Precise measurements of galaxy cluster masses with astrophysical models

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14767
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 16010:Astronomy-related
• Research Institution: The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (2020-2023); National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Shirasaki Masato 統計数理研究所, 統計思考院, 助教 (70767821)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 銀河団

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Clusters of galaxies are the largest objects in the Universe, with their typical masses being 10 to the 15th power of the mass of the Sun. Because of their size exceeding one million light years, both the gravitational growth of mass density and the cosmic expansion are important in the formation of galaxy clusters. By detecting clusters of galaxies throughout the distant universe, we can investigate the formation process of clusters of galaxies and at the same time verify the physics of gravity and cosmic expansion. We have combined numerical simulations, semi-analytical models, and observational data to conduct several extensive studies of the formation process of galaxy clusters so far.

Free Research Field

観測的宇宙論

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

宇宙で一番大きな天体は、宇宙全体の小さなレプリカと考えられる。銀河団がどのように成長してきたかを調べることで、我々の住む宇宙をよりよく理解することができる。銀河団は、物質の重力成長、高温ガスからの高エネルギー放射、宇宙膨張による個数密度の進化、といったさまざまな物理過程が複雑に絡み合うおもしろい研究対象であり、本研究で行ったさまざまな研究成果は、銀河団の魅力を再確認する良い機会となる。