CLUMP-3D: the lack of non-thermal motions in galaxy cluster cores

We report the non-thermal pressure fraction (P-nt/P-tot) obtained from a three-dimensional triaxial analysis of 16 galaxy clusters in the CLASH sample using gravitational lensing (GL) data primarily from Subaru and HST, X-ray spectroscopic imaging from Chandra, and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) data from Planck and Bolocam. Our results span the approximate radial range 0.015-0.4 R-200m (similar to 35-1000 kpc). At cluster-centric radii smaller than 0.1 R-200m the ensemble average P-nt/P-tot is consistent with zero with an upper limit of 9 per cent, indicating that heating from active galactic nuclei and other relevant processes does not produce significant deviations from hydrostatic equilibrium (HSE). The ensemble average P-nt/P-tot increases outside of this radius to approximately 20 per cent at 0.4 R-200m, as expected from simulations, due to newly accreted material thermalizing via a series of shocks. Also in agreement with simulations, we find significant cluster-to-cluster variation in P-nt/P-tot and little difference in the ensemble average P-nt/P-tot based on dynamical state. We conclude that on average, even for diverse samples, HSE-derived masses in the very central regions of galaxy clusters require only modest corrections due to non-thermal motions.

Automated summary

The study analyzed 16 galaxy clusters in the CLASH sample and found significant variations in non-thermal pressure fractions at different radial ranges, indicating different dynamical states within the same cluster.