This comprehensive volume reviews the current theory and measurement of various parameters related to the evolution of the universe. Topics include inflation, string theory and the history of cosmology in the context of current measurements being made of the Hubble constant, matter density, and dark energy. Observational results are included from the Sloan, Digital Sky Survey, Keck, Magellan, cosmic microwave background experiments, Hubble space telescope and Chandra. Featuring chapters by leading authorities in the field, this book is a valuable resource for graduate students and...

Clusters of galaxies are the largest and most massive collapsed systems in the Universe. In addition to containing thousands of galaxies, these systems contain large amounts of hot, X-ray-emitting gas and dark matter. This volume contains a series of review papers on this exciting and important astronomical topic by international leaders in the field. The work is appropriate as an introduction for physics and astronomy graduate students as well as a reference source for professionals.