New Territory: SZ Cluster Surveys

The potential of the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect for cluster studies has long been appreciated, although not yet fully exploited. Recent technological advances and improvements in observing strategies have changed this, to the point where it is now possible to speak of this subject at a meeting devoted to surveys in Cosmology. We will discuss SZ surveys by distinguishing what may be called pointed surveys, dedicated to pre–selected clusters, from blind surveys, those searching for clusters in blank fields. Surveys of the former type already have significant numbers of clusters with very good signal–to–noise images; surveys of the second type are currently possible, but as yet not undertaken. The discussion will focus on the kind of science that can be done in this “new territory”.