The temperature profile of the hot gas within clusters of galaxies is a crucialquantity for determining the gravitational mass and baryon fraction of acluster, as well as a potential discriminant between competing cosmologicalmodels. Current observations will determine the temperature profiles out to 40%of the virial radius, yet simulations indicate the temperature should dropsteeply at larger radii. We propose to test this important prediction for thefirst time by observing four nearby, bright clusters with four off-centerpointings so we can determine the temperature profile out to 100% of the virialradius. This will represent the largest sample to date for which temperatureprofiles will be determined to a large fraction of the virial radius.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-01-25T08:28:46Z/2004-01-26T01:40:42Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr JIMMY IRWIN, 2005, 'DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE PROFILES OF CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES ONCE AND FOR ALL', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9wouifk
