Huub J. A. Röttgering
Leiden University

Abstract
Galaxy clusters are unique laboratories to study some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics, related to the formation and evolution of galaxies, the physics of particle acceleration, the generation of magnetic fields, the growth of large-scale structure, and cosmology. We will present radio, optical and X-ray observations of diffuse radio emission from the Toothbrush and Sausage clusters that will delineate how cluster merger shocks accelerate particles to relativistic speeds and shape the evolution of cluster galaxies. The ancestors of local galaxy clusters (`proto-clusters’) are powerful laboratories for tracing the emergence of large scale structure and studying the evolution of galaxies in dense environments. It are these structures that at z < 2 virialise into massive X-ray emitting clusters. We will present radio and Herschel observations of protoclusters that characterise some of their properties. Finally, we present the new pan-European low frequency radio telescope LOFAR that is opening the ultra-low frequency radio sky to sensitive astronomical observations. First results on clusters will be presented.

2015 December 02, 15:00

IA/U.Lisboa
Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa (Seminar room)
Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa