Published June 18, 2021 | Version v1
Poster Open

Deep Chandra observations of double relic cluster ZwCl 2341+0000

  • 1. Leiden Observatory
  • 2. SRON
  • 3. Università di Bologna
  • 4. Hamburger Sternwarte
  • 5. Harvard-Smithsonian CfA
  • 6. Rikkyo University

Description

We present the results of deep Chandra observations of ZwCl 2341+0000, which is a merging galaxy cluster hosting double radio relics. Previous X-ray investigation found an X-ray surface brightness discontinuity that is only associated with a part of the southern radio relic, posing questions for shock acceleration as the mechanism of the origin of radio relics. Using deep Chandra observations, we find that this jump is a core-remnant cold front associated with the southern subcluster. The actual location of the southern shock front is at the southeastern edge of the southern relic, which is unveiled by the radio spectral index map calculated using new GMRT 325 MHz and JVLA 1.5 GHz images. The deep Chandra observations also serendipitously reveal several intriguing features, for example, a cone shaped northern subcluster, a 400 kpc straight gas trail stripped from the cone apex, a peculiar high temperature region between the two subclusters that doesn't hold pressure equilibrium with the ambient gas. The conic subcluster is a unique feature that has never been observed before. We look up analogies for the conic subcluster in numerical simulations and find that a cone shape represents a certain stage during the remnant core travelling outbound. The drop of the pressure in the outskirts makes the front side of the remnant core quickly expand, which distorts a blunt body cold front into a cone. The simulation also reproduces an observed feature that the gas distribution inside the cone is inhomogeneous, meaning that the boundary of the cone has a higher density than that inside the cone. The new findings improve the knowledge of the evolution of remnant core in head-on mergers.

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