Collaborative Research: Redshift Measurements of the Swift Serendipitous Cluster Survey

河外天文学的主要目标之一是了解宇宙时间内结构的形成和演化。星系团是宇宙中最大的引力束缚结构，因此更好地了解它们的形成和演化可以加深对宇宙物理学的了解。然而，为了全面探索星团的物理和演化，需要协调的多波长活动：虽然X射线望远镜的观测在发现星团方面非常出色，但光学望远镜的后续观测对于测量它们与我们的距离至关重要。这个合作项目将使用密歇根-达特茅斯-麻省理工学院（MDM）2.4米，麦哲伦和大双筒望远镜（LBT）光学天文台来测量红移和X射线快速偶然星团巡天（SSCS）中确定的星团距离。该计划将产生迄今为止最大的X射线选择星团目录之一，并提供给整个天文学界。由于这项工作，增加了高红移星系团的数量，这将使我们更好地理解星系团性质在宇宙时间内的演变。该团队还将研究作为红移函数的星系团的光学和X射线性质之间的关系。最后，他们将使用样本来约束宇宙学参数，例如暗物质和暗能量的能量密度。此次合作的两位首席研究员还将推出一系列创新的外展活动，旨在进一步发展STEM员工队伍。 在俄克拉荷马大学诺曼分校，戴新宇博士将使用便携式天文馆向大俄克拉荷马州市地区的高中发表演讲。与此同时，乔尔·布雷格曼博士将为密歇根大学安娜堡分校的校园天文馆开发新的节目。他们的科研成果也将分发给公众。

One of the primary objectives of extragalactic astronomy is to understand the formation and evolution of structures over cosmic time. Clusters of galaxies are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe, and so a better understanding of their formation and evolution leads to deeper knowledge of the physics of the cosmos. In order to fully probe the physics and evolution of clusters, however, a co-ordinated multi-wavelength campaign is needed: while observations with X-ray telescopes are excellent at finding clusters, follow-up observations with optical telescopes are critical to measuring their distances from us. This collaborative project will use the Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT (MDM) 2.4m, Magellan, and Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) optical observatories to measure the redshifts and distances to clusters identified in the X-ray Swift Serendipitous Cluster Survey (SSCS). The program will produce one of the largest X-ray selected cluster catalogs to date, and make it available to the entire astronomical community. The increased numbers of high-redshift clusters as a result of this work will lead to a better understanding of the evolution of cluster properties over cosmic time. The team will also study the relationships between the optical and X-ray properties of clusters as a function of redshift. Finally, they will use the sample to constrain cosmological parameters, such as the energy densities of dark matter and dark energy. The two Principal Investigators of this collaboration will also launch an innovative series of outreach events that are designed to further develop the STEM workforce. At the University of Oklahoma-Norman, Dr. Xinyu Dai will use a portable planetarium to deliver presentations to high schools in the Greater Oklahoma City area. At the same time, Dr. Joel Bregman will develop new shows for the on-campus planetarium at the University of Michigan Ann-Arbor. The results of their scientific efforts will also be distributed to the general public.