Unbeknownst to most but not all the EPIC MOS detectors can be used to detectsubsonic gas motions in cluster cores. From our work on calibration data we findthat the relative energy across the EPIC MOS detectors can be reconstructed witha precision better than sim 1.5 eV. This can be used to detect velocities inexcess of sim 70 km/s in cluster cores from the Fe K alpha line. From theanalysis of a public Perseus observation we find various indications of gasmotions with typical velocities of the order of a few 100 km/s. Our analysis ofthe Perseus motions is however limited by the statistics of the observation, wetherefore request a new, longer, Perseus observation to secure sufficient countsto measure velocity shifts down to sim 200 km/s.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-01-29T18:09:04Z/2006-01-31T04:54:24Z
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 Silvano Molendi, 2007, 'Direct detection of gas motions in the Perseus core with XMM-Newton', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-1agywiu
