Constraints on Quintessence from Future Galaxy Cluster Surveys

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  • 17 February 2000
Abstract
We study the expected redshift evolution of galaxy cluster abundance between 0<z<3 in different cosmologies, including the effects of the cosmic equation of state parameter w=p/rho. Using the Press-Schechter formalism, we model the expected cluster yields in a 12 sq. degree Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect (SZE) survey and a deep 10,000 sq. degree X-ray survey over a wide range of cosmological parameters. We quantify differences among cosmologies using both the total number and redshift distribution of clusters. Provided that the local cluster abundance is known to a few percent accuracy, we find only mild degeneracies between w and either Omega_m or h. As a result, both surveys will provide improved constraints on w. The Omega_m-w degeneracy from the SZE survey lies nearly orthogonal to those found in studies of CMB anisotropy or high-redshift Supernovae (SNe). Using the SZE survey together with either CMB or SNe studies will determine both w and Omega_m to approx. 3 percent accuracy (68 percent confidence). The large number of clusters in the X-ray survey substantially reduces the degeneracy between w and both Omega_m and h, enabling measurements of w to approx. 8 percent and Omega_m to approx. 1 percent accuracy without relying on either the CMB or SNe data. The measured temperatures within the X-ray sample should provide a handle on possible systematic uncertainties, such as the redshift-evolution of internal cluster structure.

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