44914 - Clusters of Galaxies

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student:
- will have a basic knowledge of the structural, dynamical and physical properties of the different components of clusters of galaxies (galaxies, gas, non-thermic particles and dark matter);
- will acquire the necessary astrophysical knowledge to understand the formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies;
- will understand the importance of studying clusters of galaxies  in a cosmological context. The student will be able to read and understand (theoretical and observational) research papers on this topic.

Course contents

§ Clusters of galaxies in optical light
  > Optical catalogues of clusters of galaxies
  > Morphological classification of clusters of galaxies
  > Spatial and velocity distribution of galaxies in clusters
  > Luminosity function of galaxies in clusters
  > Morphology of galaxies in clusters
  > cD galaxies

§ Clusters of galaxies in X-rays
  > Detection and identification of clusters of galaxies in X-rays
  > X-ray luminosity function of galaxy clusters
  > X-ray spectra
  > Spatial distribution of X-ray emission
  > X-ray emission mechanisms

§ Clusters of galaxies in radio
  > Radio galaxies in clusters
  > Radio properties of cD galaxies
  > Radio halos and relics
  > Radio emission mechanisms

§ Clusters of galaxies in microwaves
  > Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect

§ Physical properties of clusters of galaxies
  > Mass of galaxy clusters: virial theorem, hydrostatic equilibrium and gravitational lensing
  > Dark matter and baryonic matter
  > Gas density, temperature and metallicity
  > Scaling relations
  > Magnetic fields

§ Formation and evolution of galaxy clusters
  > Formation of galaxy clusters in cosmological models
  > Dynamics and evolution of gas in clusters of galaxies
  > Dynamics and evolution of galaxies in galaxy clusters

Readings/Bibliography

- C.L. Sarazin, "X-ray Emission from Clusters of Galaxies", 1988,
  Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (available in the library and on-line)

- S. Mollerach, E. Roulet, ``Gravitational lensing and microlensing'', 2002, World Scientific, Singapore

- G.M. Voit, "Tracing cosmic evolution with clusters of galaxies",
  2005, Reviews of Modern Physics, 77, 207

- P. Rosati, S. Borgani and C. Norman, "The evolution of X-ray
  clusters of galaxies", 2002, ARA&A, 40, 539

-  H. Boehringer and N. Werner, "X-ray Spectroscopy of Galaxy Clusters.
Studying astrophysical processes in the largest celestial laboratories'', 2009, arXiv:0907.4277

- "Merging processes in galaxy clusters", 2002, Feretti, Giovannini, Gioia
  editors, Astrophysics and space science library, Kluwer academic
  publishers - available in the library

Other books and papers will be indicated during the lectures

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Teaching tools

Blackboard and videoprojector

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Nipoti