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J.J. Mohr, E.D. Reese, J.E. Carlstrom, G.P. Holder (U Chicago), A.E. Evrard (U Michigan)
We use an ensemble of numerical cluster simulations to examine the expected statistical and systematic uncertainties encountered when using interferometric Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) and X-ray observations to measure distances. We use clusters evolved within four cosmological models of interest, including an \Omega0=0.3 model with and without \Lambda0 and a model with \Omega=1. Cluster asphericities are common in all our models, because there is significant cluster accretion at the present epoch.
We find that these realistic departures from spherical symmetry result in a ~20% random SZ distance uncertainty and only a small systematic. On the other hand, the gradual drop in intracluster medium temperature with distance from the cluster center introduces a systematic distance error of similar scale when clusters are analyzed using isothermal models. We estimate to what extent the Chandra and XMM X-ray telescopes will allow more sophisticated cluster analyses that will reduce systematic errors in SZ distance estimates.
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s follows:
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