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The evolution of galaxy cluster X-ray scaling relations

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posted on 2023-06-08, 12:38 authored by C J Short, Peter ThomasPeter Thomas, O E Young, F R Pearce, A Jenkins, O Muanwong
We use numerical simulations to investigate, for the first time, the joint effect of feedback from supernovae (SNe) and active galactic nuclei (AGN) on the evolution of galaxy cluster X-ray scaling relations. Our simulations are drawn from the Millennium Gas Project and are some of the largest hydrodynamical N-body simulations ever carried out. Feedback is implemented using a hybrid scheme, where the energy input into intracluster gas by SNe and AGN is taken from a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. This ensures that the source of feedback is a population of galaxies that closely resembles that found in the real Universe. We show that our feedback model is capable of reproducing observed local X-ray scaling laws, at least for non-cool-core clusters, but that almost identical results can be obtained with a simplistic preheating model. However, we demonstrate that the two models predict opposing evolutionary behaviour. We have examined whether the evolution predicted by our feedback model is compatible with observations of high-redshift clusters. Broadly speaking, we find that the data seem to favour the feedback model for z <~ 0.5, and the preheating model at higher redshift. However, a statistically meaningful comparison with observations is impossible, because the large samples of high-redshift clusters currently available are prone to strong selection biases. As the observational picture becomes clearer in the near future, it should be possible to place tight constraints on the evolution of the scaling laws, providing us with an invaluable probe of the physical processes operating in galaxy clusters.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Issue

4

Volume

408

Page range

2213-2233

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-11-01

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2012-11-01

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2012-11-01

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