To determine the relative contributions of galactic and intracluster stars to the enrichment of the intracluster medium (ICM), we present X-ray surface brightness, temperature, and Fe abundance profiles for a set of twelve galaxy clusters for which we have extensive optical photometry. Assuming a standard IMF and simple chemical evolution model scaled to match the present-day cluster early-type SN Ia rate, the stars in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) plus the intracluster stars (ICS) generate 31^{+11}_{-9}%, on average, of the observed ICM Fe within r_{500} (~ 0.6 times r_{200}, the virial radius). An alternate, two-component SN Ia model (including both prompt and delayed detonations) produces a similar BCG+ICS contribution of 22^{+9}_{-9}%. Because the ICS typically contribute 80% of the BCG+ICS Fe, we conclude that the ICS are significant, yet often neglected, contributors to the ICM Fe within r_{500}. However, the BCG+ICS fall short of producing all the Fe, so metal loss from stars in other cluster galaxies must also contribute. By combining the enrichment from intracluster and galactic stars, we can account for all the observed Fe. These models require a galactic metal loss fraction (0.84^{+0.11}_{-0.14}) that, while large, is consistent with the metal mass not retained by galactic stars. The SN Ia rates, especially as a function of galaxy environment and redshift, remain a significant source of uncertainty in further constraining the metal loss fraction. For example, increasing the SN Ia rate by a factor of 1.8 -- to just within the 2 sigma uncertainty for present-day cluster early-type galaxies -- allows the combined BCG + ICS + cluster galaxy model to generate all the ICM Fe with a much lower galactic metal loss fraction (~ 0.35).
We explore the contribution of intracluster stars (ICS) to the chemical enrichment history of the intracluster medium (ICM). In contrast to scenarios in which all the metals originate in cluster galaxies and are then transported into the ICM, intracluster stars enrich the ICM in situ, thereby contributing 100% of their supernovae ejecta directly into the ICM. Modeling the ICS as an ancient, single burst stellar population with a normal initial mass function, we generate ICM iron abundances in the range of the observed values of several tenths solar. Large observational and theoretical uncertai…
The enrichment of the intracluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters, within the framework of the supernovae-driven wind model for elliptical galaxies, has been considered under two extreme assumptions regarding the binding energy-mass-radius relations. Unless the binding energy at the time of wind commencement, for a given galactic mass, was a factor of approximately five lower than that predicted by the present-day relation, at most 20% of the ICM gas could have originated within the cluster ellipticals themselves, the remainder being of primordial origin.
The relevance of galaxies of different luminosity and mass for the chemical enrichment of the intracluster medium (ICM) is analysed. For this purpose, I adopt the composite luminosity function of cluster galaxies from Trentham (1998), which exhibits a significant rise at the very faint end. The model - adopting a universal Salpeter IMF - is calibrated on reproducing the M_Fe/L_tot, M_Fe/M_*, and alpha/Fe ratios observed in clusters. Although the contribution to total luminosity and ICM metals peaks around L* galaxies (M* approx -20), faint objects with M_B>-18 still provide at least 30 per cen…
Intracluster medium (ICM) abundances are higher than expected assuming enrichment by supernovae with progenitors belonging to the simple stellar population (SSP) observed in cluster galaxies, if stars formed with a standard initial mass function (IMF). Moreover, new results on ICM oxygen abundances imply that nucleosynthesis occurred with nonstandard yields. The hypothesis that hypernovae (HN) in general, and HN associated with Population III (Pop III) stars in particular, may significantly contribute to ICM enrichment is presented and evaluated. The observed abundance anomalies can be explain…
Elliptical galaxies are often assumed to be the primary source of heavy elements in the intracluster medium (ICM), with the contribution of other morphological types being negligible. In this paper we argue that a role of spiral galaxies in the chemical evolution of the ICM is also important. This statement rests upon our recent calculations of the heavy element loss from a disk galaxy through the hot steady-state galactic wind and dust grains expulsion by stellar radiation pressure. We show that a typical disk galaxy is nearly as effective in enriching the ICM as an elliptical galaxy of the s…
