Probing Cluster Cores Through High Resolution Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Imaging From MUSTANG And The GBT
Abstract
The SZ effect in galaxy clusters has long been sought as a cosmological probe. Typically, measurements are made at arcminute resolution to match the angular extent of the bulk signal in clusters. This is desirable when using the effect to search for clusters, or to extract physical parameters from radial profiles. However, as the SZ signal directly traces the line of sight integrated pressure, measuring the SZ on smaller angular scales provides a unique probe of presssure micro-physics in the cores which will be missed at lower resolution. I will present SZ observations of 4 massive galaxy clusters taken with the MUSTANG receiver on the GBT. These new measurements reveal pressure substructure in 3 of the 4 systems. In one high redshift system, we find strong evidence for a mildy supersonic merger induced shock front, and through a simultaneous analysis of X-ray and SZ, model the dynamics of the merger. In contrast, a nominally relaxed cluster with a known cool core was mapped and deemed consistent with no obvious substructure.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #217
- Pub Date:
- January 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AAS...21722705K