Periodic Reporting for period 4 - ClustersXCosmo (Fundamental physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics: Galaxy Clusters at the Cross-roads)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-03-01 do 2023-08-31
The ClustersXCosmo ERC Starting Grant project has the goal of investigating the role of Galaxy Clusters as a cosmological probe and of exploiting the strong synergies between observational cosmology, galaxy formation and fundamental physics related to the most massive objects of the Universe. In the last decade, astronomical data-sets have started to be widely and quantitatively used by the scientific community to address important physical questions such as: the nature of the dark matter and dark energy components and their evolution; the nature of gravity on cosmological scales; the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Galaxy clusters provide a complementary and necessary approach to other, more standard, cosmological tests, as their distribution as a function of time is sensitive to both the geometrical and the dynamical evolution of the Universe, driven by the growth of cosmic structures. Among different cluster surveys, clusters detected via their Sunyaev Zel'Dovich effect (SZE) imprint (a distortion caused by the cluster's hot atmosphere on the cosmic microwave background) have registered the most dramatic improvement over the last decade, yielding samples extending up to the earliest times these systems appeared. This project aims at using a combination of the best available SZE cluster surveys and to interpret them by means of state-of-the-art computational facilities in order to firmly establish the yet controversial role of Galaxy Clusters as a probe for cosmology, fundamental physics and astrophysics.
Firstly, we have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by conducting the first joint analysis of cluster samples selected across different wavelengths, including optical and Sunyaev Zel'Dovich (SZ) effect in the millimeter range. This comprehensive approach has allowed for a more nuanced understanding of galaxy clusters, enhancing our ability to use them as probes for studying the Universe.
Secondly, our project has been pivotal in providing the first uniformly selected sample studies of the galaxy population in high-redshift clusters selected through their Intra-Cluster Medium (ICM) imprint. This has opened new avenues for exploring the early stages of galaxy cluster formation and the evolution of galaxies within these massive structures.
Lastly, we have made a landmark discovery by providing the first evidence of the formation of the intracluster medium (ICM) in a forming protocluster, including the most distant SZ detection to date. This finding is crucial as it sheds light on the early stages of cluster formation, offering valuable insights into the processes that govern the evolution of the Universe's most massive objects.
Galaxy clusters provide a complementary and necessary approach to other, more standard, cosmological tests, as their distribution as a function of time is sensitive to both the geometrical and the dynamical evolution of the Universe, driven by the growth of cosmic structures. Among different cluster surveys, clusters detected via their Sunyaev Zel'Dovich effect (SZE) imprint (a distortion caused by the cluster's hot atmosphere on the cosmic microwave background) have registered the most dramatic improvement over the last decade, yielding samples extending up to the earliest times these systems appeared. This project aims at using a combination of the best available SZE cluster surveys and to interpret them by means of state-of-the-art computational facilities in order to firmly establish the yet controversial role of Galaxy Clusters as a probe for cosmology, fundamental physics and astrophysics.
Firstly, we have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by conducting the first joint analysis of cluster samples selected across different wavelengths, including optical and Sunyaev Zel'Dovich (SZ) effect in the millimeter range. This comprehensive approach has allowed for a more nuanced understanding of galaxy clusters, enhancing our ability to use them as probes for studying the Universe.
Secondly, our project has been pivotal in providing the first uniformly selected sample studies of the galaxy population in high-redshift clusters selected through their Intra-Cluster Medium (ICM) imprint. This has opened new avenues for exploring the early stages of galaxy cluster formation and the evolution of galaxies within these massive structures.
Lastly, we have made a landmark discovery by providing the first evidence of the formation of the intracluster medium (ICM) in a forming protocluster, including the most distant SZ detection to date. This finding is crucial as it sheds light on the early stages of cluster formation, offering valuable insights into the processes that govern the evolution of the Universe's most massive objects.
Here's an overview of the main results obtained within the ClustersXCosmo project:
"Euclid: Effects of sample covariance on the number counts of galaxy clusters?" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2021) explores the impact of shot-noise and sample variance on cosmological parameter constraints from cluster number counts in the Euclid survey. The study validates the analytical model for the covariance matrix, highlighting its importance in unbiased inference of cosmological parameters. [A&A 652, A21 (2021)]
"Galaxy populations in the most distant SPT-SZ clusters II. Galaxy structural properties in massive clusters at 1.4 ≤ z ≤ 1.7" by V. Strazzullo et al. (2023) examines structural properties of galaxy populations in the same clusters. It finds a significant morphology-density relation and discusses the implications for the correlation between structural and stellar population properties in these environments. [A&A 669, A131 (2023)]
"Cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations" by Priyanka Singh et al. (2020) explores the cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations using magneticum simulations. This study provides insights into the impact of various cosmological parameters on these relations and their implications for understanding the Universe's large-scale structure. [MNRAS 494, 3728–3740 (2020)]
"Combining Planck and SPT Cluster Catalogs: Cosmological Analysis and Impact on the Planck Scaling Relation Calibration" by L. Salvati et al. (2022) presents a combined cosmological analysis of the SPT and Planck cluster catalogs. This study aims to calibrate Planck scaling relations independently and discusses the implications for cosmological parameter constraints. [The Astrophysical Journal, 934:129 (2022)]
"Cosmological constraints from abundance, weak-lensing and clustering of galaxy clusters: application to the SDSS" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2023) demonstrates the potential of combining cluster counts, weak lensing, and clustering for cosmological parameter constraints. The study applies this approach to the redMaPPer cluster catalog from SDSS and discusses improvements in parameter constraints. [MNRAS submitted]
