All curled up: Shock-bubble interactions in clusters of galaxies

Sebastian Heinz

November 28, 2011

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Abstract: Virtually all cool core clusters of galaxies exhibit X-ray cavities – bubbles of low-density relativistic gas inflated by AGN jets. Similarly, deep observations of nearby clusters show clear evidence of weak shock waves and non-linear sound waves excited by the inflation of cavities. The interaction of these waves with previously inflated cavities is subject to the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability. I will discuss the efficiency with which this instability extracts energy from the passing wave, what the implications for the heating of galaxy clusters might be, and discuss some observational diagnostics that have application beyond the astrophysical context.