Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-06-05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
4 Pages. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters
Scientific paper
10.1086/590554
The role of thermal conduction in regulating the thermal behavior of cooling flows in galaxy clusters is reexamined. Recent investigations have shown that the anisotropic Coulomb heat flux caused by a magnetic field in a dilute plasma drives a dynamical instability. A long standing problem of cooling flow theory has been to understand how thermal conduction can offset radiative core losses without completely preventing them. In this Letter we propose that magnetohydrodynamic turbulence driven by the heat flux instability regulates field-line insulation and drives a reverse convective thermal flux, both of which may mediate the stabilization of the cooling cores of hot clusters. This model suggests that turbulent mixing should accompany strong thermal gradients in cooling flows. This prediction seems to be supported by the spatial distribution of metals in the central galaxies of clusters, which shows a much stronger correlation with the ambient hot gas temperature gradient than with the parent stellar population.
Balbus Steven A.
Reynolds Christopher S.
No associations
LandOfFree
Regulation of thermal conductivity in hot galaxy clusters by MHD turbulence 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 Regulation of thermal conductivity in hot galaxy clusters by MHD turbulence, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Regulation of thermal conductivity in hot galaxy clusters by MHD turbulence will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-127932