GALAXY CLUSTER MERGERS: THE USE OF THE COMPUTER MODELING

Abstract

We show the possibilities of the methods of computer modeling of the galaxy cluster merger process with different initial parameters for the investigation of the features of the clusters after colliding. We considered the galaxy clusters as evolving objects including through collisions. Computer modeling of galaxy cluster mergers and comparing its results with observational data makes it possible to determine the evolutionary status of real clusters with complex internal structures. Within the study, we analyzed in detail a series of models of the galaxy clusters’ merger consequences by ZuHone under different initial conditions like mass ratio, initial collision parameter, or plasma coefficient β. The considered time intervals were from 0 to 4.8 billion years, from 0 to 6 billion years, and from 0 to 10 billion years, depending on the initial conditions. Based on the images of the simulated galaxy clusters, maps of the distribution of the total mass density and X-ray radiation were created and compared with observations. We showed a good perspective to use this catalog for studying galaxy clusters having compound inner structure.