Metal enrichment processes in the intra-cluster medium

Author(s): Sabine Schindler, Wolfgang Kapferer, Wilfried Domainko, Martin Mair, Eelco van Kampen, Thomas Kronberger, Stefan Kimeswenger, M Ruffert, O Mangete, Dieter Breitschwerdt
Abstract: We present numerical simulations of galaxy clusters which include interaction processes between the galaxies and the intra-cluster gas. The considered interaction processes are galactic winds and ram-pressure stripping, which both transfer metal-enriched interstellar medium into the intra-cluster gas and hence increase its metallicity. We investigate the efficiency and time evolution of the interaction processes by simulated metallicity maps, which are directly comparable to those obtained from X-ray observations. We find that ram-pressure stripping is more efficient than quiet (i.e. non-starburst driven) galactic winds in the redshift interval between 1 and 0. The expelled metals are not mixed immediately with the intra-cluster gas, but inhomogeneities are visible in the metallicity maps. Even stripes of higher metallicity that a single galaxy has left behind can be seen. The spatial distribution of the metals transported by ram-pressure stripping and by galactic winds are very different for massive clusters: the former process yields a centrally concentrated metal distribution while the latter results in an extended metal distribution. Œ ESO 2005.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, University of Edinburgh
Journal: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume: 435
ISSN: 0004-6361
Publication date: 2005
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/96f6206e-4f55-4ba5-88f3-b7058a6f4a8a

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