Related papers: Shocks and cold fronts in galaxy clusters
Clusters of galaxies are studied from a theoretical point of view, comparing with observational results whenever possible. The problem is approached both analytically as well as by means of high-resoultion numerical simulations. The dark…
We investigate the origin of the variation of the gas mass fraction in the core of galaxy clusters, which was indicated by our work on the X-ray fundamental plane. The adopted model supposes that the gas distribution characterized by the…
Tangential discontinuities, seen as X-ray edges known as cold fronts (CFs), are ubiquitous in cool-core galaxy clusters. We analyze all 17 deprojected CF thermal profiles found in the literature, including three new CFs we tentatively…
Galaxy cluster merger shocks are the main agent for the thermalization of the intracluster medium and the energization of cosmic ray particles in it. Shock propagation changes the state of the tenuous intracluster plasma, and the…
Galaxy cluster mergers are representative of a wide range of physics, making them an excellent probe of the properties of dark matter and the ionized plasma of the intracluster medium. To date, most studies have focused on mergers occurring…
We present results of a joint {\sl Chandra} and {\sl XMM-Newton} analysis of the Fornax Cluster, the nearest galaxy cluster in the southern sky. Signatures of merger-induced gas sloshing can be seen in the X-ray image. We identify four…
It is generally accepted that radio relics are the result of synchrotron emission from shock-accelerated electrons. Current models, however, are still unable to explain several aspects of their formation. In this paper, we focus on three…
High-resolution X-ray observations have revealed cavities and `cold fronts' with sharp edges in temperature, density, and metallicity within galaxy clusters. Their presence poses a puzzle since these features are not expected to be…
Recent high resolution observations by the {\it Chandra} X-ray satellite revealed various substructures in hot X-ray emitting plasmas in cluster of galaxies. For example, {\it Chandra} revealed the existence of sharp discontinuities in the…
In addition to the hot intracluster medium, massive galaxy clusters host complex, multi-phase gaseous halos. In this work, we quantify the abundance, spatial distribution, and origin of the cool T < 10^4.5 K gas within clusters. To do so,…
The intracluster medium of the Perseus Cluster exhibits spiral-shaped X-ray surface brightness discontinuities known as ``cold fronts'', which simulations indicate are caused by the sloshing motion of the gas after the passage of a…
Recent results on cluster cooling flows are reviewed. Observations of excess soft X-ray provides the only direct evidence for a major repository for the cooled gas. Unfortunately, the frequency of occurrence of large excess columns is…
(Abridged) We present a series of decaying turbulence simulations that represent a cluster-forming clump within a molecular cloud, investigating the role of magnetic fields on the formation of potential star-forming cores. We present an…
The acceleration of electrons at shock fronts is thought to be responsible for radio relics, extended radio features in the vicinity of merging galaxy clusters. By combining high resolution Adaptive Mesh Refinement Hydro/N-body cosmological…
We present results from N-body + magnetohydrodynamical simulations of merging clusters of galaxies. We find that cluster mergers cause various characteristic magnetic field structures because of the strong bulk flows in the intracluster…
Shocks are a ubiquitous consequence of cosmic structure formation, and they play an essential role in heating galaxy cluster media. Virtually all of the gas in clusters has been processed by one or more shocks of at least moderate strength.…
The nature of the interaction between low-excitation gas filaments at ~10^4 K, seen in optical line emission, and diffuse X-ray emitting coronal gas at ~10^7 K in the centers of galaxy clusters remains a puzzle. The presence of a strong,…
Early X-ray observations suggested that the intracluster medium cools and condenses at the centers of clusters, leading to a cooling flow of plasma in the cluster core. The increased incidence of emission-line nebulosity, excess blue light,…
(abridged) Uninhibited radiative cooling in clusters of galaxies would lead to excessive mass accretion rates contrary to observations. One of the key proposals to offset radiative energy losses is thermal conduction from outer, hotter…
A theoretical model framework of spherical symmetry is presented for a composite astrophysical system of two polytropic fluids coupled together by gravity to explore large-scale shocks and flow dynamics in clusters of galaxies or in…