"Euclid preparation. XXVII. Covariance model validation for the 2-point correlation function of galaxy clusters" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2022) validates a model for the covariance of the 2-point correlation function of galaxy clusters in preparation for the Euclid survey. This study highlights the importance of accurately modeling clustering covariance for cosmological analyses. [Astronomy & Astrophysics submitted]
"Forming intracluster gas in a galaxyvprotocluster at a redshift of 2.16" by Di Mastolo et al. (2023) presents a pivotal discovery in the study of galaxy clusters, particularly focusing on the intracluster medium (ICM), a key baryonic component. This research reports the detection of the thermal Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect in the Spiderweb protocluster, located at a significant redshift of z = 2.156 or about 10 billion years ago. This landmark observation provides a direct view of the hot, thermalized cluster atmosphere during the epoch of the formation of the first massive clusters, revealing a nascent ICM that is dynamically active and consistent with being a precursor to a local galaxy cluster. [2023Natur.615..809D]
"Euclid: Effects of sample covariance on the number counts of galaxy clusters?" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2021) explores the impact of shot-noise and sample variance on cosmological parameter constraints from cluster number counts in the Euclid survey. The study validates the analytical model for the covariance matrix, highlighting its importance in unbiased inference of cosmological parameters. [A&A 652, A21 (2021)]
"Galaxy populations in the most distant SPT-SZ clusters II. Galaxy structural properties in massive clusters at 1.4 ≤ z ≤ 1.7" by V. Strazzullo et al. (2023) examines structural properties of galaxy populations in the same clusters. It finds a significant morphology-density relation and discusses the implications for the correlation between structural and stellar population properties in these environments. [A&A 669, A131 (2023)]
"Cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations" by Priyanka Singh et al. (2020) explores the cosmology dependence of galaxy cluster scaling relations using magneticum simulations. This study provides insights into the impact of various cosmological parameters on these relations and their implications for understanding the Universe's large-scale structure. [MNRAS 494, 3728–3740 (2020)]
"Combining Planck and SPT Cluster Catalogs: Cosmological Analysis and Impact on the Planck Scaling Relation Calibration" by L. Salvati et al. (2022) presents a combined cosmological analysis of the SPT and Planck cluster catalogs. This study aims to calibrate Planck scaling relations independently and discusses the implications for cosmological parameter constraints. [The Astrophysical Journal, 934:129 (2022)]
"Cosmological constraints from abundance, weak-lensing and clustering of galaxy clusters: application to the SDSS" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2023) demonstrates the potential of combining cluster counts, weak lensing, and clustering for cosmological parameter constraints. The study applies this approach to the redMaPPer cluster catalog from SDSS and discusses improvements in parameter constraints. [MNRAS submitted]
"Euclid preparation. XXVII. Covariance model validation for the 2-point correlation function of galaxy clusters" by A. Fumagalli et al. (2022) validates a model for the covariance of the 2-point correlation function of galaxy clusters in preparation for the Euclid survey. This study highlights the importance of accurately modeling clustering covariance for cosmological analyses. [Astronomy & Astrophysics submitted]
"Forming intracluster gas in a galaxyvprotocluster at a redshift of 2.16" by Di Mastolo et al. (2023) presents a pivotal discovery in the study of galaxy clusters, particularly focusing on the intracluster medium (ICM), a key baryonic component. This research reports the detection of the thermal Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect in the Spiderweb protocluster, located at a significant redshift of z = 2.156 or about 10 billion years ago. This landmark observation provides a direct view of the hot, thermalized cluster atmosphere during the epoch of the formation of the first massive clusters, revealing a nascent ICM that is dynamically active and consistent with being a precursor to a local galaxy cluster. [2023Natur.615..809D]
In the second 30 months of the project, the ClustersXCosmo team will be actively:
1) Analyze the largest cosmological hydro-dynamical simulations to characterize and test possible biases associated to our modelling and selection of galaxy clusters. We will use these state-of-the-art simulations to produce dedicated mock observations, that will mimic the entire observational strategy from cluster detection to cluster characterization and unveil possible hidden systematics;
2) Investigate the formation of the most distant clusters and proto-clusters. We will use multi-wavelength observations to characterize the galaxy population from the cluster centre to the cluster periphery in the most massive and distant clusters known. We will study the properties of the Intra-Cluster Medium up to the epoch of formation of the galaxy clusters;
3) We will used the two largest SZE-detected cluster catalogues (the one detected by the SPT SZE survey and the one detected by the ESA Planck Satellite) to obtain the first joint cosmological study of these complementary surveys.
4) We will do the first joint cluster cosmological analysis using state-of-the-art cluster catalogues detected in the millimetre wavelengths (from SPT) and in the optical/Near Infrared bands (from DES).
1) Analyze the largest cosmological hydro-dynamical simulations to characterize and test possible biases associated to our modelling and selection of galaxy clusters. We will use these state-of-the-art simulations to produce dedicated mock observations, that will mimic the entire observational strategy from cluster detection to cluster characterization and unveil possible hidden systematics;
2) Investigate the formation of the most distant clusters and proto-clusters. We will use multi-wavelength observations to characterize the galaxy population from the cluster centre to the cluster periphery in the most massive and distant clusters known. We will study the properties of the Intra-Cluster Medium up to the epoch of formation of the galaxy clusters;
3) We will used the two largest SZE-detected cluster catalogues (the one detected by the SPT SZE survey and the one detected by the ESA Planck Satellite) to obtain the first joint cosmological study of these complementary surveys.
4) We will do the first joint cluster cosmological analysis using state-of-the-art cluster catalogues detected in the millimetre wavelengths (from SPT) and in the optical/Near Infrared bands (from DES).