XIM-A virtual X-ray observatory: Investigating the X-ray appearance and line profile function of vortex rings in galaxy clusters

Abstract

We present virtual observations of a simulated vortex ring in a galaxy cluster (such as the Virgo Cluster, where such a ring has been observed), using the virtual X-ray observatory software XIM. We derive the expected surfacebrightness distributions and color maps for a vortex seen at different line-of-sight angles. We present the line profile function φ(δν) for the velocity field of a vortex ring as derived from the observations and show that the line core has a frequency dependence of φ (δν/ ν0)-2 and derive this form of the line profile from the analytic description of the asymptotic behavior of the velocity field of a vortex ring. We discuss further examples of the application of XIM to studies of galaxy clusters and present the capabilities and methodology of the publicly available code XIM. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..