$Suzaku$ and $XMM-Newton$ observations of a newly-discovered early-stage cluster merger 1E2216.0-0401 and 1E2215.7-0404

TL;DR

This study uses Suzaku and XMM-Newton X-ray observations to analyze a newly discovered early-stage cluster merger, revealing a high-temperature bridge, shock features, and potential radio emission, providing insights into merger dynamics.

Contribution

The paper presents the first detailed X-ray analysis of the early phase cluster merger 1E2216.0-0401 and 1E2215.7-0404, identifying a shock front and merger-related phenomena.

Findings

Discovery of a high-temperature bridge between clusters

Detection of a shock with Mach number 1.4

Indications of non-equilibrium ionization in the ICM

Abstract

We present the results of $Suzaku$ and $XMM-Newton$ X-ray observations of the cluster pair 1E2216.0-0401 and 1E2215.7-0404. We discover an X-ray bridge between the clusters. $Suzaku$ and $XMM-Newton$ observations revealed that each cluster hosts gas with moderate temperature of $kT_{1E2216.0-0401}=$4.8$\pm$0.1 keV and $kT_{1E2215.7-0404}=$5.8$\pm$0.2 keV, respectively. On the other hand, the bridge region shows a remarkably high temperature ({\it kT}=6.6$\pm$0.5 keV). Furthermore, at the position of the bridge, we detected an enhancement in the wavelet-decomposed soft-band (0.5-4.0 keV) $XMM-Newton$ image at 3 sigma significance, this is most likely due to a compression of the intracluster medium (ICM) as a consequence of the merging activity. This X-ray intensity and temperature enhancement are not consistent with those expected from a late phase, but are in agreement with the predictions by numerical simulations of an early phase merger. From the temperature jump at the location of the bridge, the Mach number is estimated to be ${\cal M}=1.4\pm0.1$, which corresponds to a shock propagation velocity of about 1570 km/s. From the shock properties, we estimate that core-passage will occur in 0.3-0.6 Gyr and that the age of the shock structure is 50--100 Myr. Based on the measured properties of the ICM at the bridge and estimation of timescales, we find indications for non-equilibrium ionization. We also discover possible diffuse radio emission located between the merging clusters. Combining the radio, X-ray, and optical image data, we speculate that the detected radio sources are most likely related to the merger event. Thus, 1E2216.0-0401 and 1E2215.7-0404 is a new example of an early phase cluster merger with remarkable characteristics.