Abstract
We present high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of M 87 with the Reflection Grating Spectrometers on XMM-Newton. We detect strong K-shell line emission from N, O, Ne, Mg, some emission from He-like Si, a fully resolved set of Fe L-shell emission spectra, and some emission from C. The angular intensity distributions of the strong emission lines are detectably resolved on scales (15-160)". The gas in the inner arcmin of M 87 has a multi-phase structure, as indicated by the similarity of the emission line profiles of Fe L shell ions with widely separated ionization potentials. The global Fe L spectrum is approximately consistent with an isothermal plasma at kT(e) similar to 1.8 keV, in addition to a component with a temperature distribution appropriate to an isobaric cooling flow, but with a minimum temperature cutoff of kT(min) approximate to 600 eV. The behaviour of this cooling-flow component is qualitatively similar to what is seen in other cooling flow clusters. Finally, we do not find any strong evidence for a spatial variation in abundances due to resonance scattering redistribution in the inner arcminute of the core.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 903-909 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Volume | 391 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2002 |
Keywords
- galaxies : clusters : general
- galaxies : clusters : individual : virgo
- galaxies : individual : M 87
- galaxies : cooling flows
- galaxies : abundances
- X-rays : galaxies
- EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES
- COOLING FLOWS
- ELLIPTIC GALAXIES
- VIRGO CLUSTER
- HOT GAS
- M87
- HALO
- ABUNDANCES
- METALLICITY
- MULTIPHASE