Answering a SAX question: Ni and Fe abundances in the core of the Perseus cluster

Using an XMM-Newton observation of the Perseus cluster we show that the excess in the flux of the 7-8 keV line complex previously detected by ASCA and BeppoSAX is due to an overabundance of Nickel rather than to an anomalously high Fe Heβ/Fe Heα ratio. This observational fact leads to two main results. Firstly resonant scattering, which was assumed to be responsible for the supposed anomalous Fe Heβ/Fe Heα ratio, is no longer required. The absence of resonant scattering points towards the presence of significant gas motions in the core of the Perseus cluster. Secondly the Fe and Ni abundances show a strong gradient, confirming and adding another piece of evidence to the scenario of a central enhancement of SNIa ejecta in cD clusters.