Speaker
Description
For years, detection of cosmic filaments has been an elusive target for observers. Although predicted by simulations and seen in the distribution of galaxies for decades, only a few statistically significant measurements of the diffuse web have been made, particularly in the X-ray regime. However, in a very deep (2.4 Ms) observation with Chandra around the cluster Abell 133 (z=0.055), we observed diffuse, filamentary structures extending beyond the cluster's virial radius. Due to the long exposure and high resolution of Chandra, these observations are a window into the capabilities of the next generation of X-ray satellites and, if these filaments are real, provide hope of soon being able to routinely observe cluster-feeding filaments. Here, we discuss the followup observations we have undertaken to confirm the presence of these filaments, the physical conditions we have inferred, and the possibilities for future missions in observing the cosmic web around clusters.
| Affiliation | Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science |
|---|---|
| Topic | Hot and diffuse baryons |
