Shock Waves and Particle Acceleration in Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract

During the formation of the large-scale structure of the universe, intracluster media (ICMs), which fills the volume of galaxy clusters and is composed of hot, high-beta plasma, are continuously disturbed by major and minor mergers of clumps as well as infall along filaments of the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). Such activities induce shock waves, which are observed in radio and X-ray mostly in cluster outskirts. These shocks are collisionless, as in other astrophysical environments, and are thought to accelerate cosmic rays (CRs) via diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) mechanism. Here, we present the properties of shocks in ICMs and their roles in the generation of nonthermal particles, studied with high-resolution simulations. We also discuss the implications on the observations of diffuse radio emission from galaxy clusters, such as radio relics.