Invited Presentation

High Resolution Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect Studies: Past, Present, & Future

Author(s): Brian Mason (NRAO)

Presenter: Brian Mason (NRAO)

Advances in instrumentation over the past 15 years have made possible for the first time detailed imaging of the Sunaev-Zel'dovich Effect (SZE) in clusters of galaxies. These images complement traditional x-ray tracers by their different dependence on gas density and temperature; in particular, the SZE is an excellent means to detect and measure the properties of hot thermal gas. In addition the SZE is unaffected by cosmological surface brightness dimming, making it an excellent tool to study the properties of clusters at high redshift which are otherwise difficult and expensive to study.

For the past several years the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) has been used in a campaign of detailed (10") imaging of the SZE in galaxy clusters using the MUSTANG bolometer array. I will present results from a campaign of observations targeting the CLASH cluster sample, including the discovery or confirmation of several previously unknown or uncertain ICM shocks, and ICM pressure profile measurements obtained by combining MUSTANG and BOLOCAM. A more sensitive MUSTANG-2 camera has recently been commissioned on the GBT, with 210 feeds and a considerably larger (4') field of view. MUSTANG-2 is carrying out a variety of science observations, including SZE.

The exquisite surface brightness sensitivity of the Band 1 receivers on a compact ALMA will enable 5" - 10" imaging of the SZE in only an hour or two, making it possible to study larger samples of objects and to search for more subtle astrophysical effects. I will give an overview of the exciting science we can expect to be enabled by this capability.