X-ray filaments in cluster cooling flows

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Cooling Flows (Astrophysics), Faraday Effect, Galactic Clusters, Interstellar Gas, Interstellar Magnetic Fields, X Ray Astronomy, X Ray Imagery, Brightness, Electron Density (Concentration), H Alpha Line, Rosat Mission, Statistical Analysis

Scientific paper

ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) images were obtained for two clusters of galaxies which contain strong cooling flows, A2029 and 2A0335+096. These observations confirm that gas is cooling at rates of M-dotc approx. = 370 solar masses/yr in A2029 and M-dotc approx. = 262 solar masses/yr in 2A0335+096. In both clusters, the X-ray emission from the inner cooling flow regions (r greater than or approximately equal to 100 kpc) is very inhomogeneous, with the X-ray surface brightness being dominated by a number of X-ray emitting filaments. Using the crude spectral resolution of the HRI, we show that these filaments are the result of excess emission, rather than foreground X-ray absorption. Although there are uncertainties in the pointing, many of the X-ray features in the cooling flow region of 2A0335+096 correspond to features in H-alpha optical line emission. This indicates that the 104 K gas originates through the cooling of hot X-ray emitting gas. The gas in the filaments is too dense to be in hydrostatic equilibrium, and it is likely that other forces such as rotation, turbulence, and magnetic fields influence the dynamical state of the gas. The filaments may be supported in part by magnetic fields and may be connected with the filaments of very strong Faraday rotation seen in several nearly cooling flows.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

X-ray filaments in cluster cooling flows 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 X-ray filaments in cluster cooling flows, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray filaments in cluster cooling flows will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-782930

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.