The Physics of X-ray Wakes

A number of wakes of enhanced Xray emission trailing behind galaxies inclusters have now been detected, and theoretical arguments suggest that suchfeatures should be commonplace (if difficult to detect). Wakes offer animportant channel by which gas can be transferred between a galaxy.s ISM andthe surrounding ICM. However, the physical properties of these features remainalmost entirely unexplored. XMM is the first telescope capable of analyzingthe physics of the phenomenon. We therefore propose to make a detailed studyof 3 archetypal wakes. With these data, we will be able to make the firstquantitative comparisons between observations and simulations, and address thebasic issues of the origins and dynamical importance of wakes. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]