Chandra Observation of a 300 kpc Hydrodynamic Instability in the Intergalactic Medium of the Merging Cluster of Galaxies A3667

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  • 25 January 2002
Abstract
We present results from the combination of two Chandra pointings of the central region of the cluster of galaxies A3667. From the data analysis of the first pointing Vikhlinin et al. (2001a,b) reported the discovery of a prominent cold front which is interpreted as the boundary of a cool gas cloud moving through the hotter ambient gas. Vikhlinin et al. (2001b) discussed the role of the magnetic fields in maintaining the apparent dynamical stability of the cold front over a wide sector at the forward edge of the moving cloud and suppressing transport processes across the front. In this Letter, we identify two new features in the X-ray image of A3667: i) a 300 kpc arc-like filamentary X-ray excess extending from the cold gas cloud border into the hotter ambient gas; ii) a similar arc-like filamentary X-ray depression that develops inside the gas cloud. Both features are located beyond the sector identified by the cold front and are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion. The temperature map suggests that the temperature of the filamentary excess is consistent with that inside the gas cloud while the temperature of the depression is consistent with that of the ambient gas. We suggest that the observed features represent the first evidence for the development of a large scale hydrodynamic instability in the cluster atmosphere resulting from a major merger. This result confirms previous claims for the presence of a moving cold gas cloud into the hotter ambient gas. Moreover it shows that, although the gas mixing is suppressed at the leading edge of the subcluster due to its magnetic structure, strong turbulent mixing occurs at larger angles to the direction of motion.

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