Baryon Census from Galaxy Clusters down to Galaxies

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Klaus Dolag, since 1/2021
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 415510302

Being the largest gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe, and containing a fair sample of all its main constituents, clusters of galaxies are optimal targets for cosmological studies as well as for investigating the formation and evolution of cosmic structures. In fact, they host the interplay among several physical processes driving the evolution of diffuse baryons and galaxies as well as their mutual interaction. Especially when observed at X-ray wavelengths, the hot, diffuse intracluster gas (ICM) filling their potential well allows us to infer valuable information on the intrinsic matter content, dynamical and evolutionary status, and on the global thermal and chemical properties. Up-coming X-ray missions with unprecendented high spectral resolution, like Athena, or surveys with large spatial coverage and able to reach high redshifts, like eRosita, will provide us with valuable information on the status of the gas and help interpreting the signatures of structure evolution, for large sample of clusters up to the epoch of cluster formation. To keep the pace with these expected observational improvements, advanced numerical simulations including the proper description of a large variety of physical processes involved in cluster formation are definitely required, and virtual observations therefrom derived are the best tool to compare numerical predictions with the observational findings.In this framework, we propose to perform and analyse advanced cosmological, hydrodynamical simulations of cosmological volumes containing massive galaxy clusters and galaxies. Also, we plan to include in our study constrained simulations of well-known clusters in the local Universe, to be compared with the corresponding real counterparts. This will enable us to pursue forefront studies on large-scale structures, galaxy clusters and galaxies, with a so-far unaccomplished accuracy. Will will target especially the interaction between cluster galaxies and the ICM, the main feedback mechanisms, both thermal and chemical, the dynamics of the gas and the relation to global properties and mass, and the expected X-ray properties of diffuse gas in both cluster and around single galaxies, within clusters and in the field.X-ray observational-like quantities will be computed through the application of our X-ray photon simulator (PHOX) to the numerical simulations, with the purpose of reproducing data in a fashion similar to X-ray current and up-coming instruments, like Chandra, eRosita and Athena. This will allow a much closer comparison with observations and will shed new light on the dynamics and evolution of such cosmological structures and the physical processes involved.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Italy
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Stefano Borgani
• Ehemalige Antragstellerin: Dr. Veronica Biffi, until 12/2020