The course will cover the fundamental physics of galaxy clusters, including (but not limited to) the different components that constitute a cluster, the physical processes responsible for emission at different wavelengths and how observers study them, and the effects that clusters have on the galaxies that inhabit them.
After successful completion of the module:
- Students will have a basic understanding of the components that comprise a galaxy cluster
- Students will be familiar with active research topics in the field, including thermal and non-thermal emission mechanisms and how astronomers study clusters
- Students will understand how living in a cluster affects the evolution of galaxies
- Students are able to recognise connections between plasma physics and astrophysics
As there is no comprehensive textbook on galaxy clusters, no particular recommendation can be made, although several relevant review papers will be made available (in electronic form) to all registered course attendees) and the lecture notes will be made available online. Some familiarity with observational astronomy and plasma physics will be helpful as basic knowledge, as well as radio astronomy, X-ray astronomy and extragalactic astronomy generally.
- Kursleiter/in: Christopher Riseley