A Chandra Study of the Core of the Nearby Cluster Abell 576

• Main Authors: Kempner, Joshua C, David, Laurence P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 10-02-2004
• Subjects: Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies; Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics; Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0402229

Astrophys.J. 607 (2004) 220-225 We present data from a Chandra observation of the nearby cluster of galaxies
Abell 576. The core of the cluster shows a significant departure from dynamical
equilibrium. We show that this core gas is most likely the remnant of a merging
subcluster, which has been stripped of much of its gas, depositing a stream of
gas behind it in the main cluster. The unstripped remnant of the subcluster is
characterized by a different temperature, density and metalicity than that of
the surrounding main cluster, suggesting its distinct origin. Continual
dissipation of the kinetic energy of this minor merger may be sufficient to
counteract most cooling in the main cluster over the lifetime of the merger
event.