TY - JOUR
T1 - Constraints in cosmological parameter space from the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect and thermal bremsstrahlung
AU - Molnar, S. M.
AU - Birkinshaw, M.
AU - Mushotzky, R. F.
PY - 2002/5/1
Y1 - 2002/5/1
N2 - We discuss how the space of possible cosmological parameters is constrained by the angular diameter distance function DA(z) as measured using the SZ/X-ray method, which combines the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect and X-ray brightness data for clusters of galaxies. New X-ray satellites and ground-based interferometers dedicated to SZ observations should soon lead to DA(z) measurements limited by systematic rather than random error. We analyze the systematic and random error budgets to make a realistic estimate of the accuracy achievable in the determination of (Ω m, ΩΛ, h), the density parameters of matter and cosmological constant, and the dimensionless Hubble constant, using D A(z) derived from the SZ/X-ray method and the position of the first "Doppler" peak in the cosmic microwave background fluctuations. We briefly study the effect of systematic errors. We find that Ω m, ΩΛ, and w are affected, but h is not, by systematic errors that grow with redshift. With as few as 70 clusters, each providing a measurement of DA(z) with a 7% random and 5% systematic error, Ωm can be constrained to ±0.2, Ω Λ to ±0.2, and h to ±0.11 (all at 3 σ). We also estimate constraints for the alternative three-parameter set (Ωm, w, h), where w is the equation-of-state parameter. The measurement of DA(z) provides constraints complementary to those from the number density of clusters in redshift space. A sample of 70 clusters (DA measured with the same accuracy as before) combined with cluster evolution results (or a known matter density) can constrain w within ±0.45 (at 3 σ). Studies of X-ray and SZ properties of clusters of galaxies promise an independent and powerful test for cosmological parameters.
AB - We discuss how the space of possible cosmological parameters is constrained by the angular diameter distance function DA(z) as measured using the SZ/X-ray method, which combines the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect and X-ray brightness data for clusters of galaxies. New X-ray satellites and ground-based interferometers dedicated to SZ observations should soon lead to DA(z) measurements limited by systematic rather than random error. We analyze the systematic and random error budgets to make a realistic estimate of the accuracy achievable in the determination of (Ω m, ΩΛ, h), the density parameters of matter and cosmological constant, and the dimensionless Hubble constant, using D A(z) derived from the SZ/X-ray method and the position of the first "Doppler" peak in the cosmic microwave background fluctuations. We briefly study the effect of systematic errors. We find that Ω m, ΩΛ, and w are affected, but h is not, by systematic errors that grow with redshift. With as few as 70 clusters, each providing a measurement of DA(z) with a 7% random and 5% systematic error, Ωm can be constrained to ±0.2, Ω Λ to ±0.2, and h to ±0.11 (all at 3 σ). We also estimate constraints for the alternative three-parameter set (Ωm, w, h), where w is the equation-of-state parameter. The measurement of DA(z) provides constraints complementary to those from the number density of clusters in redshift space. A sample of 70 clusters (DA measured with the same accuracy as before) combined with cluster evolution results (or a known matter density) can constrain w within ±0.45 (at 3 σ). Studies of X-ray and SZ properties of clusters of galaxies promise an independent and powerful test for cosmological parameters.
KW - Cosmological parameters
KW - Cosmology: theory
KW - Galaxies: clusters: general
KW - X-rays: galaxies: clusters
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0011177945&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/339568
DO - 10.1086/339568
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:0011177945
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 570
SP - 1
EP - 16
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 1 I
ER -