Open AccessCooling flows induced by Compton cooling resulting from luminous quasars in clusters of galaxies
Author(s) -
Atuko Nisikawa,
Habe Asao,
Isibasi Nobuo
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01316.x
Subject(s) - physics , quasar , cooling flow , astrophysics , radiative cooling , intracluster medium , redshift , compton scattering , active galactic nucleus , galaxy , galaxy cluster , astronomy , photon , optics
We have studied the effects of Compton cooling on cooling flow by performing numerical hydrodynamic calculations of the time evolution of hot gas in clusters of galaxies with luminous quasars. We assumed various temperatures for the hot intracluster gas. We have shown that the Compton cooling resulting from very luminous quasars is effective in inducing cooling flow, before radiative cooling flow is realized. The mass flux resulting from the cooling flow increases with time, as the Compton‐cooled region expands. However, the mass flux of the Compton cooling flow is not large, less than 1 M⊙ yr −1 in our model, because the Compton‐cooled region is limited to an inner galactic region around a quasar. Even after the quasar active phase has ceased, the cooling flow will continue for at least 10 9 yr. The accreted mass is enough to explain X‐ray absorption lines in high‐redshift quasars, if the Compton‐cooled gas is compressed by high‐pressure intracluster gas.