On thermal instability and hydrostatic equilibrium in cooling flows

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (69) References (17) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On Thermal Instability and Hydrostatic Equilibrium in Cooling Flows Balbus, Steven A. Abstract This paper addresses the nature of thermal instability in cluster cooling flows. Spherical systems characterized by hydrostatic equilibrium are studied using Lagrangian techniques. Several new results have been found, some of which are not consistent with previous work. The reasons for this are discussed. Local radial isobaric thermal instability does not exist. There is a strong, quantitative connection between thermal and convective instabilities. A new convective stability criterion is derived that is stronger than the Schwarzschild criterion and is necessary to suppress convection evolving on thermal scales. Convective energy transport is not likely to be a dominant process in cooling flows. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166301 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...328..395B Keywords: Cosmic Gases; Equilibrium Flow; Galactic Clusters; Hydrostatics; Intergalactic Media; Thermal Instability; Computational Astrophysics; Heat Sources; Perturbation Theory; Subsonic Flow; X Ray Sources; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: CLUSTERING; HYDRODYNAMICS; INSTABILITIES full text sources ADS |