An X-ray Temperature Map of Coma

Abstract

We present an X-ray temperature map of the Coma cluster of galaxies obtained with the ROSAT PSPC. As expected from the X-ray surface brightness distribution the intracluster gas of Coma is not isothermal. The temperature structure resembles a bow shock of hot gas produced by the passage of the subcluster around NGC 4839 through the main cluster, confirming hydrodynamical simulations.

5 pages, 2 figures. Contribution to the Rencontres Astrophysiques International Meeting "A New Vision of an Old Cluster: Untangling Coma Berenices", eds. F. Durret et al., held in Marseille, France 17-20 June 1997