Sloshing cold fronts observed at intermediate radii of galaxy clusters carryessential information on the macro-scale dynamical history and the micro-scalecluster physics. Previous Suzaku studies of the nearest cluster, Virgo, revealedtwo promising cold fronts at radii of 200-300 kpc to the south and west of M87with pronounced temperature and density discontinuities. We propose threeXMM-Newton EPIC observations to map the entire underlying sloshing front and tocharacterize its properties to a significantly better accuracy than was achievedwith Susaku. The proposed study will allow us to test the suppression of fluidinstabilities in the intracluster medium and to probe the evolution of thesloshing cold front over the past few billion years in this dynamically young cluster.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2020-07-05T23:13:30Z/2020-07-08T20:01:31Z
Version
18.02_20200221_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, Prof Yuanyuan Su, 2021, 'Mapping the nearest ancient sloshing cold front in the sky', 18.02_20200221_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-brvcnc1
