A search for the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect at millimeter wavelengths.
Abstract
It is believed that X-ray emission from clusters of galaxies represents thermal bremsstrahlung from a hot plasma. According to Sunyaev and Zel'dovich (1972), the plasma column density and temperature derived from this model imply a measurable distortion of the cosmic background radiation (CBR) in the cluster direction. This distortion results from the Compton scattering of the CBR photons by the electrons in the plasma, resulting in an average increase of each photon. This process, known as the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, is photon conserving and 'shifts' the CBR spectrum to higher frequencies. The result is a decrease of flux at frequencies below 7.5 per cm (the Rayleigh-Jeans region), and an increase above. The investigation is concerned with measurements of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect at frequencies in the range from 3 to 10 per cm. Attention is given to the employed observing and analysis technique, and an initial null result for the cluster Abell 1795.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1086/184080
- Bibcode:
- 1983ApJ...271L...1M
- Keywords:
-
- Background Radiation;
- Cosmic Plasma;
- Electron Scattering;
- Light Scattering;
- Photons;
- Energy Transfer;
- Galactic Clusters;
- High Temperature Plasmas;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Space Radiation