Open AccessThe effect of supernova heating on cluster properties and constraints on galaxy formation models
Author(s) -
Wu K. K. S.,
Fabian A. C.,
Nulsen P. E. J.
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.1365-8711.1998.02156.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , cluster (spacecraft) , supernova , galaxy cluster , galaxy , brightest cluster galaxy , luminosity , galaxy formation and evolution , deposition (geology) , paleontology , sediment , computer science , biology , programming language
Models of galaxy formation should be able to predict the properties of clusters of galaxies, in particular their gas fractions, metallicities, X‐ray luminosity–temperature relation, temperature function and mass deposition rate function. Fitting these properties places important constaints on galaxy formation on all scales. By following gas processes in detail, our semi‐analytic model (based on that of Nulsen &38; Fabian) is the only such model able to predict all of the above cluster properties. We use realistic gas fractions and gas density profiles, and as required by observations we break the self‐similarity of cluster structure by including supernova heating of intracluster gas, the amount of which is indicated by the observed metallicities. We also highlight the importance of the mass deposition rate function as an independent and very sensitive probe of cluster structure.