Interpretation of the X-ray Luminosity Function of Nearby Rich and Poor Galaxy Clusters
Abstract
We report the results of an analysis of X-ray images from the ROSAT All-Sky-Survey of a complete sample of 294 Abell clusters with z<0.09 and 49 poor galaxy clusters from 0.01<z<0.03. From these samples, we have calculated the x-ray luminosity function for low-z clusters. Given the large size of this sample, we measure the most tightly constrained estimate of the local X-ray luminosity function to date. From a comparison of the rich and poor clusters in these samples, we find a remarkable power-law extrapolation in the XLF over nearly 4 orders of magnitude in X-ray luminosity. We present an interpretation of the XLF based on a comparison to predictions of a Press- Schechter mass-function. We also compare our results to other work including X-ray selected cluster samples and several high-z XLF's recently presented in the literature.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 1997
- Bibcode:
- 1997AAS...19111605L