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Clusters of Galaxies

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Galaxy Formation

Part of the book series: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library ((AAL))

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Abstract

Associations of galaxies range from pairs and small groups of galaxies, through the giant clusters containing thousands of galaxies, to the vast structures on scales much greater than clusters, the vast ‘walls’ which surround the large voids seen in Fig. 2.5. Very few galaxies can be considered to be truly isolated. Rich clusters of galaxies are of particular interest because they are the largest gravitationally bound systems we know of in the Universe. In addition, hot intergalactic gas has been detected in rich clusters of galaxies, both through its bremsstrahlung X—ray emission and through the decrements which it causes in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation due to Compton scattering of the background photons by the electrons in the hot ionised gas. Clusters, therefore, provide laboratories for studying many aspects of galactic evolution within a well-defined astrophysical environment. Interactions of galaxies with each other and with the intergalactic medium in the cluster can be studied, as well as the distribution and nature of the dark matter, which dominates their dynamics. These are key topics for the physics of galaxy formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Mendengley Road, CB3 OHE, Cambridge, UK

    Prof. Malcolm S. Longair

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  1. Prof. Malcolm S. Longair
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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Longair, M.S. (1998). Clusters of Galaxies. In: Galaxy Formation. Astronomy and Astrophysics Library. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03571-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03571-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03573-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03571-9

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