Abstract
We study the dynamics of magnetic flux loops embedded in an intracluster medium. In order to perform the calculations semi-analytically we make several simplifying assumptions, which include a treatment of only the two ends of the magnetic flux loops, assuming a simple relation between the density and the magnetic field and neglecting heat conduction. Our results indicate that the existence of a large number of magnetic flux loops can naturally lead to a multiphase intracluster medium. A multiphase intracluster medium is inferred from observations of the mass deposition rate in many cooling-flow clusters. The loops will be observed as 'filaments' having different density and temperature from their surroundings, namely X-ray filaments. X-ray filaments have been discovered in a few cases, although their discovery is controversial. Our model predicts that many such X-ray filaments will be discovered with future high-spatial-resolution X-ray telescopes, such as AXAF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 579-584 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
| Volume | 296 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 21 May 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Galaxies: clusters: general
- Galaxies: cooling flows
- Galaxies: magnetic fields
- Intergalactic medium
- MHD