Distribution of Si, Fe, and Ni in the Intracluster Medium of the Coma Cluster

TL;DR

This study analyzes the distribution and ratios of Si, Fe, and Ni in the Coma cluster's intracluster medium using X-ray data, revealing uniform abundance ratios consistent with supernova yield models.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of elemental abundance ratios in the Coma cluster, showing no radial gradient and comparing results with smaller clusters and supernova models.

Findings

Si/Fe ratio shows no radial gradient.

Abundance ratios are consistent with supernova yield models.

Radial profile of iron-mass-to-light ratio resembles smaller relaxed clusters.

Abstract

We studied the distributions of Si, Fe, and Ni in the intracluster medium (ICM) of the Coma cluster, one of the largest clusters in the nearby universe, using XMM-Newton data up to 0.5 r180 and Suzaku data of the central region up to 0.16 r180. Using the flux ratios of Ly alpha of H-like Si and 7.8 keV blend to K alpha of He-like Fe, the abundance ratios of Si to Fe and Ni to Fe of the ICM were derived using APEC model v2.0.1. The Si/Fe ratio in the ICM of the Coma cluster shows no radial gradient. The emission weighted averages of the Si/Fe ratio in the ICM within 0.0--0.2 r180, 0.2--0.5 r180, and 0.0--0.5 r180 are 0.97 +- 0.11, 1.05 +- 0.36 and 0.99 +- 0.13, respectively, in solar units using the solar abundance of Lodders (2003). These values are close to those of smaller clusters and groups of galaxies. Using the Suzaku data of the central region, the derived Ni/Fe ratio of the ICM is 0.6--1.5 in solar units, according to the same solar abundance table. The systematic difference in the derived abundance ratios by different plasma codes are about 10%. Therefore, for the ICM in the Coma cluster, the abundance pattern of Si, Fe, and Ni is consistent with the same mixture of the yields of SN II and SN Ia in our Galaxy. Within 0.5 r180}, the cumulative iron-mass-to-light ratio increases with radius, and its radial profile is similar to those of relaxed smaller clusters with cD galaxies at their center. Considering the observed Si/Fe ratio, the cumulative metal-mass-to-light ratios at 0.5 r180 are compared with theoretical expectations.