Interaction of the massive cluster system Abell 3016/3017 embedded in a cosmic filament

The galaxy cluster system RXCJ0225.9-4154 with the two sub-clusters A3016 and A3017 is embedded in a large-scale structure filament with signatures of filamentary accretion. In a Chandra observation of this system at a redshift of z = 0.2195 we detect both clusters in X-rays. In addition we detect a filament of X-ray emission connecting the two clusters and a galaxy group therein. The main cluster, A3017, shows indications of shocks most probably from a recent interaction with cluster components along the filament axis as well as a cold front at about 150 kpc from the cluster centre. The filament between the two clusters is likely to be heated by the accretion shocks of the clusters. We discuss two scenarios for the origin of the X-ray filament between the two clusters. In the first scenario the material of the filament has been ripped off of A3017 during the fly-by of A3016 and is now trailing the latter sub-cluster. Support for this scenario is a gas deficit on the eastern side of A3017. In the second scenario the filament between the two clusters does not come from either of them, but a significant contribution could come from the galaxy group located inside and the entire structure is on its first collapse. We favour the second explanation as the gas mass in the filament seems to be too large to be supplied by the interaction of the two Abell clusters. The paper describes many properties of the components of this cluster merger system that are used to assist the interpretation of the observed configuration.

Environmental Effects on Galaxy Evolution: Multifrequency study of nearby clusters

We show first results of a multifrequency survey focused on the mechanisms driving the transformation of cluster galaxies, from late to earlier S0-types. We compare the ram-pressure effects seen on 21cm-HI images with those mechanisms affecting the old stellar disks seen on deep optical and NIR images. Our targets are the Abell clusters A85, A496, A2670, which span different relaxation degrees, masses and X-ray luminosities.

Some Properties of Galaxy Structures

We analysed some properties of galaxies structures based on the PF catalog of galaxy structures (Panko & Flin 2006) and the Tully NBG catalog (Tully 1988). At first, we analyzed the orientation of galaxies in the 247 optically selected rich Abell clusters, having at least 100 members. The distribution of the position angles of galaxies as well as of two angles describing spatial orientation of the galaxy planes were tested for isotropy, applying three statistical tests. We found the relation between the anisotropy and the cluster richness. The relation between the galaxy alignment and the Bautz-Morgan morphological type of the parent cluster is not present. A statistically marginal relation between the velocity dispersion and cluster richness is observed. We also analyzed ellipticities for 6188 low redshift (z < 0.18) poor and rich galaxy structures which have been examined along with their evolution. Finally, we analyzed the Binggeli effect and found that the orientation of galaxy groups in the Local Supercluster (LSC), is strongly correlated with the distribution of neighbouring groups in the scale up to about 20 Mpc. Analysis of galaxy structures from the PF catalog shows quite different situation - the efect is observed only for more elongated structures (e ≤ 0.3). The effect is present in a distance range of about 60 h

Searching for radio relics and halos. Their role in the formation and acceleration of extragalactic cosmic rays

We search for extended regions of radio emission not associated with Active Galactic Nuclei, known as ‘relics’, ‘halos’ and ‘mini halos’, in a sample of 70 Abell clusters for which we have radio, optical and X-ray data. AGN can produce particle bubbles of non-thermal emission, which can restrict cosmic rays. Hence, radio relics and (mini) halos could be forming as a result of the confinement of cosmic rays by these bubbles. We are probing the role that intracluster magnetic fields (using Faraday rotation measure and inverse compton arguments), mergers (through radio/X-ray interactions), cooling flows (X-ray data), radio jets/shocks, as well as radio (mini) halos/relics, play in the formation, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. For the current study, we have selected two powerful nearby radio galaxies from our sample: Hercules A and 3C 388. We report on the work in progress and future plans.