Modeling Chandra X-ray observations of Galaxy Clusters using Cosmological Simulations

Abstract

X-ray observations of galaxy clusters potentially provide powerful cosmological probes if systematics due to our incomplete knowledge of the intracluster medium (ICM) physics are understood and controlled. In this paper, we study the effects of galaxy formation on the properties of the ICM and X-ray observable-mass relations using high-resolution self-consistent cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters and comparing their results with recent Chandra X-ray observations. We show that despite complexities of their formation and uncertainties in their modeling, clusters of galaxies both in observations and numerical simulations are remarkably regular outside of their cores, which holds great promise for their use as cosmological probes.