Cold gas in the Intra Cluster Medium: implications for flow dynamics and powering optical nebulae

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the flow of intra-cluster medium around cold clouds can generate enough mechanical energy to power optical nebulae in galaxy clusters, highlighting the role of velocity differences and mass recycling.

Contribution

It demonstrates that ICM flow dynamics can supply sufficient energy for nebulae emission and emphasizes the importance of mass recycling in cluster core regions.

Findings

Energy injection rate depends strongly on velocity difference

Flow dynamics can power observed nebulae luminosity

Mass recycling influences ICM density and cloud evaporation

Abstract

We show that the mechanical energy injection rate generated as the intra-cluster medium (ICM) flows around cold clouds may be sufficient to power the optical and near infra-red emission of nebulae observed in the central regions of a sample of seven galaxy clusters. The energy injection rate is extremely sensitive to the velocity difference between the ICM and cold clouds, which may help to explain why optical and infra-red luminosity is often larger than expected in systems containing AGNs. We also find that mass recycling is likely to be important for the dynamics of the ICM. This effect will be strongest in the central regions of clusters where there is more than enough cold gas for its evaporation to contribute significantly to the density of the hot phase.