emitting gas allows us to determine the baryon fraction, dark matter distribution and the matter density $\Omega_{m}$ of the universe. Another interesting component is relativistic particles whose radio emission provide the measure of the magnetic fields ($\approx \mu G$) in the intra-cluster medium (ICM). The observation of distant clusters of galaxies is also important for cosmology. In particular the new X-ray satellites CHANDRA and XMM yield exciting new results for galaxy cluster physics and cosmology.
- Publication:
-
Frontier Objects in Astrophysics and Particle Physics
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0303609
- Bibcode:
- 2003foap.conf..171C
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Review given at the Vulcano Workshop 2002 "Frontier Objects in Astrophysics and Particle Physics", F. Giovannelli (ed.)(11 pages)