JOHN C. LINDSAY MEMORIAL LECTURE
"Chandra X-Ray Observations of the Cores of Clusters of
Galaxies"
The dark matter in clusters of galaxies squeezes and heats
intergalactic
gas to tens of millions of degrees where it radiates
X-rays. The central cores
of clusters are therefore bright extended X-ray sources.
The subarcsecond
X-ray imaging of Chandra now allows these regions to
observed with
unprecedented detail. Chandra images of about 10 clusters
will be presented and
preliminary results discussed. The intracluster
gas is found to contain structures
due to several processes including movement of the central
galaxy, interaction
with the jets from a radio source and radiative cooling.
X-ray absorption due to
an infalling galaxy is found in one image.
The results have siginificant implications
for the energy budget of the intracluster gas as well
as the active nucleus of the
central galaxy.