We investigate the metal enrichment of the intracluster medium (ICM) in the framework of hierarchical models of galaxy formation. We calculate the formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters using a semi-analytical model which includes the effects of flows of gas and metals both into and out of galaxies. For the first time in a semi-analytical model, we calculate the production of both alpha and iron-peak elements based on theoretical models for the lifetimes and ejecta of type Ia and type II supernovae (SNe Ia and SNe II). It is essential to include the long lifetimes of the SNIa progeni…
We re-examine the respective roles played by supernovae (SNe) Types Ia and II in enriching the intracluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters, in light of the recent downward shift of the ASCA abundance ratios of alpha-elements to iron favoured by Ishimaru & Arimoto (1997, PASJ, 49, 1). Because of this shift, Ishimaru & Arimoto conclude that >50% of the ICM iron must have originated from within Type Ia SNe progenitors. A point not appreciated in their study, nor in most previous analyses, is the crucial dependence of such a conclusion upon the adopted massive star physics. Employing several alte…
We present 2D axisymmetric hydrodynamic simulations investigating the long term effect of FR II radio galaxies on the metal distribution of the surrounding intra-cluster medium (ICM). A light jet is injected into a cooling flow atmosphere for 10-30 Myr. We then follow the subsequent evolution for 3 Gyr on a spherical grid spanning 3 Mpc in radius. A series of passive tracer particles were placed in an annulus about the cluster core to simulate metal carrying clouds in order to calculate the metallicity (Z) as a function of time and radial distance from the cluster centre. The jet has a signifi…
In the recent literature there is circumstantial evidence that the viscosity of the intracluster medium may not be too far from the Spitzer value. In this letter, we present two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of ram pressure stripping of disc galaxies in a viscous intracluster medium. The values of viscosity explored range between 0.1 and 1.0 times the Spitzer value. We find that viscosity affects the appearance and the dimensions of the galactic wakes but has very little effect on the evolution of the gas mass of the galaxy.
I review the properties of starburst galaxies, compare the properties of the local ones with more distant starburts and examine their role in the metal enrichment of the interstellar medium and the intergalactic-intracluster medium. Metallicity is not an arrow of time and contrary to current belief metal rich galaxies can also be found at high redshift.
We analyzed the ASCA X-ray data of 40 nearby clusters of galaxies, whose intracluster-medium temperature distributes in the range of 0.9--10 keV. We measured the Si and Fe abundances of the intracluster medium, spatially averaging over each cluster, but excluding the central $\sim 0.15 h_{50}^{-1}$ Mpc region in order to avoid any possible abundance gradients and complex temperature structures. The Fe abundances of these clusters are 0.2--0.3 solar, with only weak dependence on the temperature of the intracluster medium, hence on the cluster richness. In contrast, the Si abundance is observed …
The electron mean free path in the intracluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters is much larger than the gyroradius; thus, heat is transported anisotropically along magnetic field lines. We show that the intracluster medium is unstable to the magnetothermal instability (MTI) using MHD simulations with anisotropic thermal conduction. As a result of the MTI, we find that the temperature profile of the ICM can be substantially modified on timescales of several billion years while the magnetic field is amplified by dynamo action up to more than fifty times the original energy. We also show that the…
We investigated ram-pressure effects by an intracluster wind on an inner disk of spiral galaxies by a hydrodynamical simulation. Even if the wind is mild and not strong enough to strip the gas disk, the ram pressure disturbs orbits of the inter-arm gas significantly. This results in asymmetric dense molecular arms in the inner few kpc region of a galaxy. This mechanism would explain the asymmetric CO gas distributions in the central regions often observed in Virgo spirals.
