We have recently found evidence of supersonic bulk velocities in the ICM of A576&/ A376. The dependence of these measurements on the gain stability of thespectrometers makes the confirmation of these results crucial. Such high gasvelocities have a strong impact on our understanding of formation and evolutionof clusters and also in determining basic physical characteristics such asgravitating mass and energetics. Given the high magnitude of the velocitygradient and its spatial extent, XMM provides a unique opportunity tocorroborate and improve such measurements. The excellent gain stability ofEPIC-MOS will allows us to tailor the observation for velocity studies reducingindividual velocity errors to virgul 400--800 km/s, with relatively short exposures.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-10-20T21:57:18Z/2007-10-29T12:36:53Z
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 Renato Dupke, 2009, 'Velocity Tomography of the Intracluster Gas with XMM', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-7kfjlo5
