Hard X-Ray Properties of the Merging Cluster Abell 3667 as Observed with Suzaku
Abstract
Wide-band Suzaku data on the merging cluster Abell 3667 were examined for hard X-ray emission in excess to the known thermal component. Suzaku detected X-ray signals in a wide energy band from 0.5 to 40keV. The hard X-ray (>10keV) flux observed by the HXD around the cluster center cannot be explained by a simple extension of the thermal emission with an average temperature of ∼7keV. The emission is most likely to be from a very hot (kT > 13.2keV) thermal component around the cluster center, produced via a strong heating process in a merger. In the north-west radio relic, no signature of non-thermal emission was observed. Using the HXD, the overall upper-limit flux within a 34' × 34' field-of-view around the relic was derived to be 5.3 × 10-12ergs-1cm-2 in the 10--40keV band, after subtracting the ICM contribution estimated using the XIS or the XMM-Newton spectra. Directly on the relic region, the upper limit is further tightened by the XIS data to be less than 7.3 × 10-13ergs-1cm-2, when converted into the 10-40keV band. The latter value suggest that the average magnetic field within the relic is higher than 1.6μG. The non-thermal pressure due to magnetic fields and relativistic electrons may be as large as ∼20% of the thermal pressure in the region.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
- Pub Date:
- February 2009
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0812.1438
- Bibcode:
- 2009PASJ...61..339N
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: clusters: individual (Abell 3667);
- galaxies: magnetic fields;
- radiation mechanisms: non-thermal;
- X-rays: galaxies;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 18 pages, 13 figures, to be appeared in PASJ 2008