New Frontiers in Galaxy Clusters with ASTRO-H
Abstract
The next generation X-ray observatory ASTRO-H will open up a new dimension in the study of galaxy clusters. For the first time, the focal plane calorimeter aboard ASTRO-H will achieve the spectral resolution required to measure velocities of the intracluster plasma. At the same time, the Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) will extend the simultaneous spectral coverage to energies well above 10 keV, critical for studying both thermal and non-thermal gas in clusters. We present an overview of the capabilities of ASTRO-H for exploring gas motions in galaxy clusters, including their cosmological implications, the physics of AGN feedback, the dynamics of cluster mergers and associated high-energy processes, the chemical enrichment of the intracluster medium, and the nature of missing baryons and unidentified dark matter. By demonstrating these capabilities explicitly on representative galaxy clusters, we hope to aid and encourage the broader astrophysical community in developing ASTRO-H science.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #225
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AAS...22533834M