From Paterno-Mahler et al. 2013
I use X-ray observations to examine the physics of the intracluster medium (ICM), as well as how the central AGN and the ICM affect each other. These observations can also be used to measure the mass of the cluster, which is important for cosmology.
Credit: E. Blanton
Bent, double-lobed AGN are often found in galaxy clusters that span a wide range of mass and morphologies. Thus, these objects can be used to find new, high-redshift clusters. Using this technique we have identified 300 potential new high-redshift clusters.
Bent, double-lobed AGN are often found in galaxy clusters that span a wide range of mass and morphologies. Thus, these objects can be used to find new, high-redshift clusters. Using this technique we have identified 300 potential new high-redshift clusters.
Credit: NASA/ESA/HST Frontier Fields Team (STScI)
Gravitational lensing is caused by the bending of background light as it travels around a massive structure, such as a galaxy cluster. Strong lensing causes the arcs that can be seen in the image. The image positions can be used to construct the potential of the cluster, which provides information about the cluster’s mass. This can be compared with the mass calculated using X-ray observations.