Observing AGN Feedback in Galaxy Clusters and Groups with Athena
Abstract
AGN feedback is thought to be crucial to the evolution of objects over a wide range of scales, from galaxies to the most massive galaxy clusters. AGN are the likely origin of the energy required to prevent massive cooling flows developing in the cores of clusters and groups. I will discuss how the Athena observatory will make leaps in our understanding of feedback in these objects, through its massive increase in available collecting area and spectral resolution. It will answer important questions, including: How is the energy from jets dissipated and distributed through the hot atmosphere of the cluster or group? How does feedback operate to regulate gas cooling and AGN fuelling? What is the cumulative impact of powerful radio galaxies on the evolution of baryons from the epoch of group and cluster formation to the present? Athena's powerful capabilities will allow us to study AGN feedback in exquisite detail in many objects and also in large complete samples.
- Publication:
-
40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014cosp...40E2864S