Understanding the Formation and Evolution of X-ray Clusters
Greg Bryan (Columbia ) - Apr 4 at 12:00 noon
The new X-ray observatories have unleashed an explosion of data about the
hot gas in galaxy clusters, in the process overturning cherished theories
and posing new puzzles, particularly about the impact of AGN on the
thermal state of the cluster gas. I review what can be understood from
observations, simple theory and high-resolution numerical simulations,
showing show that in some areas -- such as the temperature profile at
large radii -- the latest observational results are in surprisingly good
agreement with theory. On the other hand, the impact of cooling and
heating on the core, and on global scaling relations are still not
perfectly well understood (although we have made considerable progress).
I use new simulations to show that there are, in fact, two separate
heating/cooling issues in galaxy clusters and the resolution of these
issues may tell us something very important about high-redshift galaxy
formation.
The seminar will be held in 544 Campbell Hall.
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