Collaborative Research: Constraining galaxy cluster merger dynamics with hydrodynamical simulations and novel multi-probe observations of 10 objects

合作研究：通过流体动力学模拟和对 10 个天体的新颖多探测器观测来约束星系团合并动力学

• 批准号: 2206083
• 负责人: John ZuHone
• 金额: $ 13.01万
• 依托单位: Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2206083&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Constraining; galaxy; cluster

Clusters of galaxies are key players in unraveling the mysteries behind galaxy formation and evolution, and understanding such mysteries is necessary to uncover how our Universe evolved and to learn how our own Milky Way Galaxy began. The goal of this project is to better understand the primary growth mechanism of the largest bound objects in our Universe: major mergers between galaxy clusters of similar masses. Deep, multi-probe observational data and advanced hydrodynamical computer simulations are required. This project aims to significantly advance our knowledge through the study of ten galaxy clusters. This project will also strengthen the US science workforce by directly training a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher in general and computational astrophysics. Project plans also include a vigorous education and public outreach program. Specifically, the investigators will advance discovery and understanding via regular visits to Gabrielino High School (San Gabriel, CA); broaden participation of underrepresented groups by hosting students from Gabrielino High School via the Summer Research Connection at Caltech, as well as undergraduates from colleges around Eastern Massashuetts via the Latino Initiative Program at the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory; and enhance infrastructure for research and education by accessing the demonstration resources available from Caltech for visits to Gabrielino High School. The analysis will focus on ten objects that have gravitational lensing models from Hubble Space Telescope to map the plane-of-sky (POS) projected total mass density; X-ray spectroscopic imaging to map the POS ICM emissivity and temperature; cluster-member spectroscopy to map the line of sight (LOS) velocity of the dark matter; and Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect data to map the LOS velocity and projected density of the ICM. The investigators will have complete information about the POS morphology and LOS velocity of both the dark matter and the ICM gas. They will compare with mock observations of custom hydrodynamical merger simulations produced specifically for this project. The end result will be a robust constraint on the merger geometry of each galaxy cluster in their sample that will enable a search for new dynamical processes and an assessment of population statistics for the sample.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

星系团是揭开星系形成和演化背后的奥秘的关键参与者，了解这些奥秘对于揭示我们的宇宙如何演化以及了解我们自己的银河系如何开始是必要的。该项目的目标是更好地了解原始星系。宇宙中最大束缚物体的生长机制：需要深层、多探测器观测数据和先进的流体动力学计算机模拟，该项目旨在通过研究显着推进我们的知识。该项目还将通过直接培训研究生和博士后研究员来加强美国的科学队伍，并且计算天体物理学项目计划还包括一项积极的教育和公共推广计划。具体来说，研究人员将通过以下方式促进发现和理解。定期访问加布里埃利诺高中（加利福尼亚州圣加布里埃尔），通过加州理工学院的暑期研究连接接待来自加布里埃利诺高中的学生，并通过加州理工学院的拉丁裔倡议计划接待来自东马萨诸塞州周边大学的本科生，以扩大代表性不足群体的参与；史密森学会天体物理观测站；并通过访问加州理工学院提供的参观加布里利诺高中的演示资源来加强研究和教育基础设施。该分析将重点关注具有哈勃太空望远镜引力透镜模型的十个天体，以绘制天体图。天空（POS）投影总质量密度；绘制 POS ICM 发射率和温度的星团成员光谱；以及用于绘制 ICM 的 LOS 速度和投影密度的 Sunyaev-Zel'dovich 效应数据将获得有关暗物质和 ICM 气体的 POS 形态和 LOS 速度的完整信息。他们将与定制的模拟观测结果进行比较。专门为此项目制作的流体动力学合并模拟，最终结果将是对其样本中每个星系团的合并几何形状的强大约束，这将有助于寻找新的动力学过程并评估样本的总体统计数据。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。