The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and cosmology
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The largest clusters of galaxies are made up of thousands of individual galaxies, and are the most massive gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe. The mass that binds the clusters together is principally provided by dark matter, but a significant component, and the dominant component of 'ordinary matter' is in hot gas which is bound to the cluster by the gravitational field. The hot gas is most easily seen through its X-ray emission, which is mapped by satellite observatories such as Chandra and XMM-Newton, but can also be detected by its effect on radio waves passing through the cluster. Collisions between electrons in the cluster gas and photons in the radiation field heat up the photons, and cause the intensity of radio waves seen through the cluster to appear different from radio waves that are seen in other directions. This effect, the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, can be seen by looking at the almost-uniform cosmic microwave background radiation, which is the left-over thermal radiation from an early, hot, phase of the Universe and has almost the same brightness in all directions on the sky, except where the radiation comes through clusters of galaxies. The purpose of this research programme is to measure the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effects of a large number of clusters of galaxies, and to use the measurements to study the structures of the atmospheres of the clusters. Comparisons of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effects and the X-rays from clusters can tell us about the ratio of hot gas to dark matter that they contain. If this ratio changes with redshift, then we learn something about how clusters of galaxies form. A different comparison of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and X-ray data can be used to measure the distances of clusters of galaxies. This is interesting because the way that distance changes with redshift (which measures the amount that the Universe has expanded) can tell us what the Universe as a whole is made of - and can test some ideas about the mysterious 'dark energy' that is thought to be responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the Universe.
Organisations
- University of Bristol (Lead Research Organisation)
- California Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- The Open University (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- Saclay Nuclear Research Centre (Collaboration)
- Leiden University (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (Collaboration)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (Collaboration)
- Joint Astronomy Centre (Collaboration)
- Academia Sinica (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- McGill University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- University of Sussex (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- University of Toronto (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Collaboration)
Publications
Gandhi P
(2011)
Diffraction-Limited Subaru Imaging of M 82: Sharp Mid-Infrared View of the Starburst Core *
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
Gawronski M
(2011)
Sources in VSA fields at 30 GHz
in VizieR on-line data catalog
Gawronski M
(2010)
30 GHz observations of sources in the Very Small Array fields 30 GHz observations of sources in VSA fields
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gawronski MP
(2010)
Radio detection of V407 Cyg at 30 GHz with OCRA-p on the Torun telescope
in The Astronomer's Telegram
González-Nuevo J
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: Blazars in the science demonstration phase field
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Goodger J
(2010)
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE DYNAMICS AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION OF KNOTS IN THE JET OF CENTAURUS A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hafez Y
(2008)
Radio source calibration for the Very Small Array and other cosmic microwave background instruments at around 30 GHz
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ho P
(2009)
THE YUAN-TSEH LEE ARRAY FOR MICROWAVE BACKGROUND ANISOTROPY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ho Paul T. P.
(2008)
The Yuan Tseh Lee AMiBA project
in MODERN PHYSICS LETTERS A
Huang C
(2010)
AMiBA: SCALING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE INTEGRATED COMPTON- y AND X-RAY-DERIVED TEMPERATURE, MASS, AND LUMINOSITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | This grant helped develop methods for extracting measurements of faint continuum signals from a new multi-beam receiver mounted at the 32-m telescope at the Torun observatory, and from the platform-mounted AMiBA telescope on Mauna Loa, Hawaii. The signals extracted from those telescopes in our observations (made in collaboration with the owners of the observatories, and so training staff in Taipei and Torun) were used to measure the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effects from clusters of galaxies. The faint radio "shadows" can be used to measure the amount of energy contained in the gas held within the clusters, and hence to investigate how clusters of galaxies form, and to measure cosmological parameters that determine how the Universe evolves and what the Universe contains. |
| Exploitation Route | Further X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich measurements of these clusters can be used to improve our measurements of cosmological parameters, and to calibrate the scaling relations used to connect cosmological modelling to cluster observations. Gravitational lens measurements provide a way of testing our mass measurements, or measuring the 3-D properties of the clusters. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Other |
| Description | Decision making for Heveliusz radio telescope. |
| Sector | Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Operating grant (Poland) |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Committee for Scientific Research - Poland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Poland |
| Start | 09/2007 |
| End | 08/2011 |
| Description | AMiBA collaboration |
| Organisation | Academia Sinica |
| Department | Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
| Country | Taiwan, Province of China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Diagnosis of issues in the design of AMiBA, suggestions for solutions, close collaboration on data analysis, co-authorship of papers (including much revision of English), design of some observing campaigns. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to AMiBA, access to Subaru, travel and subsistence expenses in Hilo and Taipei. |
| Impact | Multiple publications; large number of PhD students in Taipei trained on project. |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | California Institute of Technology |
| Department | Caltech Astronomy |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Astrophysics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Joint Astronomy Centre |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Leiden University |
| Department | Leiden Observatory |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Department | Max Planck Institute for Astronomy |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | McGill University |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics |
| Country | Mexico |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Open University |
| Department | School of Physical Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Mullard Space Science Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of British Columbia |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Institute of Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Institute for Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Groningen |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Department | Astronomy Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | H-ATLAS |
| Organisation | University of Toronto |
| Department | Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; follow-up observing and interpretation; paper editing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Primary observing set-up; data analysis; science analysis; catalogue and image preparation; paper writing and editing. |
| Impact | Many papers; those in which we had a substantive role are given in the publications section. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | OCRA collaboration |
| Organisation | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun |
| Department | Torun Observatory |
| Country | Poland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of data and diagnosis of issues with operation of telescope and receiver; assistance with proposals for funding in Poland, including for new 90-m telescope; interpretation of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect data; interpretation of X-ray data; paper authorships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific collaboration, construction of OCRA receivers |
| Impact | Multiple papers (see publication list). Experience in operating receivers of Planck style. Experience with snags arising from MMIC technology. |
| Description | OCRA collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of data and diagnosis of issues with operation of telescope and receiver; assistance with proposals for funding in Poland, including for new 90-m telescope; interpretation of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect data; interpretation of X-ray data; paper authorships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific collaboration, construction of OCRA receivers |
| Impact | Multiple papers (see publication list). Experience in operating receivers of Planck style. Experience with snags arising from MMIC technology. |
| Description | S2CLS |
| Organisation | McGill University |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Science analysis; proposal writing and editing; observing |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis and catalogue creation; observing set-up and observing; science analysis; proposal writing |
| Impact | Main outputs in which we will be co-authors not yet generated. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | XMM-LSS collaboration |
| Organisation | Saclay Nuclear Research Centre |
| Department | Service d'Astrophysique |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-authored multiple papers and proposals; performed first SZ observations of sample clusters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to XMM-LSS datasets, pipeline analysis of datasets that allowed sekection of high-redshift clusters for follow-up research. |
| Impact | Multiple publications on cosmology and astrophysics; development of concept for future surveys. |
| Description | Public lectures and science cafes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Multiple public talks to astronomy societies and other organisations, also Science Cafes and other groups (e.g., Anglo-Polish society). Activities tended to go on to time limit because of question-and-answer sessions, and have generated eMail questions after the fact from attendees. Continued requests for talks and other contacts based on experiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Radio interview (BBC Radio Bristol; BBC Radio 4; BBC Radio Scotland) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Contacts from regional amateur astronomers, and astronomical societies. Talks to local societies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Researcher in residence (local schools) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Classes of students from primary to sixth-form level were given presentations about astrophysics and cosmology, including the results from this work, with question-and-answer feedback. Multiple requests for repeat. Contacts requesting placements in Group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |