Suzaku X-ray Observations of the Nearest Non-Cool Core Cluster, Antlia: Dynamically Young but with Remarkably Relaxed Outskirts

TL;DR

This study uses Suzaku X-ray observations to analyze the Antlia Cluster's outskirts, revealing it is dynamically young yet remarkably relaxed, with entropy and gas fraction profiles consistent with gravity-only models and no significant gas clumping.

Contribution

First detailed X-ray analysis of the nearest non-cool core cluster's outskirts, showing consistency with gravity heating models and providing new scaling relations for low-mass clusters.

Findings

Antlia's temperature and pressure profiles match universal profiles.

Entropy increases to R_200, aligning with gravity-only models.

No significant gas clumping or non-equipartition detected.

Abstract

We present the results of seven Suzaku mosaic observations (>200 ks in total) of the nearest non-cool core cluster, the Antlia Cluster (or Group), beyond its degree-scale virial radius in its eastern direction. The temperature is consistent with the scaled profiles of many other clusters. Its pressure follows the universal profile. The density slope in its outskirts is significantly steeper than that of the nearest cool core cluster (Virgo) with a similar temperature as Antlia, but shallower than those of the massive clusters. The entropy increases all the way out to R_200, which is consistent in value with the baseline model predicted by a gravity heating-only mechanism in the outskirts. Antlia is quite relaxed in this direction. However, the entropy inside ~R_500 is significantly higher than the baseline model, which is similar to many other nearby low mass clusters or groups. The enclosed gas-mass fraction does not exceed the cosmic value out to 1.3R_200. Thus, there is no evidence of significant gas clumping, electron-ion non-equipartition, or departure from the hydrostatic equilibrium approximation that are suggested to explain the entropy and gas fraction anomalies found in the outskirts of some massive clusters. We also present scaling relations for the gas fraction (f_gas,200), entropy (K_200), and temperature (T_500) using 22 groups and clusters with published data in the literature. The enclosed baryon fraction at R_200 is broadly consistent with the cosmic value. The power law slope of the K_200-T_500 relation is 0.638+/-0.205. The entropy deficit at R_200 cannot be fully accounted for by the bias or deviation in the gas fraction.