Southern Methodist University
Email office@phys.ksu.edu for the Zoom address
Abstract
Our understanding of the Universe is at a critical juncture. For decades, the standard model of cosmology based on general relativity, dark matter, and dark energy (ɅCDM) has passed many experimental tests. However, the recently emerged S8 tension — the discrepancy between the density fluctuation parameter measured by early- and late-universe probes — has the potential to challenge ɅCDM. In this talk, I will discuss how we use galaxy clusters to measure the evolution of S8 and to probe the nature of gravity at cosmological scales. I will talk about how we use observations across the electromagnetic spectrum to understand the astrophysics of clusters, which in turn makes clusters better cosmological probes. I will also discuss how we plan to combine galaxy clusters with other cosmological probes to measure the growth of cosmic structure and address the S8 tension.