Clusters of galaxies can be seen as giant astrophysical laboratories enclosing matter in a large enough volume, so that the matter composition can be taken as representing the composition of our Universe. X-ray observations allow a very precise investigation of the physical properties of the intracluster plasma allowing us to probe probe the cluster structure, determine its total mass, and measure the baryon fraction in clusters and in the Universe as a whole. We can determine the abundance of heavy elements from O to Ni which originate from supernova explosions and draw from this important co…
We report the results of a detailed analysis of the temperature structure of the X-ray emitting plasma halo of M~87, the cD galaxy of the Virgo Cluster. Using the MEKAL model, the data provide strong indications that the intracluster medium has a single phase structure locally, except the regions associated to the radio structures. The deprojected spectrum at each radius is well fitted by a single temperature MEKAL model, except for the very central region ($<$ 2 arcmin) which seems to be affected by the jet and radio lobe structure. The temperature of the intracluster plasma is 1 keV at the c…
In this paper we discuss the effect of Coulomb collisions on the temperature profiles of the intracluster medium in clusters of galaxies, motivated by recent reports of negative temperature gradients in some clusters by Markevitch et al. The timescale for electrons and protons to reach temperature equilibrium can exceed a few billion years beyond radii of a Mpc, if the intracluster gas is assumed to be at the usual cluster virial temperature. If a cluster merger has occurred within that time causing the protons, but not the electrons, to be rapidly heated then a small negative temperature grad…
Recent observations of entropy of intracluster medium (ICM) at high redshift are not consistent with a redshift independent entropy floor. In order to interpret these observations, we study models in which the entropy of ICM is enhanced at the epoch of cluster formation (z_f), which then passively evolves as a result of radiative cooling until the epoch of observation (z_o). We confirm that a z-independent entropy floor is incompatible with the observations. We find that models in which energy deposition into the ICM increases with redshift (scaling approximately as $\sim M_cl^0.6 (1+z_f)^2.2$…
I present a review of nonthermal processes in the large scale structure of the universe. After examining the properties of cosmological shock waves and their role as particle accelerators, I discuss the main observational facts, from radio to \gr and describe the processes that are thought be responsible for the observed nonthermal emissions. Finally, I emphasize the important role of $γ$-ray astronomy for the progress in the field. Non detections (upper limits) at these photon energies have already allowed us to draw important conclusions. Future observations will tell us more about the physi…
We review the theories and observations which together have led to the concept of the Baryon Catastrophe: observations of the baryon fraction on the scale of clusters of galaxies appear to be at least three times as high as the universal baryon fraction predicted by the theory of primordial nucleosynthesis in a flat, $Ω_0 = 1$, universe. We investigate whether this discrepancy could be eliminated by treating the intracluster gas as a multiphase medium, and find that this treatment both lowers the calculated mass of gas in a cluster and increases the inferred gravitational potential. These comb…
We examine the origin of heavy elements in the intracluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters, concentrating upon the roles played by supernovae (SNe) Types Ia and II. The most accurately determined elemental abundances, Si and Fe, imply a mild predominance of Type II SNe as the source of ICM Fe, contributing approximately 60-80% of its total (and approximately 100% of the alpha-elements). (Currently) intractable uncertainties in measuring X-ray alpha-element ICM abundances, the initial mass function (IMF), and stellar evolution ingredients, make a more precise determination of the Ia:II ICM iro…
Recent X-ray and optical observations of the Perseus cluster indicate that the viscous and conductive dissipation of sound waves is the mechanism responsible for heating the intracluster medium and thus balancing radiative cooling of cluster cores. We discuss this mechanism more generally and show how the specific heating and cooling rates vary with temperature and radius. It appears that the heating mechanism is most effective above 10^7K, which allows for radiative cooling to proceed within normal galaxy formation but will stifle the growth of very massive galaxies. The scaling of the wavele…
An important aspect of the radio emission from galaxy clusters is represented by the diffuse radio sources associated with the intracluster medium: radio halos, relics and mini-halos. The radio halos and relics are indicators of cluster mergers, whereas mini-halos are detected at the center of cooling core clusters. SKA will dramatically improve the knowledge of these sources, thanks to the detection of new objects, and to detailed studies of their spectra and polarized emission. SKA will also provide the opportunity to investigate the presence of halos produced by radiation scattered by a pow…
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) has provided us with the yet highest resolution all-sky maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background. As a result of thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect, clusters of galaxies are imprinted as tiny, poorly resolved dips on top of primary CMB anisotropies in these maps. Here, I describe different efforts to extract the physics of Intracluster Medium (ICM) from the sea of primary CMB, through combining WMAP with low-redshift galaxy or X-ray cluster surveys. This finally culminates at a mean (universal) ICM pressure profile, which is for the first time directly…
The enrichment of the Intra-Cluster Medium (ICM) with heavy elements is reviewed. There is now good observational evidence for enrichment including abundance ratios and metallicity distributions. Various processes involved in the enrichment process -- ram-pressure stripping, galactic winds, galaxy-galaxy interactions, AGN outflows and intra-cluster supernovae -- are described. Simulations of the ICM evolution taking into account metal enrichment are presented.
