Clusters of Galaxies in X-rays

Abstract

X-ray observations of clusters at different redshifts are presented and compared. For the nearest cluster -- the Virgo cluster -- we show a comparison of the galaxy distribution and the distribution of the intra-cluster gas. Although the Virgo cluster has such an irregular structure, it seems that within each of the subclusters some kind of equilibrium has already established. X-ray observations of distant lensing clusters reveal very different properties. The large range of X-ray properties without any obvious correlation between them shows that cluster evolution is complex, i.e. not every cluster is evolving in the same way. A comparison of nearby clusters and distant clusters shows that there is no clear trend with time in any of the X-ray properties, which favours a low-Omega universe.