Expectations for an interferometric Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect survey for galaxy clusters

We estimate the expected yield of a nontargeted survey for galaxy clusters using the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZE). Estimating survey yields requires a detailed model for both cluster properties and the survey strategy. We a ddress this by making mock observations of galaxy clusters in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. The mock observatory consists of an interferome tric array of ten 2.5 m diameter telescopes, operating at a central frequen cy of 30 GHz with a bandwidth of 8 GHz. For a survey covering 1 deg(2) per month, we find that clusters with a mass above 2.5 x 10(14) h(50)(-1) M-. w ill be detected at any redshift, with the exact limit showing a modest reds hift dependence. Using a Press-Schechter prescription for evolving the numb er densities of clusters with redshift, we determine that such a survey sho uld iind hundreds of galaxy clusters per year, many at high redshifts and r elatively low mass-an important regime uniquely accessible to SZE surveys. Currently favored cosmological models predict similar to 25 clusters per de g(2).