Detection of extended X-ray emission surrounding cD galaxies in poor clusters

Journal Article · Tue Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183159· OSTI ID:5535852

Kriss, G A; Canizares, C R; McClintock, J E; Feigelson, E D

The imaging proportional counter on the Einstein Observatory has detected extended X-ray emission from MKW 3s and AWM 4, two poor clusters containing dominant galaxies. In each case the X-ray emission is centered on the D or cD galaxy, but in MKW 3s it is symmetric (core radius 2'.5) while in AWM 4 it is not (extended 1' in NW-SE direction). The 0.25--3 keV luminosities, 10/sup 44/ ergs s/sup -1/ for MKW 3s and 10/sup 43/ ergs s/sup -1/ for AWM 4, are typical of those observed for the richer Abell clusters. We have measured redshifts of three galaxies in MKW 3s to confirm the physical association of the group. The hot gas present in this cluster is dense enough to confine the relativistic particles in 3C 318.1. As in the rich clusters, the mass of X-ray emitting gas in these two clusters is comparable to the visual mass and is approx.10--20% of the virial mass. Our results suggest that poor clusters can collect enough gas to become detectable X-ray sources if they are relatively compact, which the presence of dominant galaxies indicates.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Center for Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• OSTI ID: 5535852
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 235:2; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GASES
INTERGALACTIC SPACE
LUMINOSITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RED SHIFT
SPACE
SPECTRA
X-RAY GALAXIES
X-RAY SPECTRA