Interaction of the massive cluster system Abell 3016/3017 embedded in a cosmic filament

TL;DR

This paper studies the galaxy cluster system Abell 3016/3017 embedded in a cosmic filament, revealing interactions, shocks, and filamentary accretion through X-ray observations, enhancing understanding of large-scale structure formation.

Contribution

It provides detailed X-ray analysis of the Abell 3016/3017 system, highlighting filamentary accretion and shock features, and discusses scenarios for the filament's origin, advancing knowledge of cluster interactions.

Findings

Detection of a connecting X-ray filament between clusters.

Evidence of shocks and cold front in A3017.

Insights into filament heating by accretion shocks.

Abstract

The galaxy cluster system RXCJ0225.9-4154 with the two sub-clusters A3016 and A3017 is embedded in a large-scale structure filament with signatures of filamentary accretion. A Chandra observation of this system shows the two clusters as well as a filament of X-ray emission connecting them and a galaxy group therein. The main cluster, A3017, shows indications of shocks most probably from a recent interaction with cluster components along the filament axis as well as a cold front. The filament between the two clusters is likely to be heated by the accretion shocks of the clusters and we discuss two scenarios for the origin of this X-ray filament. The paper describes many properties of the components of the cluster merger system that are used to assist the interpretation of the observed configuration.