Time-dependent Circulation Flows: Iron Enrichment in Cooling Flows with Heated Return Flows

We describe a new type of dynamical model for hot gas in galaxy groups and clusters in which gas moves simultaneously in both radial directions. Circulation flows are consistent with (1) the failure to observe cooling gas in X-ray spectra, (2) multiphase gas observed near the centers of these flows and (3) the accumulation of iron in the hot gas from Type Ia supernovae in the central galaxy. Dense inflowing gas cools, producing a positive central temperature gradient, as in normal cooling flows. Bubbles of hot, buoyant gas flow outward. Circulation flows eventually cool catastrophically if the outward flowing gas transports mass but no heat; to maintain the circulation both mass and energy must be supplied to the inflowing gas over a large volume, extending to the cooling radius. The rapid radial recirculation of gas produces a flat central core in the gas iron abundance, similar to many observations. We believe the circulation flows described here are the first gasdynamic, long-term evolutionary models that are in good agreement with all essential features observed in the hot gas: little or no gas cools as required by XMM spectra, the gas temperature increases outward near the center, and the gaseous iron abundance is about solar near the center and decreases outward.Comment: 17 pages (emulateapj5) with 6 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Star formation feedback and metal enrichment by SN Ia and SN II in dwarf spheroidal galaxies: the case of Draco

We present 3D hydrodynamical simulations aimed to study the dynamical and chemical evolution of the interstellar medium in dwarf spheroidal galaxies. This evolution is driven by the explosions of Type II and Type Ia supernovae, whose different contribution is explicity taken into account in our models. We compare our results with detailed observations of the Draco galaxy. We assume star formation histories consisting of a number of instantaneous burst separated by quiescent periods. Because of the large effectiveness of the radiative losses and the extended dark matter halo, no galactic wind develops, despite the total energy released by the supernovae is much larger than the binding energy of the gas. This explains why the galaxy is able to form stars for a long period (> 3 Gyr), consistently with observations. In this picture, the end of the star formation and gas removal must result from external mechanisms, such as ram pressure and/or tidal interaction with the Galaxy. The metallicity distributions of the stars found in our models agree very well with the observed one. We find a mean value =-1.65 with a spread of ~1.5 dex. The chemical properties of the stars derive by the different temporal evolution between Type Ia and Type II supernova rate, and by the different mixing of the metals produced by the two types of SNe. We reproduce successfully the observed [O/Fe]-[Fe/H] diagram. However, our interpretation of this diagram differs from that generally adopted by previous chemical models. In fact, we find that the chemical properties of the stars derive, besides the different temporal evolution of the SNe II and SNe Ia rates, from the spatial inhomogeneous chemical enrichment due to the different dynamical behaviour between the remnants of the two types of supernovae.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures (1 added), MNRAS accepted, Minor changes following referee repor

Spatial distribution of introduced brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis (Salmonidae) within alpine lakes: evidences from a fish eradication campaign

Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis have been used worldwide to stock fishless alpine lakes, negatively affecting native biota. Understanding its spatial ecology in invaded ecosystems can provide information to interpret and contrast its ecological impact. We opportunistically used capture points of brook trout gillnetted during an eradication campaign to assess the distribution patterns of four unexploited populations inhabiting high-altitude lakes. The main eradication method implies the use of many gillnets with several mesh sizes, which are selective for different fish sizes. For each lake we drew six capture maps associated with as many different mesh sizes, and we tested whether the distance from the coastline (which in alpine lakes is a reliable proxy of the most important spatial gradients, e.g. depth, temperature, prey availability, lighting conditions) influences the proportion of captured fish belonging to different size classes and the number of fish captured by the nets with different mesh sizes. To interpret the results, we also provide a cartographic description of the lakes’ bathymetry and littoral microhabitats. We found (1) a negative relationship between brook trout distribution and the distance from the coastline in all of the size classes, lakes and mesh sizes; (2) that large brook trout can thrive in the lakes’ center, while small ones are limited to the littoral areas; and (3) that the distance from the coastline alone cannot explain all the differences in the catch densities in different parts of the lakes. As in their native range, introduced brook trout populations also have littoral habits. Microhabitats, prey availability and distance from the spawning ground are other likely factors determining the distribution patterns of brook trout populations introduced in alpine lakes. The obtained results also provide useful information on how to plan new eradication campaigns

