New resonance scattering model in AtomDB: application to line suppression in galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new resonance scattering model, rsapec, based on AtomDB, for analyzing X-ray spectra of galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies, enabling better understanding of line suppression effects.

Contribution

The paper presents a simple, fast, self-consistent resonance scattering model as an alternative to existing models for spectral analysis.

Findings

Resonance suppression of ~1.24 in NGC 4636

Resonance suppression of ~1.30 in Perseus cluster

Model effectively verifies resonance scattering effects

Abstract

In this paper, we present a simple, one-step, self-consistent, and fast resonance scattering model rsapec based on the AtomDB database. This model can be used as an alternative to the commonly used APEC model for fitting such X-ray spectra with optically thick lines. The current model is intended, in general, for verifying the presence of the effect and for spectral modeling of galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies under applicable assumptions. We test rsapec to derive the line suppression in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4636 and the Perseus cluster of galaxies and obtain resonance suppression of ~ 1.24 and ~ 1.30, respectively.