GIANT CAVITIES IN A TYPICAL CLUSTER
These cavities are calculated in RZ coordinates. The numerical grid is uniform for R,z < 400 kpc, with a grid size Delta z = Delta R = 1 kpc. Beyond 400 kpc, the grid size increases geometrically to the boundary, placed at R = z = 3.3 Mpc.The cavities are generated by placing thermal energy (E_cav) in a small region at r=150 kpc. Then the heated gas expand and creates the cavity (just like a Supernova creates a Supernova Remnant). This "explosive" creation of the cavity probably maximizes the visibility of the shock. (See Model 1 below).
Alternatively, the cavity is generated gradually injecting energy in a small region (again placed at r=150 kpc) for an injection time of t_cav = 5e7 yr. (See Model 2 below).
Below are some brightness maps. The axes units are kpc, the z-axis is horizontal, the R-axis is vertical.
Model 1:
E_cav=5e61 erg, r_cav=150 kpc, r_source=10 kpc -- Explosive cavity
These are the X-ray brightness maps:
5 Myr
15 Myr
25 Myr
40 Myr
50 Myr
75 Myr
100 Myr
150 Myr
200 Myr
...and these are the (emission weighted) temperature maps:
5 Myr
15 Myr
25 Myr
50 Myr
75 Myr
Model 2:
E_cav=5e61 erg, r_cav=150 kpc, r_source=5 kpc -- Energy of cavity is injected in t_cav = 5e7 yr
X-ray brightness maps:
5 Myr
15 Myr
25 Myr
50 Myr
75 Myr
100 Myr
...and (emission weighted) temperature maps:
