Evidence for an X-Ray to Gamma-Ray Virial Shock Signal from the Coma Cluster

Uri Keshet, Ido Reiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Following evidence for an east-west elongated virial ring around the Coma galaxy cluster in a ∼220 GeV VERITAS mosaic, we search for corresponding signatures in >GeV γ-rays from Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT), and in soft, ∼0.1 keV X-rays from ROSAT. For the ring elongation and orientation inferred from VERITAS, we find a nominal LAT excess, and the expected signature (<5σ) in ROSAT bands R1 and R1+R2. The significances of both LAT and ROSAT signals are maximal near the VERITAS ring parameters. The intensities of the ROSAT, Fermi, and VERITAS signals are consistent with the virial shock depositing (with an uncertainty factor of ∼3) of its energy over a Hubble time in a nearly flat, p ≡ -d In Ne/d In E ≲ 2.0-2.2 spectrum of cosmic-ray electrons. The sharp radial profiles of the LAT and ROSAT signals suggest preferential accretion in the plane of the sky, as indicated by the distribution of neighboring large-scale structures. The X-ray signal gauges the compression of cosmic-rays as they are advected deeper into the cluster.

Original languageEnglish
Article number53
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume869
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • X-rays: galaxies: clusters
  • acceleration of particles
  • galaxies: clusters: individual (Coma)
  • gamma rays: galaxies: clusters
  • shock waves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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