Physics of the Intra-Cluster Medium

The Intra Cluster Medium (ICM) constitutes the largest baryonic component of galaxy clusters. It is affected by gravitational and non-gravitational processes due to the interaction with the cluster galaxy population. It is now widely recognized that the cluster environment plays a fundamental role in determining the evolution of its galaxy population. In turn, feedback in cluster cores offer the unique opportunity to understand the interactions between star formation events and nuclear activity within the surrounding medium.

Theoretical models and numerical simulations have been developed in order to capture the complexity of this interaction and to understand when, where, and how feedback takes place. At the same time the ICM is an important diagnostic of the dynamics of the cluster itself, and an exhaustive understanding of its properties is crucial for a full understanding of the growth of cosmic structures at large, and the measurement of cosmological parameters. This workshop will focus on the physics of the ICM and its relation with the different mass components of galaxy clusters. The aim is to provide an overview of the many exciting recent results at vastly different wavelengths (Radio, SZ, sub-mm, IR, optical, X-ray, gamma-ray) and use them to challenge theoretical models and advanced numerical simulations.