GBT23A-028

Bridges of Intergalactic Gas Connecting ACT Cluster Pairs

Abstract

The nature and location of the missing baryons in the Universe remains a major mystery. We propose MUSTANG-2/GBT observations of two close pairs of moderate-redshift galaxy clusters recently detected in the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect by ACT with possible intergalactic gas filaments between them. The MUSTANG-2 and ACT SZ data will be combined to model the SZ on both large and small scales. We have approved XMM-Newton X-ray observations for both of these systems, and just received the data for our first target. Both the SZ and X-ray images will allow the separation of the cluster and the filament gas. Recently, SZ and X-ray observations have been used to study the filament between the low-redshift clusters Abell 399 and 401. The combination of SZ and X-ray observations allows the density, temperature, pressure, and 3D shape of the filaments to be determined. We will search for intergalactic shocks expected to occur at the edges of filaments, and for merger features within the clusters; this can help distinguish between pre-mergers and more advanced systems. These observations will help constrain the nature of the missing baryons in the Universe.

Investigators

Name	Institution
IAN LOWE	Arizona, University of; Pennsylvania, University of
Julia Robe	Pennsylvania, University of
Craig Sarazin *	Virginia, University of
Brian Mason	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Charles Romero	Pennsylvania, University of; Virginia, University of; Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Tony Mroczkowski	European Southern Observatory
Emily Moravec	Green Bank Observatory; Akademie ved Ceske republiky
Simon Dicker	Pennsylvania, University of
Tanay Bhandarkar	Pennsylvania, University of
John Orlowski-Scherer	Pennsylvania, University of; McGill University
Luca Di Mascolo	Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik; Trieste, Università degli Studi di
Saianeesh Haridas	Pennsylvania, University of
Karen Perez Sarmiento	Pennsylvania, University of
Cristian Vargas	Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Federico Radiconi	Roma La Sapienza, Università degli Studi di
John Hughes	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Matt Hilton	KwaZulu-Natal, University of; Witwatersrand, University of the
Elia Battistelli	Roma La Sapienza, Università degli Studi di
Mark Devlin	Pennsylvania, University of
Ajay Gill	Toronto, University of
Jonathan Sievers	Toronto, University of; McGill University; Princeton University; KwaZulu-Natal, University of
Edward Wollack	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Adam Hincks	Toronto, University of

* indicates the PI