A uniform metallicity in the outskirts of massive, nearby galaxy clusters

O. Urban; N. Werner; S. W. Allen; A. Simionescu; A. Mantz

doi:10.1093/mnras/stx1542

paper

A uniform metallicity in the outskirts of massive, nearby galaxy clusters

arXiv:1706.01567 · doi:10.1093/mnras/stx1542

Abstract

Suzaku measurements of a homogeneous metal distribution of $Z \sim 0.3$ Solar in the outskirts of the nearby Perseus cluster suggest that chemical elements were deposited and mixed into the intergalactic medium before clusters formed, likely over 10 billion years ago. A key prediction of this early enrichment scenario is that the intracluster medium in all massive clusters should be uniformly enriched to a similar level. Here, we confirm this prediction by determining the iron abundances in the outskirts ( $r > 0.25 r_{200}$ ) of a sample of ten other nearby galaxy clusters observed with Suzaku for which robust measurements based on the Fe-K lines can be made. Across our sample the iron abundances are consistent with a constant value, $Z_{Fe} = 0.316 \pm 0.012$ Solar ( $χ^{2} = 28.85$ for 25 degrees of freedom). This is remarkably similar to the measurements for the Perseus cluster of $Z_{Fe} = 0.314 \pm 0.012$ Solar, using the Solar abundance scale of Asplund et al. (2009).

arXiv commentaccepted for publication in MNRAS

A uniform metallicity in the outskirts of massive, nearby galaxy clusters

Abstract

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