Related papers: Galaxy clusters, type Ia supernovae and the fine s…
The large-number hypothesis conjectures that fundamental constants may vary. Accordingly, the spacetime variation of fundamental constants has been an active subject of research for decades. Recently, using data obtained with large…
We propose an improved methodology to constrain spatial variations of the fine structure constant using clusters of galaxies. We use the {\it Planck} 2013 data to measure the thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect at the location of 618 X-ray…
X-ray and Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect observations can be combined to measure the distance to clusters of galaxies. If the intracluster gas distribution is not spherical, but elongated by a factor of Z along the line of sight, the inferred…
We propose a new method to use the kinematic Sunyaev-Zeldovich for measuring the baryon fraction in cluster of galaxies. In this proposal we need a configuration in which a supernova Type Ia resides in a brightest cluster galaxy of…
We determine the distance to 38 clusters of galaxies in the redshift range 0.14 < z < 0.89 using X-ray data from Chandra and Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect data from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory and the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland…
Measurements of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (S-Z) effect towards distant clusters of galaxies can be used to determine the Hubble constant and the radial component of cluster peculiar velocities. Determination of the cluster peculiar velocity…
We demonstrate that constraints on cosmological parameters from the distribution of clusters as a function of redshift (dN/dz) are complementary to accurate angular diameter distance (D_A) measurements to clusters, and their combination…
We present results from a deep Chandra observation of MS1137.5+66, a distant (z=0.783) and massive cluster of galaxies. Only a few similarly massive clusters are currently known at such high redshifts; accordingly, this observation provides…
An important result from self-similar models that describe the process of galaxy cluster formation is the simple scaling relation $Y_{\rm SZE}D_{\rm A}^{2}/C_{\rm XSZE}Y_{\rm X}= C$. In this ratio, $Y_{\rm SZE}$ is the integrated…
It is now well known that a combined analysis of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect and the X-ray emission observations can be used to determine the angular diameter distance to galaxy clusters, from which the Hubble constant is derived.…
We study the detailed evolution of the fine-structure constant $\alpha$ in the string-inspired runaway dilaton class of models of Damour, Piazza and Veneziano. We provide constraints on this scenario using the most recent $\alpha$…
A method offering an order of magnitude sensitivity gain is described for using quasar spectra to investigate possible time or space variation in the fine structure constant, alpha. Applying the technique to a sample of 30 absorption…
In this letter we propose a new and model-independent cosmological test for the distance-duality (DD) relation, \eta=D_{L}(z)(1+z)^{-2}/D_{A}(z)=1, where D_{L} and D_{A} are, respectively, the luminosity and angular diameter distances. For…
Galaxy clusters are not iso-thermal, and the radial temperature dependence will affect the cluster parameters derived through the observation of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect. We show that the derived peculiar velocity will be…
Observations of the redshift z=7.085 quasar J1120+0641 have been used to search for variations of the fine structure constant, alpha, over the redshift range 5.5 to 7.1. Observations at z=7.1 probe the physics of the universe when it was…
The fine structure constant, $\alpha$, sets the strength of the electromagnetic force. The Standard Model of particle physics provides no explanation for its value, which could potentially vary. The wavelengths of stellar absorption lines…
Future high-resolution microwave background measurements hold the promise of detecting galaxy clusters throughout our Hubble volume through their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) signature, down to a given limiting flux. The number density of galaxy…
The cosmic distance duality relation (DDR), which connects the angular diameter distance and luminosity distance through a simple formula $D_A(z)(1+z)^2/D_L(z)\equiv1$, is an important relation in cosmology. Therefore, testing the validity…
We describe the results of a search for time variability of the fine structure constant, alpha, using absorption systems in the spectra of distant quasars. Three large optical datasets and two 21cm/mm absorption systems provide four…
We present constraints on cosmological parameters based on a sample of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich-selected galaxy clusters detected in a millimeter-wave survey by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. The cluster sample used in this analysis consists of…