arXiv subjects

Fabio Gastaldello

Publications and source records attributed to Fabio Gastaldello.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Temperature and Metallicity in the Intra-cluster Medium of ABELL 262 observed with Suzaku

We studied the temperature and abundance distributions of intra-cluster medium (ICM) in the Abell 262 cluster of galaxies observed with Suzaku. Abell 262 is a bright, nearby poor cluster with ICM temperature of ~2 keV, thus providing useful information about the connection of ICM properties between groups and clusters of galaxies. The observed spectrum of the central region was well-represented by two temperature models, and the spectra for the outer regions were described by single temperature model. With the XIS instrument, we directly measured not only Si, S, and Fe lines but also O and Mg lines and obtained those abundances to an outer region of ~0.43 r_180 for the first time. We found steep gradients for Mg, Si, S, and Fe abundances, while O showed almost flat abundance distribution. Abundance ratios of alpha-elements to Fe were found to be similar to those of the other clusters and groups. We calculated the number ratio of type II to type Ia supernovae for the ICM enrichment to be 3.0 +- 0.6 within 0.1 r_180, and the value was consistent with those for other clusters and groups. We also calculated metal mass-to-light ratios (MLRs) for Fe, O and Mg (IMLR, OMLR, MMLR) with B-band and K-band luminosities of the member galaxies of Abell 262. The derived MLRs were comparable to those for other clusters with kT = 3-4 keV.

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arXiv2008

Non-thermal emission in the core of Perseus: results from a long XMM-Newton observation

We employ a long XMM-Newton observation of the core of the Perseus cluster to validate claims of a non-thermal component discovered with Chandra. From a meticulous analysis of our dataset, which includes a detailed treatment of systematic errors, we find the 2-10 keV surface brightness of the non-thermal component to be smaller than about 5x10^-16 erg cm^-2s^-1arcsec^-2. The most likely explanation for the discrepancy between the XMM-Newton and Chandra estimates is a problem in the effective area calibration of the latter. Our EPIC based magnetic field lower limits are not in disagreement with Faraday rotation measure estimates on a few cool cores and with a minimum energy estimate on Perseus. In the not too distant future Simbol-X may allow detection of non-thermal components with intensities more than 10 times smaller than those that can be measured with EPIC; nonetheless even the exquisite sensitivity within reach for Simbol-X might be insufficient to detect the IC emission from Perseus.

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arXiv2007

Trouble for AGN Feedback ? The puzzle of the core of the Galaxy Cluster AWM 4

The core of the relaxed cluster AWM 4 is characterized by a unique combination of properties which defy a popular scenario for ANG heating of cluster cores. A flat inner temperature profile is indicative of a past, major heating episode which completely erased the cool core, as testified by the high central cooling time (~ 3 Gyr) and by the high central entropy level (~ 60 keV cm^2). Yet the presence of a 1.4 GHz active central radio galaxy with extended radio lobes out to 100 kpc, reveals recent feeding of the central massive black hole. A system like AWM 4 should have no radio emission at all if only feedback from the cooling hot gas regulates the AGN activity.

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arXiv2007

XMM-Newton observation of the cluster ZW 1305.4+2941 in the field SA 57

We report the details of an XMM observation of the cluster of galaxies ZW 1305.4+2941 at the intermediate redshift of z=0.241, increasing the small number of interesting X-ray constraints on properties of ~3 keV systems above z=0.1. Based on the 45 ks XMM observation, we find that within a radius of 228 kpc the cluster has an unabsorbed X-ray flux of 2.07 +/- 0.06 x 10^{-13} erg/cm^2/s, a temperature of kT = 3.17 +/-0.19 keV, in good agreement with the previous ROSAT determination, and an abundance of 0.93 (+0.24,-0.29} solar. Within r_500 = 723 +/- 6 kpc the rest-frame bolometric X-ray luminosity is L_X (r_500)= 1.25 +/- 0.16 x 10^{44} erg/s. The cluster obeys the scaling relations for L_X, T and the velocity dispersion derived at intermediate redshift for kT < 4 keV, for which we provide new fits for all literature objects. The mass derived from an isothermal NFW model fit is, M_vir = 2.77 +/- 0.21 x 10^{14} solar masses, with a concentration parameter, c = 7.9 +/- 0.5.

