arXiv subjects

K. Matsushita

Publications and source records attributed to K. Matsushita.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

X-ray Spectroscopy of the Core of the Perseus Cluster with Suzaku: Elemental Abundances in the Intracluster Medium

The results from Suzaku observations of the central region of the Perseus cluster are presented. Deep exposures with the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer provide high quality X-ray spectra from the intracluster medium. X-ray lines from helium-like Cr and Mn have been detected significantly for the first time in clusters. In addition, elemental abundances of Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni are accurately measured within 10' (or 220 kpc) from the cluster center. The relative abundance ratios are found to be within a range of 0.8-1.5 times the solar value. These abundance ratios are compared with previous measurements, those in extremely metal-poor stars in the Galaxy, and theoretical models.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

X-ray Diagnostics of Thermal Conditions of the Hot Plasmas in the Centaurus Cluster

X-ray data of the Centaurus cluster, obtained with {\it XMM-Newton} for 45 ksec, were analyzed. Deprojected EPIC spectra from concentric thin shell regions were reproduced equally well by a single-phase plasma emission model, or by a two-phase model developed by {\it ASCA}, both incorporating cool (1.7--2.0 keV) and hot ($\sim 4$ keV) plasma temperatures. However, EPIC spectra with higher statistics, accumulated over 3-dimentional thick shell regions, were reproduced better by the two-phase model than by the singe-phase one. Therefore, hot and cool plasma phases are inferred to co-exist in the cluster core region within $\sim 70$ kpc. The iron and silicon abundances of the plasma were reconfirmed to increase significantly towards the center, while that of oxygen was consistent with being radially constant. The implied non-solar abundance ratios explains away the previously reported excess X-ray absorption from the central region. Although an additional cool ($\sim 0.7$ keV) emission was detected within $\sim 20$ kpc of the center, the RGS data gave tight upper limits on any emission with a tempeartures below $\sim 0.5$ keV. These results are compiled into a magnetosphere model, which interprets the cool phase as confined within closed magnetic loops anchored to the cD galaxy. When combined with so-called Rosner-Tucker-Vaiana mechanism which applies to solar coronae, this model can potentially explain basic properties of the cool phase, including its temperature and thermal stability.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Evolution of Galaxy Clusters Across Cosmic Time

The large scale structure of the present Universe is determined by the growth of dark matter density fluctuations and by the dynamical action of dark energy and dark matter. While much progress has been made in recent years in constraining the cosmological parameters, and in reconstructing the evolution in the large--scale structure of the dark matter distribution, we still lack an understanding of the evolution of the baryonic component of the Universe. Located at nodes of the cosmic web, clusters of galaxies are the largest collapsed structures in the Universe with total masses up to 10$^{15}$ M$_{\sun}$. Over 80% of their mass resides in the form of dark matter. The remaining mass is composed of baryons, most of which (about 85%) is a diffuse, hot plasma that radiates primarily in X-rays. X-ray observations of the evolving cluster population provide a unique opportunity to address such open and fundamental questions as: How do hot diffuse baryons dynamically evolve in dark matter potentials? How and when was the excess energy which we observe in the intergalactic medium generated? What is the cosmic history of heavy-element production and circulation? Our current knowledge comes primarily from detailed studies of clusters in the relatively nearby Universe (z$<$0.5). Major advances will come from high throughput, high spectral and spatial resolution X-ray observations that measure the thermodynamical properties and metal content of the first low mass clusters emerging at z $\sim$ 2 and directly trace their evolution into today's massive clusters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

X-ray properties in massive galaxy clusters: XMM-Newton observations of the REFLEX-DXL sample

We selected an unbiased, flux-limited and almost volume-complete sample of 13 distant, X-ray luminous (DXL, $z\sim 0.3$) clusters and one supplementary cluster at $z=0.2578$ from the REFLEX Survey (the REFLEX-DXL sample). We performed a detailed study to explore their X-ray properties using XMM-Newton observations. Based on the precise radial distributions of the gas density and temperature, we obtained robust cluster masses and gas mass fractions. The average gas mass fraction of the REFLEX-DXL sample at $r_{500}$, $0.116 \pm 0.007$, agrees with the previous cluster studies and the WMAP baryon fraction measurement. The scaled profiles of the surface brightness, temperature, entropy, gas mass and total mass are characterized by a self-similar behaviour at radii above 0.2--0.3 $r_{500}$. The REFLEX-DXL sample confirms the previous studies of the normalization of the scaling relations ($L$--$T$, $L$--$M$, $M$--$T$ and $M_{\rm gas}$--$T$) when the redshift evolution of the scaling relations is accounted for. We investigated the scatter of the scaling relations of the REFLEX-DXL sample. This gives the correlative scatter of (0.20,0.10) for variable of ($M$,$T$) of the $M_{500}$--$T$ relation, for example.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Representative XMM-Newton Cluster Structure Survey (REXCESS) of an X-ray Luminosity Selected Galaxy Cluster Sample

