The Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect as a cosmological discriminator

We show how future measurements of the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect (SZE) can be used to constrain the cosmological parameters. We combine the SZ information expected from the Planck full-sky survey, N ( S ), where no redshift information is included, with the N ( z ) obtained from an optically identified SZ-selected survey covering less than 1 per cent of the sky. We demonstrate how with a small subsample (≈300 clusters) of the whole SZ catalogue observed optically it is possible to reduce the degeneracy among the cosmological parameters drastically. We have studied the requirements for performing the optical follow-up and we show the feasibility of such a project. Finally, we have compared the cluster expectations for Planck with those expected for Newton–XMM during their lifetimes. It is shown that, owing to its larger sky coverage, Planck will detect a factor of ∼5 times more clusters than Newton–XMM and also provide a larger redshift coverage.     

Constraining the cosmological baryon density with X-ray clusters

We study the properties of X-ray galaxy clusters in four cold dark matter models with different baryon fractions Ω_BM, ranging from 5 to 20 per cent. By using an original three-dimensional hydrodynamic code based on the piecewise parabolic method, we run simulations on a box with a size of 64  h ⁻¹ Mpc and we identify the clusters by selecting the peaks in the X-ray luminosity field. We analyse these mock catalogues by computing the mass function, the luminosity function, the temperature distribution and the luminosity–temperature relation. By comparing the predictions of the different models to a series of recent observational results, we find that only the models with low baryonic content agree with the data, while models with larger baryon fraction are well outside the 1σ error bars. In particular, the analysis of the luminosity functions, both bolometric and in the energy band [0.5–2] keV, requires Ω_BM ≲ 0.05 when we fix the values h  = 0.5 and n  = 0.8 for the Hubble parameter and the primordial spectral index, respectively. Moreover we find that, independently of the cosmological scenario, all the considered quantities have very little redshift evolution, particularly between z  = 0.5 and 0.     

The clustering of galaxy clusters in cosmological models with non-Gaussian initial conditions: predictions for future surveys

We predict the biasing and clustering properties of galaxy clusters that are expected to be observed in the catalogues produced by two forthcoming X-ray and Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect surveys. We study a set of flat cosmological models where the primordial density probability distribution shows deviations from Gaussianity in agreement with current observational bounds form the background radiation. We consider both local and equilateral shapes for the primordial bispectrum in non-Gaussian models. The two catalogues investigated are those produced by the e ROSITA wide survey and from a survey based on South Pole Telescope observations. It turns out that both the bias and observed power spectrum of galaxy clusters are severely affected in non-Gaussian models with local shape of the primordial bispectrum, especially at large scales. On the other hand, models with equilateral shape of the primordial bispectrum show only a mild effect at all scales, that is difficult to be detected with clustering observations. Between the two catalogues, the one performing better is the e ROSITA one, since it contains only the largest masses that are more sensitive to primordial non-Gaussianity.     

The spherical infall model in a cosmological background density field

We discuss the influence of the cosmological background density field on the spherical infall model. The spherical infall model has been used in the PressSchechter formalism to evaluate the number abundance of clusters of galaxies, as well as to determine the density parameter of the Universe from the infalling flow. Therefore, the understanding of collapse dynamics plays a key role for extracting cosmological information. Here, we consider a modified version of the spherical infall model. We derive the mean field equations from the Newtonian fluid equations, in which the influence of cosmological background inhomogeneity is incorporated into the averaged quantities as the backreaction . By calculating the averaged quantities explicitly, we obtain simple expressions and find that, in the case of a scale-free power spectrum, density fluctuations with a negative spectral index make the infalling velocities slow. This suggests that we underestimate the density parameter when using the simple spherical infall model. In cases with the index n >0, the effect of background inhomogeneity could be negligible and the spherical infall model becomes a good approximation for infalling flows. We also present a realistic example with a cold dark matter power spectrum. In this case, the mean infall tends to be slow owing to the anisotropic random velocity.     

Radio signature of cosmological structure formation shocks

In the course of the formation of cosmological structures, large shock waves are generated in the intracluster medium (ICM). In analogy to processes in supernova remnants, these shock waves may generate a significant population of relativistic electrons which, in turn, produce observable synchrotron emission. The extended radio relics found at the periphery of several clusters and possibly also a fraction of radio halo emission may have this origin. Here, we derive an analytic expression for (i) the total radio power in the downstream region of a cosmological shock wave, and (ii) the width of the radio-emitting region. These expressions predict a spectral slope close to −1 for strong shocks. Moderate shocks, such as those produced in mergers between clusters of galaxies, lead to a somewhat steeper spectrum. Moreover, we predict an upper limit for the radio power of cosmological shocks. Comparing our results to the radio relics in Abell 115, 2256 and 3667, we conclude that the magnetic field in these relics is typically at a level of 0.1 μG. Magnetic fields in the ICM are presumably generated by the shocks themselves; this allows us to calculate the radio emission as a function of the cluster temperature. The resulting emissions agree very well with the radio power–temperature relation found for cluster haloes. Finally, we show that cosmic accretion shocks generate less radio emission than merger shock waves. The latter may, however, be detected with upcoming radio telescopes.     