Following the recent suggestion that it is dwarf galaxies in clusters -- as opposed to large ellipticals -- that provide the intracluster gas, we estimate the metallicity of the intracluster medium (ICM) in such a case. We derive analytical expressions for the fraction of mass of dwarf galaxies that is ejected, and estimate the metallicity of the resulting intracluster gas. We find that the metallicity resulting from this hypothesis is adequate only for clusters with low-metallicity gas. Since galactic winds from dwarf galaxies occur much earlier than those from ellipticals, due to the smaller…
Particle acceleration is expected to take place at shocks that form during the process of large scale structure formation. Electrons accelerated at such shocks can upscatter a small fraction of the photons in the cosmic microwave background up to the gamma ray band. Here we make predictions about the detectability of the $γ$--ray emission from forming clusters of galaxies with future GeV and TeV gamma ray telescopes. We also estimate the contribution of these sources to the extragalactic diffuse gamma ray background.
A main topic at this meeting is how galaxies are affected when they enter for the first time the cluster environment from the outskirts. Most of the times we are forced to infer the environmental effects indirectly, relying on systematic variations of galaxy properties with environment, but there aren't many examples of direct observations able to unveil ongoing transformations taking place, and the corresponding mechanism producing it. We present a case in which it is possible to identify the cluster environment, and in particular the intracluster medium and the recent infall history of galax…
We study the possibility of quasar outflows in clusters and groups of galaxies heating the intracluster gas in order to explain the recent observation of excess entropy in this gas. We use the extended Press-Schechter formalism to estimate the number of quasars that become members of a group of cluster of a given mass and formation epoch. We also estimate the fraction of mechanical energy in the outflows that is imparted to the surrounding medium as a function of the density and temperature of this gas. We finally calculate the total amount of non-gravitational heating from such outflows as a …
The relativistic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect offers a method, independent of X-ray, for measuring the temperature of the intracluster medium (ICM) in the hottest systems. Here, using N-body/hydrodynamic simulations of three galaxy clusters, we compare the two quantities for a non-radiative ICM, and for one that is subject both to radiative cooling and strong energy feedback from galaxies. Our study has yielded two interesting results. Firstly, in all cases, the SZ temperature is hotter than the X-ray temperature and is within ten per cent of the virial temperature of the cluster. Secondly, …
The presence of dilute hot cavities in the intracluster medium (ICM) at the cores of clusters of galaxies changes the relation between gas temperature and its X-ray emission properties. Using the hydrostatic equations of a porous medium we solve for the ICM density for a given temperature as a function of the filling factor of dilute bubbles. We find that at a given temperature, the core X-ray luminosity increases with the filling factor. If the frequency of AGNs in clusters were higher in the past, then the filling factor could correspondingly be significant, with implications for the cluster…
We address a number of misunderstandings and misstatements contained in the paper ``Roles of SNIa and SNII in ICM Enrichment'' by Y. Ishimaru and N. Arimoto with regard to the papers by Mushotzky et al. (1996, ApJ, 466, 686) and Loewenstein and Mushotzky (1996, ApJ, 466, 695). In particular, we emphasize that comparison between observations and models in these papers were made self-consistently assuming a particular (photospheric) value for the solar iron abundance. We also briefly revisit the question of the contribution of Type Ia supernovae to the iron enrichment of the intracluster medium.
