Microphysics of intracluster plasma with an X-ray microcalorimeter
Abstract
Our usual assumption of a Maxwellian distribution for thermal electrons in the intracluster plasma may be incorrect, as evidenced by in-situ observations in the solar wind plasma. Strong deviations are possible, and even likely, in cluster locations where cosmic ray acceleration should be occurring as seen from the resulting synchrotron radio emission, such as radio halos and relics. Recent theoretical work shows that such non-Maxwellian electron distributions would alter the ionization balance and emission line ratios for various elements, and even the shape of thermal continuum that we use for cluster temperature determination. The Astro-H microcalorimeter will be able to detect such deviations if the bulk of the intracluster plasma is non-Maxwellian, and future high angular resolution microcalorimeters will be able to study such deviations at shock fronts, radio relics and other special locations.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #15
- Pub Date:
- April 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016HEAD...1510104M