X-ray absorption by the intergalactic medium

I have studied the intergalactic medium (IGM) located in galaxy clusters and groups via the so-called "X-ray Forest" the X-ray absorption lines produced by the hot IGM. I gave a semi-analytic calculation of the X-ray forest distribution based on the Press-Schechter formalism. The warm-hot intergalactic medium - the IGM between 10⁵ - 10⁷ K - was investigated via hydrodynamic simulation. I analyzed the simulated spectra which were synthesized in a way similar to simulating the Lya forest and studied column density and the Doppler b-parameter distributions of highly-ionized metals. Finally, we studied X-ray spectra of two high-redshift quasars, S5 0836+710 and PKS 2149-306, obtained with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS). While no absorption features were detected, a method of constraining the IGM via the X-ray forest theory was proposed. I also discuss constraining the IGM via the X-ray Gunn-Peterson test.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Fang, Taotao, 1970-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Claude R. Canizares.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8284

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/8284