An MHD gadget for cosmological simulations

Various radio observations have shown that the hot atmospheres of galaxy clusters are magnetized. However, our understanding of the origin of these magnetic fields, their implications on structure formation and their interplay with the dynamics of the cluster atmosphere, especially in the centres of galaxy clusters, is still very limited. In preparation for the upcoming new generation of radio telescopes (like Expanded Very Large Array, Low Wavelength Array, Low Frequency Array and Square Kilometer Array), a huge effort is being made to learn more about cosmological magnetic fields from the observational perspective. Here we present the implementation of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in the cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code gadget . We discuss the details of the implementation and various schemes to suppress numerical instabilities as well as regularization schemes, in the context of cosmological simulations. The performance of the SPH–MHD code is demonstrated in various one- and two-dimensional test problems, which we performed with a fully, three-dimensional set-up to test the code under realistic circumstances. Comparing solutions obtained using athena , we find excellent agreement with our SPH–MHD implementation. Finally, we apply our SPH–MHD implementation to galaxy cluster formation within a large, cosmological box. Performing a resolution study we demonstrate the robustness of the predicted shape of the magnetic field profiles in galaxy clusters, which is in good agreement with previous studies.     

Globular clusters and the Mira period–luminosity relation

A globular cluster distance scale based on Hipparcos parallaxes of subdwarfs has been used to derive estimates of M _K for cluster Miras, including one in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) globular cluster NGC 121. These lead to a zero-point of the Mira infrared period–luminosity (PL) relation, PL( K ), in good agreement with that derived from Hipparcos parallaxes of nearby field Miras. The mean of these two estimates together with data on LMC Miras yields a Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) distance modulus of     in evident agreement with a metallicity-corrected Cepheid modulus     .
The use of luminous asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars as extragalactic population indicators is also discussed.     

Deep low-frequency observations with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope: a search for relic radio emission

We present deep multifrequency observations using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 153, 244, 610 and 1260 MHz of a field centred on J0916+6348, to search for evidence of fossil radio lobes which could be due to an earlier cycle of episodic activity of the parent galaxy, as well as haloes and relics in clusters of galaxies. We do not find any unambiguous evidence of episodic activity in a list of 374 sources, suggesting that such activity is rare even in relatively deep low-frequency observations. We examine the spectra of all the sources by combining our observations with those from the Westerbork Northern Sky Survey (WENSS), NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatories) VLA (Very Large Array) Sky Survey (NVSS) and the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters Survey (FIRST). Considering only those which have measurements at a minimum of three different frequencies, we find that almost all sources are consistent with a straight spectrum with a median spectral index,  α∼ 0.8 [S(ν) ∝ν^−α  ], which appears steeper than theoretical expectations of the injection spectral index. We identify 14 very steep-spectrum sources with  α≥ 1.3  . We examine their optical fields and discuss the nature of some of these sources.     

X-ray and optical-to-infrared follow-up observations of the transient X-ray burster SAX J1810.8–2609

We have performed a ROSAT follow-up observation of the X-ray transient SAX J1810.8–2609 on 1998 March 24 and detected a bright X-ray source (named RX J1810.7–2609) which was not detected during the ROSAT all-sky survey in September 1990. Optical-to-infrared follow-up observations of the 10" radius ROSAT HRI X-ray error box revealed one variable object ( R =19.5±0.5 on March 13, R >21.5 on 1998 August 27) which we tentatively propose as the optical/IR counterpart of RX J1810.7–2609≡SAX J1810.8–2609.     

Suzaku observations of clusters of galaxies

We review results of Suzaku observations of the intracluster medium of clusters of galaxies whose O, Mg, Si, S and Fe abundances have been measured with good accuracy due to the good energy resolution and low background. Metal massto‐light ratios were derived and we will discuss the origin of the metals. We also review the results of the search for bulk motion and hard X‐ray emission. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Mattig's relation and dynamical distance indicators

We discuss how the redshift (Mattig) method in the Friedmann cosmology relates to dynamical distance indicators based on Newton's gravity (Teerikorpi 2011). It belongs to the class of indicators where the relevant length inside the system is the distance itself (in this case the proper metric distance). As the Friedmann model has a Newtonian analogy, its use to infer distances has instructive similarities to classical dynamical distance indicators. In view of the theoretical exact linear distance‐velocity law, we emphasize that it is conceptually correct to derive the cosmological distance via the route: redshift (primarily observed) → space expansion velocity (not directly observed) → metric distance (physical length in “cm”). Important properties of the proper metric distance are summarized. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)