Gamma-Ray emission from Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract

The nonthermal radiation observed from a handfull of clusters of galaxies (CG) is the proof that particle acceleration occurs in the intracluster medium (ICM). It is often believed that shock surfaces associated with either mergers of CG, or with the cosmological inflow of matter onto clusters during structure formation may be the sites for acceleration. We discuss here the effectiveness of shock acceleration in the ICM, stressing that merger related shocks are typically weak, at least for the so-called major mergers. We investigate the implications of shock strenghts for gamma ray emission from single CG and for their detectability with future gamma ray satellites (such as GLAST and AGILE) and ground based Cherenkov telescopes. We also discuss the contribution of clusters to the extragalactic diffuse gamma ray background (EDGRB).