A Survey of Optical Cluster Surveys

Galaxy clusters, as the largest peaks in the cosmic density field, play an important role in astrophysics and cosmology.  As the most dramatic features of large-scale structure, the abundance of clusters provides a key opportunity to test our understanding of structure formation and cosmic expansion history.  In recent years, observational astrophysics has been revolutionized by large surveys, yielding large optical cluster catalogs allowing for precision tracking of the growth of structure.  I look at the past (Sloan Digital Sky Survey), present (Dark Energy Survey), and future (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) of large surveys in the context of optical clusters and luminous red galaxies. In particular, I will discuss several of the challenges for achieving the required calibration uniformity and galaxy detection efficiency for precise photometric redshift measurements and mass estimation made possible by the redMaPPer cluster finder and redMaGiC red galaxy selection algorithm.

Speaker: Eli Rykoff, SLAC

Building 048, Madrone Conference Room