On the evolution of cooling cores in X-ray galaxy clusters

(Abridged) To define a framework for the formation and evolution of the cooling cores in X-ray galaxy clusters, we study how the physical properties change as function of the cosmic time in the inner regions of a 4 keV and 8 keV galaxy cluster under the action of radiative cooling and gravity only. The cooling radius, R_cool, defined as the radius at which the cooling time equals the Universe age at given redshift, evolves from ~0.01 R200 at z>2, where the structures begin their evolution, to ~0.05 R200 at z=0. The values measured at 0.01 R200 show an increase of about 15-20 per cent per Gyr in the gas density and surface brightness and a decrease with a mean rate of 10 per cent per Gyr in the gas temperature. The emission-weighted temperature diminishes by about 25 per cent and the bolometric X-ray luminosity rises by a factor ~2 after 10 Gyrs when all the cluster emission is considered in the computation. On the contrary, when the core region within 0.15 R500 is excluded, the gas temperature value does not change and the X-ray luminosity varies by 10-20 per cent only. The cooling time and gas entropy radial profiles are well represented by power-law functions. The behaviour of the inner slopes of the gas temperature and density profiles are the most sensitive and unambiguous tracers of an evolving cooling core. Their values after 10 Gyrs of radiative losses, T_gas ~ r^0.4 and n_gas ~ r^(-1.2) for the hot (cool) object, are remarkably in agreement with the observational constraints available for nearby X-ray luminous cooling core clusters. Because our simulations do not consider any AGN heating, they imply that the feedback process does not greatly alter the gas density and temperature profiles as generated by radiative cooling alone.Comment: 8 pages. MNRAS in pres

Heating Cooling Flows with Weak Shock Waves

The discovery of extended, approximately spherical weak shock waves in the hot intercluster gas in Perseus and Virgo has precipitated the notion that these waves may be the primary heating process that explains why so little gas cools to low temperatures. This type of heating has received additional support from recent gasdynamical models. We show here that outward propagating, dissipating waves deposit most of their energy near the center of the cluster atmosphere. Consequently, if the gas is heated by (intermittent) weak shocks for several Gyrs, the gas within 30-50 kpc is heated to temperatures that far exceed observed values. This heating can be avoided if dissipating shocks are sufficiently infrequent or weak so as not to be the primary source of global heating. Local PV and viscous heating associated with newly formed X-ray cavities are likely to be small, which is consistent with the low gas temperatures generally observed near the centers of groups and clusters where the cavities are located.Comment: 14 pages; Accepted by Ap

Apparent high metallicity in 3-4 keV galaxy clusters: the inverse iron-bias in action in the case of the merging cluster Abell 2028

Recent work based on a global measurement of the ICM properties find evidence for an increase of the iron abundance in galaxy clusters with temperature around 2-4 keV up to a value about 3 times larger than that typical of very hot clusters. We have started a study of the metal distribution in these objects from the sample of Baumgartner et al. (2005), aiming at resolving spatially the metal content of the ICM. We report here on a 42ks XMM observation of the first object of the sample, the cluster Abell 2028. The XMM observation reveals a complex structure of the cluster over scale of 300 kpc, showing an interaction between two sub-clusters in cometary-like configurations. At the leading edges of the two substructures cold fronts have been detected. The core of the main subcluster is likely hosting a cool corona. We show that a one-component fit for this region returns a biased high metallicity. This inverse iron bias is due to the behavior of the fitting code in shaping the Fe-L complex. In presence of a multi-temperature structure of the ICM, the best-fit metallicity is artificially higher when the projected spectrum is modeled with a single temperature component and it is not related to the presence of both Fe-L and Fe-K emission lines in the spectrum. After accounting for the bias, the overall abundance of the cluster is consistent with the one typical of hotter, more massive clusters. We caution the interpretation of high abundances inferred when fitting a single thermal component to spectra derived from relatively large apertures in 3-4 keV clusters, because the inverse iron bias can be present. Most of the inferences trying to relate high abundances in 3-4 keV clusters to fundamental physical processes will likely have to be revised.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures.Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysycs. Minor changes to match published versio

