GBT25B-215

High resolution SZ imaging of a rare Bullet-like merger during close passage

Abstract

Massive clusters of galaxies are very rare in the observable Universe. Even rarer are mergers of such clusters observed close to pericenter passage. Recently, one such case - a massive merging system at z=0.42 nicknamed the Peanut cluster - has been discovered and studied at X-ray and optical wavelengths. These studies suggest that the pericenter passage happened only 100 Myr ago, and the current relative velocity of merging subhalos is ~3000 km/s.
We propose GBT/MUSTANG-2 observations to map the gas distribution in this unique object at high resolution and sensitivity. With our proposed observations, we will be able to search for signatures of shocks launched during the merger, and these observations will serve as a future high S/N thermal SZ ballast point to constrain the kinetic SZ component to this cluster.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Luca Di Mascolo *	Kapteyn Astronomical Institute; Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik; Trieste, Università degli Studi di
IAN LOWE	Arizona, University of; Pennsylvania, University of
Tony Mroczkowski	European Southern Observatory; Institut de Ciències de l'Espai
Joshiwa van Marrewijk	Leiden, University of
Simon Dicker	Pennsylvania, University of
John Orlowski-Scherer	Pennsylvania, University of; McGill University
Saianeesh Haridas	Pennsylvania, University of
Charles Romero	Pennsylvania, University of; Virginia, University of; Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Brian Mason	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Emily Moravec	Green Bank Observatory; Akademie ved Ceske republiky
Mark Devlin	Pennsylvania, University of
Jonathan Sievers	Toronto, University of; McGill University; Princeton University; KwaZulu-Natal, University of
Ildar Khabibullin	Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik
Natalia Lyskova	Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik; Space Research Institute
Rashid Sunyaev	Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik
Eugene Churazov	Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik

* indicates the PI