2025 Project Description

Bridging Optical and SZ Cluster Cosmology: A Multi-Wavelength Approach to Cluster Cosmology

Supervisors

Tomomi Sunayama
Find out more about supervisors on ASIAA website

Task Description and Goals

Galaxy clusters serve as a crucial cosmological probe, offering key insights into the nature of Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and General Relativity. Their abundance as a function of mass provides a powerful test of the ΛCDM model and the primordial matter distribution. However, different methods of cluster identification—such as optical, X-ray, and Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) detections—capture distinct physical aspects of clusters, leading to potential systematics in cosmological analyses. In this study, we will compare the properties of optically selected clusters with those identified through CMB-SZ observations, investigating their differences in mass-observable scaling relations and selection effects. By leveraging multi-wavelength data and theoretical modeling, we aim to improve the precision of cluster cosmology and enhance our understanding of the large-scale structure of the Universe.

Required Background

Strong programming skills and be proficient in Python, including experience with scientific computing libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib. Familiarity with data analysis and simulations is preferred but not mandatory.