Clusters of galaxies are massive enough to be considered representative samples of the Universe, and to retain all of the heavy elements synthesized in their constituent stars. Since most of these metals reside in hot plasma, X-ray spectroscopy of clusters provides a unique and fundamental tool for studying chemical evolution. I review the current observational status of X-ray measurements of the chemical composition of the intracluster medium, and its interpretation in the context of the nature and history of star and galaxy formation processes in the Universe. I provide brief historical and …
Based on XMM-Newton observations of a sample of galaxy clusters, we have measured the elemental abundances (mainly O, Si, S, and Fe) and their spatial distributions in the intracluster medium (ICM). In the outer region of the ICM, observations of the O:Si:S:Fe ratio are consistent with the solar value, suggesting that the metals in the ICM were produced by a mix of supernovae (SNe) Ia and II. On the other hand, around the cD galaxy, the O/Fe ratios are about half of the solar value because of a central excess of the Fe abundance. An increase of the relative contribution from SNe Ia in the cD g…
We present a Chandra observation of the powerful radio galaxy 3C294 showing clear evidence for a surrounding intracluster medium. At a redshift of 1.786 this is the most distant cluster of galaxies yet detected in X-rays. The radio core is detected as a point source, which has a spectrum consistent with a heavily-absorbed power law implying an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of ~10^45 erg/s. A small excess of emission is associated with the southern radio hotspots. The soft, diffuse emission from the intracluster medium is centred on the radio source. It has an hour-glass shape in the N-S direct…
In this paper we investigate the feasibility of bremsstrahlung radiation from `nonthermal' electrons as a source of hard X-rays from the intracluster medium of clusters of galaxies. With an exact treatment of the Coulomb collisions in a Fokker-Planck analysis of the electron distribution we find that the severe difficulties with lifetimes of `nonthermal' particles found earlier by Petrosian (2001) using a cold target model remain problematic. We then address possible acceleration of background electrons into a nonthermal tail. We assume a simplified but generic acceleration rate and determine …
XMM-Newton observations of 19 galaxy clusters are used to measure the elemental abundances and their spatial distributions in the intracluster medium. The sample mainly consists of X-ray bright and relaxed clusters with a cD galaxy. Along with detailed Si, S and Fe radial abundance distributions within 300-700 kpc in radius, the O abundances are accurately derived in the central region of the clusters. The Fe abundance maxima towards the cluster center, possibly due to the metals from the cD galaxy,are spatially resolved. The Si and S abundances also exhibit central increases in general, resul…
Evidence supporting the hypothesis of an invariant stellar Initial Mass Function is strong and varied. The intra-cluster medium in rich clusters of galaxies is one of the few contrary locations where recent interpretations of the chemical abundances have favoured an IMF that is biased towards massive stars, compared to the `normal' IMF. This interpretation hinges upon the neglect of Type Ia supernovae to the ICM enrichment, and a particular choice of the nucleosynthesis yields of Type II supernovae. We demonstrate here that when one adopts yields determined empirically from observations of Gal…
Recent X-ray observations have highlighted clusters that lack entropy cores. At first glance, these results appear to invalidate the preheated ICM models. We show that a self-consistent preheating model, which factors in the effects of radiative cooling, is in excellent agreement with the observations. Moreover, the model naturally explains the intrinsic scatter in the L-T relation, with ``cooling flow'' and ``non-cooling flow'' systems corresponding to mildly and strongly preheated systems, respectively. We discuss why preheating ought to be favoured over merging as a mechanism for the origin…
Galaxy groups are quite underluminous in X-rays compared to clusters, so the intracluster medium has to be considerably underdense in the former. We consider this to be due to substantial energy fed back into the ICM when the baryons in the member galaxies condense into stars ending up in SNe, or accrete on to central supermassive black holes energizing AGNs. We compute the outflow and the blowout effects driven by the AGNs and the resulting, steep luminosity-temperature correlation L_X-T. We compare this with the SN contribution and with the X-ray data; the latter require the AGN energy to be…
The case is made that the intracluster medium (ICM) in spiral-rich galaxy groups today probably has undergone much slower evolution than that in elliptical-rich groups and clusters. The environments of proto-clusters and proto-groups at z > 2 are likely similar to spiral-rich group environments at lower redshift. Therefore, like the ICM in spiral-rich groups today, the ICM in proto-groups and proto-clusters at z > 2 is predicted to be significantly multiphased. The QSO Lyman alpha forest in the vicinity of galaxies is an effective probe of the ICM at a wide range of redshift. Two recent observ…
In this series of lectures I discuss the basic principles and the modelling of the chemical evolution of galaxies. In particular, I present models for the chemical evolution of the Milky Way galaxy and compare them with the available observational data. From this comparison one can infer important constraints on the mechanism of formation of the Milky Way as well as on stellar nucleosynthesis and supernova progenitors. Models for the chemical evolution of elliptical galaxies are also shown in the framework of the two competing scenarios for galaxy formation: monolithic and hierachical. The evo…
We demonstrate that the high pressure of the hot intracluster medium (ICM) can trigger the collapse of molecular clouds in a spiral galaxy, leading to a burst of star formation in the clouds. Our hydrodynamical simulations show that the high gaseous (ram pressure and static thermal) pressure of the ICM strongly compresses a self-gravitating gas cloud within a short time scale ($\sim$ $10^{7}$ yr), dramatically increasing the central gas density, and consequently causing efficient star formation within the cloud. The stars developed in the cloud form a compact, gravitationally bound, star clust…
The stellar population stripped from galaxies in clusters evolve under the extreme conditions imposed by the intracluster (IC) medium. Intracluster stars generally suffer very high systemic velocities, and evolve within a rarefied and extremely hot IC medium. We present numerical simulations which aim to explore the evolution and survival of IC Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) envelopes and Planetary Nebula (PN) shells. Our models reflect the evolution of a low-mass star under the observed conditions in the Virgo IC medium. We find that the integrated hydrogen-recombination line emission of a PN …
We have developed an analytical model for the evolution of anisotropic galactic outflows. These outflows follow the path of least resistance, and thus travel preferentially into low-density regions, away from cosmological structures where galaxies form. We show that anisotropic outflows can significantly enrich low-density systems, while reducing the enrichment of overdense regions.
The intergalactic gas in groups and clusters of galaxies bears the indelible stamp of galaxy formation. We present a comparison between observations and simple theoretical models indicating that radiative cooling governs the entropy scale that sets the core radius of the intracluster medium. Entropy measured at the radius 0.1 r_200 scales as T^2/3, in accord with cooling-threshold models for the regulation of core entropy. Cooling of baryons to form galaxies is likely to lead to feedback, and the signature of feedback may appear farther out in the cluster. Entropy measured at the radius r_500 …
I study the effect of the galaxies of the Milky Way subgroup on the chemical enrichment of the diffuse gas within the Local Group. The preferred model predicts that the present-day intergalactic medium mass is 1/22 of the initial baryonic mass and its metallicity is 1/20 $Z_\odot$. Nearly 80 % of intergalactic metals were produced in the Galactic bulge.
We present a set of cluster models that link the present-day properties of clusters to the processes that govern galaxy formation. These models treat the entropy distribution of the intracluster medium as its most fundamental property. Because convection strives to establish an entropy gradient that rises with radius, the observable properties of a relaxed cluster depend entirely on its dark-matter potential and the entropy distribution of its uncondensed gas. Guided by simulations, we compute the intracluster entropy distribution that arises in the absence of radiative cooling and supernova h…
The results from XMM-Newton observations of the relaxed cluster of galaxies Abell~496 are presented. The spatially-resolved X-ray spectra taken by the European Photon Imaging Cameras show a temperature drop and a Fe abundance increase in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) towards the cD galaxy at the cluster center. The abundances of Si and S also show a central enhancement. High resolution soft X-ray spectra obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometers provides a strong constraint on the temperature structure in the central cool plasma. Furthermore, the O abundance at the cluster core is ac…
The abundances of O, Mg, Si and Fe in the intracluster medium of the Centaurus cluster are derived. The Fe abundance has a negative radial gradient. In solar units, the Si abundance is close to the Fe abundance, while the O and Mg abundances are much smaller. The high Fe/O and Si/O ratio indicate that metal supply from supernovae Ia is important and supernovae Ia synthesize Si as well as Fe. Within 2$'$, the O and Mg abundances are consistent with the stellar metallicity of the cD galaxy derived from the Mg$_2$ index. This result indicates that the central gas is dominated by the gas from the …
The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect is a direct probe of thermal energy content of the Universe, induced in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) sky through scattering of CMB photons off hot electrons in the intracluster medium (ICM). We report a 9-sigma detection of the SZ signal in the CMB maps of Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) 3yr data, through study of a sample of 193 massive galaxy clusters with observed X-ray temperatures greater than 3 keV. For the first time, we make a model-independent measurement of the pressure profile in the outskirts of the ICM, and show that it close…
Over the past several years, numerous examples of X-ray cavities coincident with radio sources have been observed in so-called "cool core" clusters of galaxies. Motivated by these observations, we explore the evolution and the effect of cavities on a cooling intracluster medium (ICM) numerically, adding relevant physics step by step. In this paper we present a first set of hydrodynamical, high resolution (1024^3 effective grid elements), three-dimensional simulations, together with two-dimensional test cases. The simulations follow the evolution of radio cavities, modeled as bubbles filled by …
We investigate the properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) that forms within N-body/hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters in a \LambdaCDM cosmology. When radiative cooling and a simple model for galactic feedback are included, our clusters have X-ray luminosities and temperatures in good agreement with observed systems, demonstrating the required excess entropy in their cores. More generally, cooling and feedback increases the entropy of the ICM everywhere, albeit without significantly affecting the slope of the profile (S prop. to r) at large radii. The temperature of the ICM is o…
