Limits to the value of the Hubble constant deduced from observations of clusters of galaxies

On the assumption of a thermal bremsstrahlung origin for the X-radiation observed from clusters of galaxies, limits to the value of the Hubble constant may be deduced if their X-ray fluxes, microwave background decrements, redshifts, velocity dispersions and angular extents are known. This method is applied to three clusters, Abe11 576, 2218 and 2319. The solution for $${H}_{0},\,5\,\lesssim\,{H}_{0}\,\lesssim\,50\,\text{km}\,\text{s}^{-1}\,\text{Mpc}^{-1}$$ is severely dependent upon the values of the velocity dispersions, and inaccuracy in this parameter limits the usefulness of the method at present. The prospects for using the method to derive an accurate value for H₀ are discussed.