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Measurements of the gas temperature and iron abundance distribution in the Coma ClusterThe medium energy X-ray detectors onboard the EXOSAT Observatory have been used to determine the gas temperature at several positions in the Coma Cluster of galaxies. Evidence is found at greater than 95 percent confidence for a higher temperature in the center of the cluster than in a position approximately 45 arcmin off-center. No difference in iron abundance is observed between the center and off-center regions and the equilibrium model for the distribution of elements in the Coma Cluster of Abramopoulos, Chanan, and Ku can be rejected with greater than 99.5 percent confidence, in favor of a model with more uniform composition. A phenomenological model is presented of the Coma Cluster, which is consistent with the data presented here, as well as the imaging data from the Einstein Observatory and the Tenma X-ray spectrum. The model has a central isothermal region of temperature about 9 keV extending to about 25 arcmin (about 1 Mpc). Beyond this radius the temperature falls as a polytrope with index about 1.6.
Document ID
19880052955
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Hughes, John P.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Gorenstein, P.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Fabricant, D.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 329
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
88A40182
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-5138
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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