When Galaxy Clusters Collide: Shocking tales of structure formation

Speaker: Dr. Andra Stroe (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian)

Date: 2020/1/16, Thursday, 11 am

Room: Science hall B102

Language: English

Abstract:

Red weather alert: dangerous cosmic weather forecast, in light of galaxy cluster mergers! Clusters grow through mergers with other clusters, events which give rise to the largest cosmic shock waves, as well as turbulence. Shocks travel like giant tsunamis through the cluster galaxies and the electron plasma between them, while turbulence stirs the intra-cluster medium. By bringing together optical, radio and HI data, I will discuss how merger shocks and turbulence shape the evolution of cluster galaxies and reverse typical environmental trends. I will highlight how shock-induced star formation may a fundamental driver not only in the evolution of low-z clusters, but also in the context of proto-clusters and high-redshift clusters, where mergers and shocks were far more common than in the nearby Universe.