X-Ray Studies of the Abell 3158 Galaxy Cluster with eROSITA

TL;DR

This study uses eROSITA, XMM-Newton, and Chandra data to analyze the physical properties, temperature distribution, and potential merger activity of the Abell 3158 galaxy cluster, revealing detailed structure and mass estimates.

Contribution

First detailed multi-instrument X-ray analysis of Abell 3158, including temperature maps and evidence of merger activity, with new detection of gas extensions and background clusters.

Findings

Temperature profile of 4.725 keV consistent across instruments

Detection of off-centre cool gas clump and bow-shaped edge

Evidence of merger activity from extended sources and galaxy overdensities

Abstract

The most nearby clusters are the best places to study physical and enrichment effects in the faint cluster outskirts. A3158 located at z=0.059 is quite extended with a characteristic radius r$_{200}$=23.95 arcmin. In 2019, A3158 was observed as a calibration target in a pointed observation with the eROSITA telescope onboard the SRG mission. We determined 1d temperature, abundance and normalisation profiles from eROSITA and XMM-Newton and Chandra data as well as 2d maps of temperature distribution from eROSITA data. The velocity dispersion was determined and the cluster mass was calculated. The overall temperature was measured to be 4.725$\pm$ 0.035 keV. The profiles of eROSITA all agree on a ~10% level with those determined with XMM-Newton and Chandra data. From the temperature map we see that the cluster lacks a cool core, as noted before. The presence of a previously detected off-centre cool clump West of the central cluster region is observed. Furthermore there is a bow shaped edge near the location of the cool gas clump West of the cluster centre. An extension of gas is detected for the first time further out in the West. The velocity dispersion of the cluster was measured to be 1058$\pm$41 km s$^{-1}$. The total mass was determined as $M_{200}$=1.38$\pm$ 0.25x10$^{15}$ $M_{\odot}$. The mass estimate from the M-T relation is significantly lower at M$_{200}$=5.09$\pm$ 0.59x10$^{14}M_{\odot}$. An extended X-ray source located South of the cluster also coincides with a galaxy overdensity with redshifts in the range 0.05<z<0.07. These are indications that the cluster may be undergoing merger activity. Another extended source located North of the cluster is detected in X-rays and coincides with an overdensity of galaxies with redshifts in the range of 0.070<z<0.077. This is likely a background cluster not related to A3158. Additionally a known SPT cluster at z=0.53 was detected.