Institute for Advanced Study Astrophysics Seminar

ABSTRACT: Galaxy clusters are among the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe, whose formation is driven by dark energy and dark matter. The majority of the baryonic mass in clusters resides in the hot X-ray emitting plasma, which also leaves imprints in the cosmic microwave background radiation. Recent X-ray and microwave observations have revealed detailed thermodynamic structure of the hot X-ray emitting plasma from their cores to the virial radii, making comparisons of baryonic component in simulations to observations a strong cosmological probe. In this talk, I will review recent advances in our understanding of cluster astrophysics and discuss future prospects, opportunities and challenges for the use of galaxy clusters as a precision cosmological probe.