The Mixing and Transport Properties of the Intra Cluster Medium: a numerical study using tracers particles

TL;DR

This study uses tracer particles in simulations of galaxy clusters to analyze the mixing and transport of the intra-cluster medium, revealing differences in metallicity profiles between relaxed and merging systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of tracer particles to study ICM mixing and metal transport in simulated galaxy clusters.

Findings

Differences in metallicity profiles between relaxed and merger clusters.

Tracer particles effectively reveal mixing processes in the ICM.

Simulated emission lines show observable signatures of mixing.

Abstract

We present a study of the mixing properties of the simulated intra cluster Medium, using tracers particles that are advected by the gas flow during the evolution of cosmic structures. Using a sample of seven galaxy clusters (with masses in the range of M=2-3 10^14Msol/h) simulated with a peak resolution of 25kpc/h up to the distance of two virial radii from their centers, we investigate the application of tracers to some important problems concerning the mixing of the ICM. The transport properties of the evolving ICM are studied through the analysis of pair dispersion statistics and mixing distributions. As an application, we focus on the transport of metals in the ICM. We adopt simple scenarios for the injection of metal tracers in the ICM, and find remarkable differences of metallicity profiles in relaxed and merger systems, also through the analysis of simulated emission from Doppler-shifted Fe XXIII lines.