Simulations of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 3376

Autor(es)

Machado, Rubens E. G. ^[1] ; Lima Neto, Gastao B. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Astron Geofis & Ciencias Atmosfer, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; v. 430, n. 4, p. 3249-3260, APR 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 16

Resumo

Observed galaxy clusters often exhibit X-ray morphologies suggestive of recent interaction with an infalling subcluster. A3376 is a nearby (z = 0.046) massive galaxy cluster whose bullet-shaped X-ray emission indicates that it may have undergone a recent collision. It displays a pair of Mpc-scale radio relics and its brightest cluster galaxy is located 970 h(70)(-1) kpc away from the peak of X-ray emission, where the second brightest galaxy lies. We attempt to recover the dynamical history of A3376. We perform a set of N-body adiabatic hydrodynamical simulations using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) code GADGET-2. These simulations of binary cluster collisions are aimed at exploring the parameter space of possible initial configurations. By attempting to match X-ray morphology, temperature, virial mass and X-ray luminosity, we set approximate constraints on some merger parameters. Our best models suggest a collision of clusters with mass ratio in the range 1/6-1/8, and having a subcluster with central gas density four times higher than that of the major cluster. Models with small impact parameter (b < 150 kpc), if any, are preferred. We estimate that A3376 is observed approximately 0.5 Gyr after core passage, and that the collision axis is inclined by i approximate to 40 degrees with respect to the plane of the sky. The infalling subcluster drives a supersonic shock wave that propagates at almost 2600 km s(-1), implying a Mach number as high as M similar to 4; but we show how it would have been underestimated as M similar to 3 due to projection effects. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/54006-4 - Um cluster de computadores para o Departamento de Astronomia do IAG-USP e para o Núcleo de Astrofísica da UNICSUL
• Beneficiário: Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Equipamentos Multiusuários
• Processo FAPESP: 10/12277-9 - Simulações numéricas de colisões de aglomerados de galáxias
• Beneficiário: Rubens Eduardo Garcia Machado
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado