Dark Energy
Our Mission
We study cosmology, galaxy clusters, and supermassive black holes over a range of wavelengths including X-ray, optical, and radio data. For instance, we perform X-ray satellite observations of large samples of galaxy clusters. X-rays are emitted from regions where the Universe is hot and wild.
Galaxy clusters, the largest and most massive clearly defined structures we know, are strong X-ray emitters. Space-based X-ray telescopes provide the most detailed view of the ~100 million Kelvin gas in clusters. We use our observations to study physical processes, like cluster collisions or the interaction of cluster gas with outbursts of central supermassive black holes, and also to constrain the amount of dark matter in the Universe as well as the nature of dark energy. We are involved in major upcoming X-ray missions that will revolutionize our understanding of the hot and energetic Universe.
