X-ray surface brightness substructures in galaxy clusters

• Grant number: 24/01585-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Gastão Cesar Bierrenbach Lima Neto
• Grantee: Isabelle Gios Martimiano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main goal of this work is the quantitative determination of the degree of substructures in nearby galaxy clusters (z < 0.02), observed in X-rays by the Chandra satellite. This study will be carried out systematically, using objective criteria to determine substructures observed in the surface brightness in the [0.5--8.0 keV] band. Within pre-defined regions, we will determine the ratio between the X-ray flux of the substructures and that of the entire cluster. The data needed for this work is public, available on the Chandra satellite website. Once the degree of substructures has been determined, we will look for correlations with physical properties of the clusters such as total mass, baryon fraction, temperature and metallicity.