The largest uncertainty for cosmological studies using clusters of galaxies is introduced by our limited knowledge of the statistics of galaxy cluster structure, and of the scaling relations between observables and cluster mass. To improve on this situation we have started an XMM-Newton Large Programme for the in-depth study of a representative sample of 33 galaxy clusters, selected in the redshift range z=0.055 to 0.183 from the REFLEX Cluster Survey, having X-ray luminosities above 0.4 X 10^44 h_70^-2 erg s^-1 in the 0.1 - 2.4 keV band. This paper introduces the sample, compiles properties of the clusters, and provides detailed information on the sample selection function. We describe the selection of a nearby galaxy cluster sample that makes optimal use of the XMM-Newton field-of-view, and provides nearly homogeneous X-ray luminosity coverage for the full range from poor clusters to the most massive objects in the Universe. For the clusters in the sample, X-ray fluxes are derived and compared to the previously obtained fluxes from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. We find that the fluxes and the flux errors have been reliably determined in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey analysis used for the REFLEX Survey. We use the sample selection function documented in detail in this paper to determine the X-ray luminosity function, and compare it with the luminosity function of the entire REFLEX sample. We also discuss morphological peculiarities of some of the sample members. The sample and some of the background data given in this introductory paper will be important for the application of these data in the detailed studies of cluster structure, to appear in forthcoming publications.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Suzaku Observation of Two Ultraluminous X-Ray Sources in NGC 1313

Two ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in the nearby Sb galaxy NGC 1313, named X-1 and X-2, were observed with Suzaku on 2005 September 15. During the observation for a net exposure of 28~ks (but over a gross time span of 90~ks), both objects varied in intensity by about 50~%. The 0.4--10 keV X-ray luminosity of X-1 and X-2 was measured as $2.5 \times 10^{40}~{\rm erg~s^{-1}}$ and $5.8 \times 10^{39}~{\rm erg~s^{-1}}$, respectively, with the former the highest ever reported for this ULX. The spectrum of X-1 can be explained by a sum of a strong and variable power-law component with a high energy cutoff, and a stable multicolor blackbody with an innermost disk temperature of $\sim 0.2$ keV. These results suggest that X-1 was in a ``very high'' state, where the disk emission is strongly Comptonized. The absorber within NGC 1313 toward X-1 is suggested to have a subsolar oxygen abundance. The spectrum of X-2 is best represented, in its fainter phase, by a multicolor blackbody model with the innermost disk temperature of 1.2--1.3 keV, and becomes flatter as the source becomes brighter. Hence X-2 is interpreted to be in a slim-disk state. These results suggest that the two ULXs have black hole masses of a few tens to a few hundreds solar masses.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Suzaku Reveals Helium-burning Products in the X-ray Emitting Planetary Nebula BD+303639

BD+303639, the brightest planetary nebula at X-ray energies, was observed with Suzaku, an X-ray observatory launched on 2005 July 10. Using the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer, the K-lines from C VI, O VII, and O VIII were resolved for the first time, and C/O, N/O, and Ne/O abundance ratios determined. The C/O and Ne/O abundance ratios exceed the solar value by a factor of at least 30 and 5, respectively. These results indicate that the X-rays are emitted mainly by helium shell-burning products.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

DIOS: the Diffuse Intergalactic Oxygen Surveyor

We present our proposal for a small X-ray mission DIOS (Diffuse Intergalactic Oxygen Surveyor), consisting of a 4-stage X-ray telescope and an array of TES microcalorimeters, cooled with mechanical coolers, with a total weight of about 400 kg. The mission will perform survey observations of warm-hot intergalactic medium using OVII and OVIII emission lines, with the energy coverage up to 1.5 keV. The wide field of view of about 50' diameter, superior energy resolution close to 2 eV FWHM, and very low background will together enable us a wide range of science for diffuse X-ray sources. We briefly describe the design of the satellite, performance of the subsystems and the expected results.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

