OKC colloquia

Using Galaxy Clusters as a Dark Energy Probe

by Chris Lidman (European Southern Observatory)

Europe/Stockholm
FB55

FB55

Description
Galaxy clusters are the most massive virialised structures in the Universe. Their number density depends on both the geometry of the Universe and the rate at which structure grows. Galaxy clusters are also rich in relatively dust-free, early-type galaxies, which are known to host only Type Ia supernovae. Evidence from several surveys now suggest that Type Ia supernovae hosted by early-type galaxies are better standard candles than Type Ia supernovae hosted by galaxies of other types. In this talk I will describe how clusters can be used as a dark energy probe, both through the number density of clusters and the through the Type Ia supernovae that can be found in them.