Deep Chandra observations as probes of detailed ICM physics

Abstract

The spectacular, sub-arcsecond imaging capabilities of the Chandra X-ray Observatory will remain unsurpassed for at least the next 20 years, and deep observations with this instrument still provide opportunities for breakthroughs in our understanding of the microphysics of the hot plasma. I will present new results from deep Chandra observations of the Virgo cold front and the Ophiuchus Cluster, which allow us to place constraints on the effective conductivity and viscosity of the ICM. The deep 500 ks observation of the Virgo cold front reveals intriguing quasi-linear features that may be due to the amplification of magnetic fields by gas sloshing in wide layers below the cold front. The core of the Ophiuchus Cluster lacks strong AGN activity, which may be due to bulk of the cooling taking place offset from the central supermassive black hole. The observed unchecked cooling where a largely dormant AGN is offset from the cooling flow solidifies the idea that AGN play a key role in maintaining the cooling/heating balance in cluster cores.