A study of non-cool core galaxy clusters and the feedback from their central active galactic nuclei

Abstract

The study of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) coronae of non-cool core (NCC) galaxy clusters and their central active galactic nuclei (AGN) is crucial for the under standing of the BCG’s role on galaxy cluster evolution as well as the activation of the cooling and heating mechanism in the central regions of galaxy clusters. In this thesis, the X-ray properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) of a sample of NCC galaxy clusters and their BCG interstellar medium (ISM), along with their central AGN is investigated using archival XMM-Newton observations. For this purpose, a joint spec troscopic and imaging method is proposed and applied to the sample. It is found that, AGN plays an important role on the ICM structure and the heating of the central regions of the clusters, although at smaller spatial scales compared to that of cool core clusters. In addition, BCG coronae seem to preserve their structural integrity and are isothermal, despite the disturbed morphology and merger history of the cluster. Fur thermore, a chemically rich BCG tail structure is discovered that extends up to 40 kpc even though they are assumed to be rare in galaxy populations.