Meiofaunal ecology in harsh environments: refugia and stepping stones, a case study in a deglaciating Alpine area

Climate change and progressive glacier loss are leading to rapid ecological shifts in alpine aquatic systems. Rock glaciers and paraglacial features such as proglacial lakes, moraines, and taluses can alter the gradients of glacial influence along alpine river networks. Particularly relevant is the effect of rock glacial streams on invertebrates, although the hydrology and ecology of such high-elevation stream types is still scarcely known. We investigated the main meiofaunal component of benthic communities of different stream types in a deglaciating area of the Italian Alps, i.e., Crustacea Copepoda. We used an index of habitat mildness based on water temperature, channel stability, turbidity, and organic detritus, to measure the difference in community metrics over a gradient of habitat amelioration, driven by the mixing of distinct stream types (glacial, rock-glacial, snowmelt, mixed) and their interactions with paraglacial features. The composition of copepod communities of rock-glacial sites differed from the one of the other stream types, particularly it was very different from the kryal sites, and more similar to the rhithral and krenal ones. Under progressive deglaciation, rock glaciers and paraglacial features will increasingly influence the meiofaunal communities of alpine river networks. As they host a higher number of taxa and individuals than non-glacial locations, rock glacial streams may act as stepping stones facilitating colonization following glacier retreat. After glacier loss, rock glacial streams may represent climate refugia for cold adapted taxa and/or kryal specialists, because the slow thawing of their ice might sustain cold water conditions for a longer period of time

About the evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

We present 3D hydrodynamic simulations aimed at studying the dynamical and chemical evolution of the interstellar medium in dwarf spheroidal galaxies. This evolution is driven by the explosions of Type II and Type Ia supernovae, whose different contribution is explicitly taken into account in our models. We compare our results with avaiable properties of the Draco galaxy. Despite the huge amount of energy released by SNe explosions, in our model the galaxy is able to retain most of the gas allowing a long period ($> 3$ Gyr) of star formation, consistent with the star formation history derived by observations. The stellar [Fe/H] distribution found in our model matches very well the observed one. The chemical properties of the stars derive from the different temporal evolution between Type Ia and Type II supernova rate, and from the different mixing of the metals produced by the two types of supernovae. We reproduce successfully the observed [O/Fe]-[Fe/H] diagram.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the CRAL conference "Chemodynamics: from first stars to local galaxies", Lyon, France, 10-14 July 200

Radiative cooling, heating and thermal conduction in M87

The crisis of the standard cooling flow model brought about by Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of galaxy clusters, has led to the development of several models which explore different heating processes in order to assess if they can quench the cooling flow. Among the most appealing mechanisms are thermal conduction and heating through buoyant gas deposited in the ICM by AGNs. We combine Virgo/M87 observations of three satellites (Chandra, XMM-Newton and Beppo-SAX) to inspect the dynamics of the ICM in the center of the cluster. Using the spectral deprojection technique, we derive the physical quantities describing the ICM and determine the extra-heating needed to balance the cooling flow assuming that thermal conduction operates at a fixed fraction of the Spitzer value. We assume that the extra-heating is due to buoyant gas and we fit the data using the model developed by Ruszkowski and Begelman (2002). We derive a scale radius for the model of $\sim 5$ kpc, which is comparable with the M87 AGN jet extension, and a required luminosity of the AGN of a $few \times 10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$, which is comparable to the observed AGN luminosity. We discuss a scenario where the buoyant bubbles are filled of relativistic particles and magnetic field responsible for the radio emission in M87. The AGN is supposed to be intermittent and to inject populations of buoyant bubbles through a succession of outbursts. We also study the X-ray cool component detected in the radio lobes and suggest that it is structured in blobs which are tied to the radio buoyant bubbles.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap