Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-03-26
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 342 (2003) 1009
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
16 pages, 8 figures, MNRAS, in press; manuscript with full resolution images available at http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/PUB
Scientific paper
10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06647.x
We investigate the spatial and spectral properties of non-thermal emission from clusters of galaxies at gamma-ray energies between 10 keV and 10 TeV due to inverse-Compton (IC) emission, pion-decay and non-thermal bremsstrahlung (NTB) from cosmic-ray(CR) ions and electrons accelerated at cosmic shock and secondary e+- from inelastic p-p collisions. We identify two main emission region, namely the core (also bright in thermal X-ray) and the outskirts region where accretion shocks occur. IC emission from shock accelerated CR electrons dominate the emission in the outer regions of galaxy clusters, provided that at least a fraction of a percent of the shock ram pressure is converted into CR electrons. A clear detection of this component and of its spatial distribution will allow us direct probing of cosmic accretion shocks. In the cluster core, gamma-ray emission above 100 MeV is dominated by pion-decay mechanism and, at lower energies, by IC emission from secondary e+-. However, IC emission from shock accelerated electrons projected onto the cluster core will not be negligible. We emphasize the importance of separating these emission components for a correct interpretation of the experimental data and outline a strategy for that purpose. Failure in addressing this issue will produce unsound estimates of the intra-cluster magnetic field strength and CR ion content. According to our estimate future space borne and ground based gamma-ray facilities should be able to measure the whole nonthermal spectrum both in the cluster core and at its outskirts. The importance of such measurements in advancing our understanding of non-thermal processes in the intra-cluster medium is discussed.
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