Physics & Astronomy Tom McClintock '11, Brookhaven National Lab: "Galaxy Clusters in the Dark Energy Survey"

Large area galaxy surveys allow us to measure fundamental properties of the Universe. The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is one such experiment that covers an eighth of the sky, and observes back to a time when the Universe was only half its age. Galaxy clusters have the potential to be the most powerful probe of cosmological parameters, assuming we can account for the various systematics affecting observations of these objects. In this talk, I will discuss measurements of cluster masses using gravitational weak lensing, and preview constraints on the growth of structure and matter density fraction of our Universe made with galaxy clusters. Additionally, I will present opportunities for improvements with upcoming experiments such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, which will come online in 2021 and observe nearly every galaxy cluster that can be seen from the southern hemisphere.