New Resonance Scattering Model in AtomDB: Application to Line Suppression in Galaxy Clusters and Elliptical Galaxies

Abstract

In this paper, we present the simple, one-step, self-consistent, and fast resonance scattering model rsapec based on the AtomDB database. This model can be used as an alternative to the commonly used APEC model for fitting X-ray spectra with optically thick lines. The current model is intended, in general, for verifying the presence of the effect and for spectral modeling of galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies under applicable assumptions. We test rsapec to derive the line suppression in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4636 and the Perseus cluster of galaxies and obtain resonance suppressions of ∼1.24 and ∼1.30, respectively.

Keywords

• High resolution spectroscopy
• Galaxy clusters
• Elliptical galaxies
• Publicly available software