Clusters of galaxies as cosmological probes and astrophysical laboratories: making use of the latest X-ray and optical surveys.

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Clusters of galaxies offer a unique window on the universe. As the largest collapsed objects in the heavens, they can be used to probe cosmology in a variety of ways. Moreover, they are host to a range of complex astrophysical processes and hold the key to unlocking mysteries such as the evolution of galaxies. The XMM Cluster Survey (XCS) is an international, Sussex led, project that has uncovered more X-ray bright clusters than any other survey before it. This world leading project is ripe for scientific exploitation, with thousands of clusters available for individual or ensemble analysis. The PhD project will exploit synergies between XCS and the Dark Energy Survey (DES). The underlying goal of the project is to support the extraction of Dark Energy parameter constraints from XCS and DES. The project will also lead to several other, more astrophysical, investigations, such as studies of the evolution of the intracluster medium over cosmic time.