Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature?

Details Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature? Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature?

1997-06-26

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9706266v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

18 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/305007

The virialization shock around an X-ray cluster primarily heats the ions, since they carry most of the kinetic energy of the infalling gas. Subsequently, the ions share their thermal energy with the electrons through Coulomb collisions. We quantify the expected temperature difference between the electrons and ions as a function of radius and time, based on a spherical self-similar model for the accretion of gas by a cluster in an Omega=1, h=0.5 universe. Clusters with X-ray temperatures T=(4-10)*10^7 K, show noticeable differences between their electron and ion temperatures at radii >2 Mpc. High resolution spectroscopy with future X-ray satellites such as Astro E may be able to determine the ion temperature in intracluster gas from the width of its X-ray emission lines, and compare it to the electron temperature as inferred from the free-free emission spectrum. Any difference between these temperatures can be used to date the period of time that has passed since the infalling gas joined the cluster.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Do the Electrons and Ions in X-ray Clusters Share the Same Temperature? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-227452