Soft X-ray structure of the Coma cluster of galaxies

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (31) References (30) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Soft X-ray structure of the Coma cluster of galaxies. Gorenstein, P. ; Fabricant, D. ; Topka, K. ; Harnden, F. R., Jr. Abstract Results are reported for an observation of the Coma cluster with an imaging X-ray telescope system aboard a sounding rocket. A two-dimensional X-ray map of the cluster in the energy range from 0.15 to 2.0 keV is presented. The radial distribution, granularity, and ellipticity of the X-ray surface brightness are investigated, and the spectrum and flux within the field of view are analyzed. These properties are then examined quantitatively by comparing the observations with models through the use of a chi-squared test. It is found that: (1) no single galaxy contributes more than a few percent of the total X-ray flux of the Coma cluster; (2) the X-ray source is diffuse but granular on a scale of several arcmin, particularly in the central region; (3) the centroid of the X-ray source is at a local intensity minimum; and (4) the data are most consistent with an isothermal hydrostatic model. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1979 DOI: 10.1086/157058 Bibcode: 1979ApJ...230...26G Keywords: Astronomical Maps; Galactic Clusters; Galactic Radiation; X Ray Astronomy; Galactic Structure; Spatial Distribution; Spectrum Analysis; X Ray Sources; Astrophysics; Clusters of Galaxies:Coma; Clusters of Galaxies:Models; Clusters of Galaxies:X Rays full text sources ADS |