XMM observation of the dynamically young galaxy cluster CL 0939+4713

Abstract

We present an XMM observation of the distant galaxy cluster CL 0939+4713. The X-ray image shows pronounced substructure, with two main subclusters forming the cluster core. This is an indication that the cluster is a dynamically young system. This conclusion is supported by the temperature distribution: a hot region is found between the two main subclusters indicating that they are at the beginning of a major merger, and that they will collide in a few hundreds of Myr. The intra-cluster gas of CL 0939+4713 shows inhomogeneities in the metal distribution, with the optically richer subcluster having a higher metallicity.

14 pages, 10 figures, A&A in press