XMM-Newton Observation of IC 310 in the Outer Region of the Perseus Cluster of Galaxies

We present results from an XMM-Newton observation of the head-tail radio galaxy IC 310 located in the southwest region of the Perseus cluster. The spectrum is well-fitted by an absorbed power-law model with a photon index of $2.50 \pm 0.02$ with no significant absorption excess. The X-ray image shows a point-like emission at IC 310 without any signs of a structure correlated with the radio halo tail. The temperature of the intracluster medium surrounding IC 310 declines as a function of distance from the cluster center, from $ kT \sim 6$ keV in the northeast corner of the field of view to about 3 keV in the southwest region. Although we do not find any sharp edges in the surface brightness profile, a brightness excess over a smooth $β$ model by about 20% is seen. The temperature also rises by about 10% in the same region. This indicates that the IC 310 region is a subcluster probably infalling into the Perseus cluster, and the gas in front of IC 310 towards the Perseus cluster is likely to be compressed by the large-scale motion, which supports the view that the IC 310 system is undergoing a merger.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Metal Abundances in the ICM as a Diagnostics of the Cluster History

Galaxy clusters with a dense cooling core exhibit a central increase in the metallicity of the intracluster medium. Recent XMM-Newton studies with detailed results on the relative abundances of several heavy elements show that the high central abundances are mostly due to the contribution from supernovae type Ia. The dominant source is the stellar population of the central cluster galaxy. With this identification of the origin of heavy elements and the observed rates of SN Ia in elliptical galaxies, the central abundance peak can be used as a diagnostic for the history of the cluster core region. We find for four nearby cooling core clusters that the enrichment times for the central peaks are larger than 6 - 10 Gyrs even for a higher SN Ia rate in the past. This points to an old age and a relatively quiet history of these cluster core regions. A detailed analysis of the element abundance ratios provides evidence that the SN Ia yields in the central cluster galaxies are more rich in intermediate mass elements, like Si and S, compared to the SN Ia models used to explain the heavy element enrichment in our Galaxy.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Exploring the Structure of Galaxy Clusters: XMM-Newton observations of the REFLEX-DXL clusters at z~0.3

The precise determination of global properties of galaxy clusters, and their scaling relations, is a task of prime importance for the use of clusters as cosmological probes. We performed a detailed XMM-Newton study of 14 X-ray luminous REFLEX Survey clusters at z~0.3. We found that the properties of the galaxy clusters show a self-similar behavior at r>0.1r_{vir}. This helps to establish tighter scaling relations. Peculiarities in the individual clusters are important to understand the scatter from the self-similar frame in the cluster central parts.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

An XMM-Newton study of the RGH 80 galaxy group

We present an X-ray study of the galaxy group RGH 80, observed by XMM-Newton. The X-ray emission of the gas is detected out to ~ 462h^{-1}_{50} kpc, corresponding to ~ 0.45 r_{200}. The group is relatively gas rich and luminous with respect to its temperature of 1.01 +/- 0.01 keV. Using the deprojected spectral analysis, we find that the temperature peaks at ~ 1.3 keV around 0.11r_{200}, and then decreases inwards to 0.83 keV at the center and outwards to ~ 70% of the peak value at large radii. Within the central ~ 60 kpc of the group where the gas cooling time is less than the Hubble time, two-temperature model with temperatures of 0.82 and 1.51 keV and the Galactic absorption gives the best fit of the spectra, with ~ 20% volume occupied by the cool component. We also derive the gas entropy distribution, which is consistent with the prediction of cooling and/or internal heating models. Furthermore, the abundances of O, Mg, Si, S, and Fe decrease monotonically with radius. With the observed abundance ratio pattern, we estimate that ~ 85% or ~ 72% of the iron mass is contributed by SN Ia, depending on the adopted SN II models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Spatial distributions of the REFLEX-DXL galaxy clusters at z~0.3 observed by XMM-Newton

We present XMM-Newton results on the spatially resolved temperature profiles of eight massive galaxy clusters of a volume-limited sample at redshifts $z\sim0.3$ (REFLEX-DXL sample) and an additional luminous cluster at $z=0.2578$, selected from the REFLEX survey. Useful temperature measurements could be performed out to radii with overdensity 500 ($r_{500}$). The scaled temperature distributions show good similarities. We discovered diversities in the temperature gradients at the outer cluster radii with examples of both flat and strongly decreasing profiles which call for different physical interpretations. We found an indication of the 'warm-hot' gas existing in or around the hot clusters. Using RXCJ0307.0-2840 we demonstrate that the errors on the mass estimates are within 25% up to r_{500}.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Implications of the central metal abundance peak in cooling core clusters of galaxies

