Abstract: Our understanding of the Universe is at a critical juncture. For decades, the standard model of cosmology based on general relativity, dark matter, and dark energy (ɅCDM) has passed many experimental tests. However, the recently emerged S8 tension — the discrepancy between the density fluctuation parameter measured by early- and late-universe probes — has the potential to challenge ɅCDM. In this talk, I will discuss how we use galaxy clusters to measure the evolution of S8 and to probe the nature of gravity at cosmological scales. I will talk about how we use observations across the electromagnetic spectrum to understand the astrophysics of clusters, which in turn makes clusters better cosmological probes. I will also discuss how we plan to combine galaxy clusters with other cosmological probes to measure the growth of cosmic structure and address the S8 tension.

Bio: Dr. Heidi Wu is currently an assistant professor at Boise State University. She held postdoctoral positions at the Ohio State University, Caltech, and the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University and a bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University.

https://www.boisestate.edu/physics/wu/