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arXiv2007

Probing the Dark Matter and Gas Fraction in Relaxed Galaxy Groups with X-ray observations from Chandra and XMM

We present radial mass profiles within 0.3 r_vir for 16 relaxed galaxy groups-poor clusters (kT range 1-3 keV) selected for optimal mass constraints from the Chandra and XMM data archives. After accounting for the mass of hot gas, the resulting mass profiles are described well by a two-component model consisting of dark matter (DM), represented by an NFW model, and stars from the central galaxy. The stellar component is required only for 8 systems, for which reasonable stellar mass-to-light ratios (M/L_K) are obtained, assuming a Kroupa IMF. Modifying the NFW dark matter halo by adiabatic contraction does not improve the fit and yields systematically lower M/L_K. In contrast to previous results for massive clusters, we find that the NFW concentration parameter (c_vir) for groups decreases with increasing M_vir and is inconsistent with no variation at the 3 sigma level. The normalization and slope of the c_vir-M_vir relation are consistent with the standard LambdaCDM cosmological model with sigma_8 = 0.9. The small intrinsic scatter measured about the c_vir-M_vir relation implies the groups represent preferentially relaxed, early forming systems. The mean gas fraction (f =0.05 +/- 0.01) of the groups measured within an overdensity Delta=2500 is lower than for hot, massive clusters, but the fractional scatter (sigma_f/f=0.2) for groups is larger, implying a greater impact of feedback processes on groups, as expected.

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arXiv2007

The X-Ray Concentration-Virial Mass Relation

We present the concentration (c)-virial mass (M) relation of 39 galaxy systems ranging in mass from individual early-type galaxies up to the most massive galaxy clusters, (0.06-20) x 10^{14} M_sun. We selected for analysis the most relaxed systems possessing the highest quality data currently available in the Chandra and XMM public data archives. A power-law model fitted to the X-ray c-M relation requires at high significance (6.6 sigma) that c decreases with increasing M, which is a general feature of CDM models. The median and scatter of the c-M relation produced by the flat, concordance LCDM model (Omega_m=0.3, sigma_8=0.9) agrees with the X-ray data provided the sample is comprised of the most relaxed, early forming systems, which is consistent with our selection criteria. Holding the rest of the cosmological parameters fixed to those in the concordance model the c-M relation requires 0.76< sigma_8 <1.07 (99% conf.), assuming a 10% upward bias in the concentrations for early forming systems. The tilted, low-sigma_8 model suggested by a new WMAP analysis is rejected at 99.99% confidence, but a model with the same tilt and normalization can be reconciled with the X-ray data by increasing the dark energy equation of state parameter to w ~ -0.8. When imposing the additional constraint of the tight relation between sigma_8 and Omega_m from studies of cluster abundances, the X-ray c-M relation excludes (>99% conf.) both open CDM models and flat CDM models with Omega_m ~1. This result provides novel evidence for a flat, low-Omega_m universe with dark energy using observations only in the local (z << 1) universe. Possible systematic errors in the X-ray mass measurements of a magnitude ~10% suggested by CDM simulations do not change our conclusions.

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arXiv2007

Serendipitous XMM-Newton discovery of a cluster of galaxies at z=0.28

We report the discovery of a galaxy cluster serendipitously detected as an extended X-ray source in an offset observation of the group NGC 5044. The cluster redshift, z=0.281, determined from the optical spectrum of the brightest cluster galaxy, agrees with that inferred from the X-ray spectrum using the Fe K alpha complex of the hot ICM (z=0.27 +/- 0.01). Based on the 50 ks XMM observation, we find that within a radius of 383 kpc the cluster has an unabsorbed X-ray flux, f_X (0.5-2 keV) = 3.34 (+0.08, -0.13) x 10^{-13} erg/cm^2/s, a bolometric X-ray luminosity, L_X = 2.21 (+0.34, -0.19) x 10^{44} erg/s, kT = 3.57 +/- 0.12 keV, and metallicity, 0.60 +/- 0.09 solar. The cluster obeys the scaling relations for L_X and T observed at intermediate redshift. The mass derived from an isothermal NFW model fit is, M_vir = 3.89 +/- 0.35 x 10^{14} solar masses, with a concentration parameter, c = 6.7 +/- 0.4, consistent with the range of values expected in the concordance cosmological model for relaxed clusters. The optical properties suggest this could be a ``fossil cluster''.

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arXiv2006

The Absence of Adiabatic Contraction of the Radial Dark Matter Profile in the Galaxy Cluster A2589

We present an X-ray analysis of the radial mass profile of the radio-quiet galaxy cluster A2589 between 0.015-0.25 r_vir using an XMM-Newton observation. Except for a ~16 kpc shift of the X-ray center of the R=45-60 kpc annulus, A2589 possesses a remarkably symmetrical X-ray image and is therefore an exceptional candidate for precision studies of its mass profile by applying hydrostatic equilibrium. The total gravitating matter profile is well described by the NFW model (fractional residuals <~10%) with c_vir=6.1 +/- 0.3 and M_vir = 3.3 +/- 0.3 x 10^{14} M_sun (r_vir = 1.74 +/- 0.05 Mpc) in excellent agreement with LCDM. When the mass of the hot ICM is subtracted from the gravitating matter profile, the NFW model fitted to the resulting dark matter (DM) profile produces essentially the same result. However, if a component accounting for the stellar mass (M_*) of the cD galaxy is included, then the NFW fit to the DM profile is substantially degraded in the central r ~50 kpc for reasonable M_*/L_V. Modifying the NFW DM halo by adiabatic contraction arising from the early condensation of stellar baryons in the cD galaxy further degrades the fit. The fit is improved substantially with a Sersic-like model recently suggested by high resolution N-body simulations but with an inverse Sersic index, alpha ~0.5, a factor of ~3 higher than predicted. We argue that neither random turbulent motions nor magnetic fields can provide sufficient non-thermal pressure support to reconcile the XMM mass profile with adiabatic contraction of a CDM halo assuming reasonable M_*/L_V. Our results support the scenario where, at least for galaxy clusters, processes during halo formation counteract adiabatic contraction so that the total gravitating mass in the core approximately follows the NFW profile.

