A very deep Chandra observation of the Perseus cluster: shocks, ripples and conduction
Institute of Astronomy · University of New Mexico · +3 more institutions
Abstract
We present the first results from a very deep Chandra X-ray observation of the core of the Perseus cluster of galaxies. A pressure map reveals a clear thick band of high pressure around the inner radio bubbles. The gas in the band must be expanding outwards and the sharp front to it is identified as a shock front, yet we see no temperature jump across it; indeed, there is more soft emission behind the shock than in front of it. We conclude that in this inner region either thermal conduction operates efficiently or the co-existing relativistic plasma seen as the radio mini-halo is mediating the shock. If common, isothermal shocks in cluster cores mean that we cannot diagnose the expansion speed of radio bubbles…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 33.57
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 62
Authors
7- ACA. C. FabianCorresponding
Institute of Astronomy
- JSJ. S. Sanders
Institute of Astronomy
- GBG. B. Taylor
University of New Mexico, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
- SWS. W. Allen
Stanford University, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Institute of Astronomy
- CSC. S. Crawford
Institute of Astronomy
Topics & keywords
- Physics
- Astrophysics
- Cooling flow
- Ram pressure
- Thermal conduction
- Radiative cooling
- Cold front
- Galaxy cluster