The XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project is a serendipitous X-ray survey dedicated to find and study
clusters of galaxies at z > 1 (look-back times > 7.5 Gyrs). The main science goals and drivers are:
- Constraining Cosmological Models and the Nature of Dark Energy with a Statistically
Complete Sample of Distant Galaxy Clusters
- Characterizing the Evolution of Galaxy Clusters Close to the Epoch of Formation
- Exploring the Evolution of the Galaxy Populations in Clusters at Large Look-Back Times
- Studying the Thermodynamic Evolution of the Intracluster Medium and its Enrichment with Heavy Elements
As an early result of a pilot study, we discovered the most distant X-ray luminous galaxy cluster
known at the time: XMMU J2235.3-2557 at redshift of z=1.396 is shown on the right as extended
X-ray source in the XMM detection image (top) and in a multicolor optical/NIR image with blinking
X-ray emission (bottom).
We are now engaged in the completion of a comprehensive survey for dozens of distant galaxy clusters using the XMM-Newton data archive
for the detection and large optical/NIR telescopes (VLT, Calar Alto, CTIO, NTT) for follow-up imaging and spectroscopic observations.
The high-z cluster gallery at the top of the page features a selection of 18 spectroscopically confirmed clusters in the
XDCP sample at z>0.9.
Links
Chris Mullis' XMMUJ2235 Page (public)
AIP Distant Cluster Page (restricted)
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