Analysis of spatially resolved ASCA spectra of the intracluster gas in Abell 496 confirms that metal abundances increase toward the center. We also find spatial gradients in several abundance ratios, indicating that the fraction of iron from SN Ia increases toward the cluster center. The dominant metal enrichment mechanism near the cluster center must therefore be different than in the outer parts. We show that ram pressure stripping of gas from cluster galaxies cannot account for the central abundance enhancement. We suggest that two successive stages of galactic winds contaminate intracluste…
We report a search for the presence of dust in the intra-cluster medium based on the study of statistical reddening of background galaxies. Armed with the Red Sequence Cluster survey data, from which we extracted (i) a catalog of 458 clusters with z_clust < 0.5 and (ii) a catalog of ~90,000 galaxies with photometric redshift 0.5 < z_ph < 0.8 and photometric redshift uncertainty delta z_ph / (1+z_ph) < 0.06, we have constructed several samples of galaxies according to their projected distances to the cluster centers. No significant color differences [<E(B-R_c)> = 0.005 pm 0.008, and <E(V-z')> =…
The metallicity distribution in the intracluster medium of the NGC 5044 group was studied up to 0.3 r_180 using the XIS instrument on board the Suzaku satellite. Abundances of O, Mg, Si, S, and Fe were measured with high accuracy. The region within a radius of 0.05 r_180 from the center shows approximately solar abundances of Mg, Si, S, and Fe, while the O/Fe ratio is about 0.5--0.6 in solar units. In the outer region, the Fe abundance gradually drops to 0.3 solar. Radial abundance profiles of Mg, Si and S are similar to that of Fe, while that of O seems to be flatter. At r>0.05 r_180, the mas…
The Centaurus cluster (z=0.0104) was observed with the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) onboard the Suzaku X-ray satellite in three pointings, one centered on the cluster core and the other two offset by +-8' in declination. To search for possible bulk motions of the intracluster medium, the central energy of He-like Fe-K line (at a rest-frame energy of 6.7 keV) was examined to look for a positional dependence. Over spatial scales of 50 kpc to 140 kpc around the cluster core, the central line energy was found to be constant within the calibration error of 15 eV. The 90% upper limit on the line…
A Chandra observation of the non-cooling flow cluster A 1060 has confirmed that the hot intracluster medium has fairly uniform distributions of temperature and metal abundance from a radius of about 230 kpc to the central 5 kpc region (H_0= 75 km/s/Mpc). The radial temperature profile shows a broad peak at 30-40 kpc from the center at a level ~20% higher than that in the outer region. Assuming spatially uniform temperature and abundance distributions, we derived a 3-dimensional density structure by iteratively correcting the beta model, and obtained the central gas density to be 8.2^{+1.8}_{-1…
Recent observations show the presence of metals in low-density Ly$α$ forest absorbers at high redshift ($z\sim 3$). It remains still far from being clearly understood what mechanisms spread metals over Mpc scales from the parent galaxies, whether metals are homogeneously distributed in the intergalactic medium (IGM), how metallicity of the IGM does evolve. These questions are briefly addressed in this review.
We present three-dimensional simulations of viscous dissipation of AGN induced gas motions and waves in clusters of galaxies. These simulations are motivated by recent detections of ripples in the Perseus and Virgo clusters. Although the sound waves generated by buoyant bubbles decay with distance from the cluster center, we show that these waves can contribute substantially to offsetting the radiative cooling at distances significantly exceeding the bubble size. The energy flux of the waves declines more steeply with radius than the inverse-square law predicted by energy conservation, implyin…
The inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation with electrons in the intracluster medium which has a temperature gradient, was examined by the third-order perturbation theory of the Compton scattering. A new type of the spectrum distortion of the CMB was found and named as gradient T Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (gradT SZE). The spectrum has an universal shape. The spectrum crosses over zero at 326GHz. The sign of the spectrum depends on the relative direction of the line-of-sight to the direction of the temperature gradient. This unique spectrum shape can be us…