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arXiv2006

A Chandra View of Dark Matter in Early-Type Galaxies

We present a Chandra study of mass profiles in 7 elliptical galaxies, of which 3 have galaxy-scale and 4 group-scale halos demarcated at 1E13Msun. These represent the best available data for nearby objects with comparable X-ray luminosities. We measure ~flat mass-to-light (M/L) profiles within an optical half-light radius (Reff), rising by an order of magnitude at ~10Reff, which confirms the presence of dark matter (DM). The data indicate hydrostatic equilibrium, which is also supported by agreement with studies of stellar kinematics in elliptical galaxies. The data are well-fitted by a model comprising an NFW DM profile and a baryonic component following the optical light. The distribution of DM halo concentration parameters (c) versus Mvir agrees with LCDM predictions and our observations of bright groups. Concentrations are slightly higher than expected, which is most likely a selection effect. Omitting the stellar mass drastically increases c, possibly explaining large concentrations found by some past observers. The stellar M/LK agree with population synthesis models, assuming a Kroupa IMF. Allowing adiabatic compression (AC) of the DM halo by baryons made M/L more discrepant, casting some doubt on AC. Our best-fitting models imply total baryon fractions \~0.04--0.09, consistent with models of galaxy formation incorporating strong feedback. The groups exhibit positive temperature gradients, consistent with the "Universal" profiles found in other groups and clusters, whereas the galaxies have negative gradients, suggesting a change in the evolutionary history of the systems around Mvir=1E13 Msun.

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arXiv2005

Dark-Matter Halos of Early-Type Galaxies

Cosmological simulations of galaxy formation predict a universal form for the mass profile of dark matter (DM) halos from cluster to galaxy scales. Remarkably few interesting constraints exist, however, on DM halos in early-type galaxies. Using Chandra we present the temperature, density and mass profiles of a small sample of early-type galaxies, revealing significant DM in each case. When a component is included to account for stellar mass and the DM halo is allowed to respond adiabatically to the baryonic condensation into stars, the mass profiles are well-fitted by the universal profile, with Virial masses and concentrations in agreement with simulations. However, only ~half, or less, of the mass within R_e seems attributable to the stars, implying stellar M_*/L_B ~1-5.

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arXiv2003

Ni abundance in the core of the Perseus Cluster: an answer to the significance of resonant scattering

Using an XMM-Newton observation of the Perseus cluster we show that the excess in the flux of the 7-8 keV line complex previously detected by ASCA and BeppoSAX is due to an overabundance of Nickel rather than to an anomalously high Fe He$β$/Fe He$α$ ratio. This observational fact leads to the main result that resonant scattering, which was assumed to be responsible for the supposed anomalous Fe He$β$/Fe He$α$ ratio, is no longer required. The absence of resonant scattering points towards the presence of significant gas motions (either turbulent or laminar) in the core of the Perseus cluster.

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arXiv2002

Abundance gradients and the role of SNe in M87

We make a detailed measurement of the metal abundance profiles and metal abundance ratios of the inner core of M87/Virgo observed by XMM-Newton during the PV phase. We use multi temperature models for the inner regions and we compare the plasma codes APEC and MEKAL. We confirm the strong heavy elements gradient previously found by ASCA and BeppoSAX, but also find a significant increase in light elements, in particular O. This fact together with the constant O/Fe ratio in the inner 9 arcmin indicates an enhancement of contribution in the core of the cluster not only by SNIa but also by SNII.

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arXiv2002

Abundance gradients and the role of SNe in M87/Virgo

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arXiv2001

On the metal abundance in the core of M87

We revisit the XMM-Newton observation of M87 to make a new and more detailed measurement of the metal abundance profile. After having verified that spectral fits with single temperature models show a dramatic abundance drop within 1 arcmin of the cluster core, we show that more appropriate models, which include a multi-temperature component to account for the strong temperature gradient observed in M87, and a power-law component to account for the emission of the nucleus and knot A, give a substantially flat abundance profile. The drastic abundance decrement found by fitting a single temperature component to the data is an artifact known as "Fe-bias" (Buote 2000a,b) following from the application of an oversimplified spectral model to the data.

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