The heating of gas in clusters of galaxies by relativistic electrons - Collective effects
Abstract
We show that the rate at which gas is heated in X-ray clusters of galaxies by streaming relativistic electrons can be much greater than the Coulomb heating rate because of the stimulated growth of a high level of electrostatic turbulence and its subsequent collapse to shorter wavelengths. This enhanced heating (and, hence, energy loss) rate allows the X-ray emitting gas to be heated by those particles which are observable through their synchrotron emission at low radio frequencies and yields a radio source size consistent with the observed radio halo sizes in the Coma cluster. The heating of gas in clusters of galaxies by relativistic electrons will significantly affect the cluster gas dynamics.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158162
- Bibcode:
- 1980ApJ...239..769S
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Energy;
- Galactic Clusters;
- Gas Heating;
- Relativistic Particles;
- Astrophysics;
- Intergalactic Media;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- Astrophysics