Recent XMM-Newton observations of clusters of galaxies have provided detailed information on the distribution of heavy elements in the central regions of clusters with cooling cores providing strong evidence that most of these metals come from recent SN type Ia. In this paper we compile information on the cumulative mass profiles of iron, the most important metallicity tracer. We find that long enrichment times (larger than 5 Gyr) are necessary to produce the central abundance peaks. Classical cooling flows, a strongly convective intracluster medium, and a complete metal mixing by cluster mergers would destroy the observed abundance peaks too rapidly. Thus the observations set strong constraints on cluster evolution models requiring that the cooling cores in clusters are preserved over very long times. We further conclude from the observations that the innermost part of the intracluster medium is most probably dominated by gas originating predominantly from stellar mass loss of the cD galaxy.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Temperature gradients in XMM-Newton observed REFLEX-DXL galaxy clusters at z~0.3

We present XMM-Newton results on the temperature profiles of a volume-limited sample of galaxy clusters at redshifts z~0.3, selected from the REFLEX survey (REFLEX-DXL sample). In the spectral analysis, where only the energies above 1 keV were considered, we obtained consistent results on the temperature derived from the EPN, EMOS1 and EMOS2 data. Useful temperature measurements could be performed out to radii with overdensity 500 (r500) for all nine clusters. We discovered a diversity in the temperature gradients at the outer cluster radii with examples of both flat and strongly decreasing profiles. Using the total mass and the gas mass profiles for the cluster RXCJ0307.0-2840 we demonstrate that the errors on the mass estimates for the REFLEX-DXL clusters are within 25% up to r500.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Properties of the background of EPIC-pn onboard XMM-Newton

We have investigated the background properties of EPIC-pn onboard XMM-Newton to establish the background subtraction method. Count rates of the background vary violently by two orders of magnitude at the maximum, while during the most quiet period, these are stable within 8 % at a 1 $σ$ level. The overall spectrum is dominated by particle events above 5 keV, and its spatial variation is also found. The long-term variation of the background is also investigated with CAL CLOSED data, where the filter wheel was in closed position with the internal calibration source illuminating the sensitive area. The average background count rate decreased by 20 % from March 2000 to January 2001, but it regained in February 2001. For the modeling of the background spectrum, we investigate relations between the 2.0--7.0 keV count rate and some characteristic parameters. The 2.0--7.0 keV background count rate shows a good correlation with the count rate of events outside the field of view. This correlation is usable for the modeling of the background.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Properties of the background of EPIC onboard XMM-Newton

Understanding a background is crucial in particular for a study of low surface brightness objects. In order to establish the background subtraction method, we have studied properties of the EPIC background. Count rates of the background vary violently by two order of magnitude at the maximum, while during the most quiet period, these are stable within 8 % at a 1 $σ$ level. The overall spectrum is dominated by particle events above 5 keV, and its spatial variation is also found. The long-term variation of the background is also investigated with CAL CLOSED data, which is the data of calibration source with filter closed. The average background count rate decreased by 20 % from March 2000 to January 2001, but it regained in February 2001. For the modeling of the background spectrum, we investigate correlations between the 2-10 keV count rate and some characteristic parameters. The PN background shows a good correlation with some parameters. On the other hands, the MOS background does not shows a clear correlation. Further investigation is needed for the MOS background. Our final goal is to establish a method to predict the background, for which these results will be reflected in the background generator.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The New Emerging Model for the Structure of Cooling Cores in Clusters of Galaxies

New X-ray observations with XMM-Newton show a lack of spectral evidence for large amounts of cooling and condensing gas in the centers of galaxy clusters believed to harbour strong cooling flows. Here, we explore these diagnostics of the temperature structure of cooling cores with XMM-spectroscopy. We further find no evidence of intrinsic absorption in the center of the cooling flows of M87 and the Perseus cluster. To explain these findings we consider the heating of the core regions of clusters by jets from a central AGN. We find that the power of the AGN jets as estimated by their interaction effects with the intracluster medium in several examples is more then sufficient to heat the cooling flows. We explore which requirements such a heating model has to fulfill and find a very promising scenario of self-regulated Bondi accretion of the central black hole. In summary it is argued that most observational evidence points towards much lower mass deposition rates than previously inferred for cooling flow clusters.

astro-ph↗