We discuss how future cluster surveys can constrain cosmological parameters with particular reference to the properties of the dark energy component responsible for the observed acceleration of the Universe by probing the evolution of the surface density of clusters as a function of redshift. We explain how the abundance of clusters selected using their Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect can be computed as a function of the observed flux and redshift taking into account observational effects due to a finite beam size. By constructing an idealized set of simulated observations for a fiducial model, we forecast the likely constraints that might be possible for a variety of proposed surveys which are assumed to be flux limited. We find that Sunyaev-Zel’dovich cluster surveys can provide vital complementary information to those expected from surveys for supernovae. We analyze the impact of statistical and systematic uncertainties and find that they only slightly limit our ability to constrain the equation of state of the dark energy component.

• Received 30 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.68.083506