Constraining galaxy cluster temperatures and redshifts with eROSITA survey data

Context. The nature of dark energy is imprinted in the large-scale structure of the Universe and thus in the mass and redshift distribution of galaxy clusters. The upcoming eROSITA instrument will exploit this method of probing dark energy by detecting 100 000 clusters of galaxies in X-rays. Aims. For a precise cosmological analysis the various galaxy cluster properties need to be measured with high precision and accuracy. To predict these characteristics of eROSITA galaxy clusters and to optimise optical follow-up observations, we estimate the precision and the accuracy with which eROSITA will be able to determine galaxy cluster temperatures and redshifts from X-ray spectra. Additionally, we present the total number of clusters for which these two properties will be available from the eROSITA survey directly. Methods. We simulate the spectra of galaxy clusters for a variety of different cluster masses and redshifts while taking into account the X-ray background as well as the instrumental response. An emission model is then fit to these spectra to recover the cluster temperature and redshift. The number of clusters with precise properties is then based on the convolution of the above fit results with the galaxy cluster mass function and an assumed eROSITA selection function.

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