Iron abundance profiles of 12 clusters of galaxies observed with BeppoSAX

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Date
2001-01-01
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IOP Publishing
Abstract

We have derived azimuthally averaged radial iron-abundance profiles of the X-ray gas contained within 12 clusters of galaxies with redshift 0.03 less than or equal to z less than or equal to 0.2 observed with BeppoSAX. We find evidence for a negative metal-abundance gradient in most of the clusters, particularly significant in clusters that possess cooling flows. The composite profile from the 12 clusters resembles that of cluster simulations of Metzler & Evrard. This abundance gradient could be the result of the spatial distribution of gas-losing galaxies within the cluster being more centrally condensed than the primordial hot gas. Both inside and outside the core region we find a higher abundance in cooling-flow clusters than in non-cooling-flow clusters. Outside of the cooling region this difference cannot be the result of more efficient sputtering of metals into the gaseous phase in cooling-flow clusters but might be the result of the mixing of low-metallicity gas from the outer regions of the cluster during a merger.

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Keywords
cooling flows, galaxies : clusters : general, intergalactic medium, X-rays : galaxies, RAY-EMITTING GAS, COOLING FLOWS, INTRACLUSTER MEDIUM, RADIAL TEMPERATURE, ASCA MEASUREMENTS, METALLICITY, CONSTRAINTS, ROSAT, IA, Astronomy & Astrophysics
Citation
Irwin, J., Bregman, J. (2001): Iron Abundance Profiles of 12 Clusters of Galaxies Observed With BeppoSAX. The Astrophysical Journal, 546(1). DOI: 10.1086/318240