Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

Galaxy Clusters and Cosmology with MUSTANG on the Green Bank Telescope

Mark Devlin

University of Pennsylvania

Clusters of Galaxies are the largest gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe. They form via mergers with energetics that are only rivaled by the Big Bang. The study of these objects and collisions can reveal the complex processes that govern the interactions. Observations at 90 GHz with the MUSTANG instrument on the 100 meter Green Bank Telescope provide high (9") resolution of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect inside the clusters. Initial observations with the MUSTANG instrument have yielded very promising results. The new MUSTANG2 instrument will begin observations in 2014. With the ability to measure clusters down to 1 x 10¹⁴ M_solar in only a few hours, MUSTANG2 will be able to map all observable clusters from PLANCK and ACT. MUSTANG2 will also be a valuable follow-up tool for eROSITA clusters.