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In this paper we specifically studied one aspect of foreground primordial matter density perturbations: the relative gravitational time delay between a pair of light paths converging towards an observer and originating from two points on the last scattering surface separated by the physical scale of an acoustic oscillation. It is found that time delay biases the size of acoustic oscillations {\it systematically} towards smaller angles, or larger harmonic numbers $\ell$, i.e. the mean geometry as revealed by CMB light becomes that of an open Universe if $\Omega=1$. Since the effect is second order, its standard deviation $\delta\ell/\ell \sim (\delta\Phi)^2$ where $(\delta\Phi)^2 \sim 10^{-9}$ is the normalization of the primordial matter spectrum $P(k)$, the consequence is too numerically feeble to warrant a re-interpretion of WMAP data. If, however, this normalization were increased to $\delta\Phi \gtrsim 0.01$ which is still well within the perturbation limit, the shift in the positions of the acoustic peaks would have been substantial enough to implicate inflationary $\Lambda$CDM cosmology. Thus $\Omega$ is not the only parameter (and by deduction inflation cannot be the only mechanism) of relevance to the understanding of {\it observed} large scale geometry. The physics that explains why $\delta\Phi$ is so small also plays a crucial role, but since this is a separate issue independent of inflation, might it be less artificial to look for an alternative solution to the flatness problem altogether?, Comment: ApJ in press (27 pages, 49 equations, 6 figures, 2 appendices)

The WMAP Q, V, and W band radial profiles of temperature deviation of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) were constructed for a sample of 31 randomly selected nearby clusters of galaxies in directions of Galactic latitude $|b| >$ 30$^o$. The profiles were compared in detail with the expected CMB Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) caused by these clusters, with the hot gas properties of each cluster inferred observationally by applying gas temperatures as measured by ASCA to isothermal $\beta$ models of the ROSAT X-ray surface brightness profiles, and with the WMAP point spread function fully taken into consideration. After co-adding the 31 cluster field, it appears that WMAP detected the SZE in all three bands. Quantitatively, however, the observed SZE only accounts for about 1/4 of the expected decrement. The discrepancy represents too much unexplained extra flux: in the W band, the detected SZE corresponds on average to 5.6 times less X-ray gas mass within a 10 arcmin radius than the mass value given by the ROSAT $\beta$ model. We examined critically how the X-ray prediction of the SZE may depend on our uncertainties in the density and temperature of the hot intracluster plasma, and emission by cluster radio sources. Although our comparison between the detected and expected SZE levels is subject to a margin of error, the fact remains that the average observed SZE depth and profile are consistent with those of the primary CMB anisotropy, i.e. in principle the average WMAP temperature decrement among the 31 rich clusters is too shallow to accomodate any extra effect like the SZE. A unique aspect of this SZE investigation is that because all the data being analyzed are in the public domain, our work is readily open to the scrutiny of others., Comment: ApJ v648, p176 (2006). This is the final version to appear on Sept. 1st

Until the advent of XMM-Newton, the cluster soft excess (CSE) was the subject of some controversy due to both data analysis issues and uncertainties with the soft excess emission mechanism. XMM-Newton observations have finally laid to rest any doubts as to the existence of the CSE and have also given tantalising clues as to the nature of its emission mechanism. Here we report on the analysis of XMM-Newton observations of a number of CSE clusters in an attempt to improve the analysis and understanding of the CSE. Included as part of the study is an analysis of the effects of background subtraction, which calls to question the integrity of the claimed O VII line discovery, though not the soft excess itself. We also give details of both thermal and non-thermal fits to the CSE cluster Abell 3112., Comment: Paper presented at the Plenary session of the International Dark Matter Meeting, Edinburgh, Sept. 2004 (to appear in the Proceedings)

The magnification of distant sources by mass clumps at lower ($z \leq 1$) redshifts is calculated analytically. The clumps are initially assumed to be galaxy group isothermal spheres with properties inferred from an extensive survey. The average effect, which includes strong lensing, is exactly counteracted by the beam divergence in between clumps (more precisely, the average reciprocal magnification cancels the inverse Dyer-Roeder demagnification). This conclusion is in fact independent of the matter density function within each clump, and remains valid for arbitrary densities of matter and dark energy. When tested against the CMB, a rather large lensing induced {\it dispersion} in the angular size of the primary acoustic peaks of the TT power spectrum is inconsistent with WMAP observations. The situation is unchanged by the use of NFW profiles for the density distribution of groups. Finally, our formulae are applied to an ensemble of NFW mass clumps or isothermal spheres having the parameters of galaxy {\it clusters}. The acoustic peak size dispersion remains unobservably large, and is also excluded by WMAP. For galaxy groups, two possible ways of reconciling with the data are proposed, both exploiting maximally the uncertainties in our knowledge of group properties. The same escape routes are not available in the case of clusters, however, because their properties are well understood. Here we have a more robust conclusion: neither of the widely accepted models are good description of clusters, or important elements of physics responsible for shaping zero curvature space are missing from the standard cosmological model. When all the effects are accrued, it is difficult to understand how WMAP could reveal no evidence whatsoever of lensing by groups and clusters., Comment: ApJ v628, pp. 583-593 (August 1, 2005)

This is the first meeting specifically devoted to the topic of cluster soft excess and related phenomena. It calls together a group of some 40 scientists, mostly experts in the field, to present their findings on the observational aspects of emission from clusters, signature of the WHIM in the cluster, intergalactic, and local environment, theoretical modeling of the WHIM in cosmological hydrodynamic simulations, theory and observations of cluster cosmic rays, magnetic fields, radio data and the use of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect as a means of constraining the important parameters. We are particularly grateful to F.J. Lockman and S.L. Snowden for presenting their latest picture of the cold gas distribution in the interstellar medium, as this affects our ability to model extragalactic EUV and soft X-ray data via Galactic absorption by HI and HeI. Papers given on future hardware concepts to further the spatial and spectral diagnosis of diffuse soft X-ray emission in general are also included., Comment: Proceedings of conference held at the University if Alabama, Huntsville, December 2002

The magnification of distant sources by mass clumps at lower ($z \leq 1$) redshifts is calculated analytically. The clumps are initially assumed to be galaxy group isothermal spheres with properties inferred from an extensive survey. The average effect, which includes strong lensing, is exactly counteracted by the beam divergence in between clumps (more precisely, the average reciprocal magnification cancels the inverse Dyer-Roeder demagnification). This conclusion is in fact independent of the matter density function within each clump, and remains valid for arbitrary densities of matter and dark energy. When tested against the CMB, a rather large lensing induced {\it dispersion} in the angular size of the primary acoustic peaks of the TT power spectrum is inconsistent with WMAP observations. The situation is unchanged by the use of NFW profiles for the density distribution of groups. Finally, our formulae are applied to an ensemble of NFW mass clumps or isothermal spheres having the parameters of galaxy {\it clusters}. The acoustic peak size dispersion remains unobservably large, and is also excluded by WMAP. For galaxy groups, two possible ways of reconciling with the data are proposed, both exploiting maximally the uncertainties in our knowledge of group properties. The same escape routes are not available in the case of clusters, however, because their properties are well understood. Here we have a more robust conclusion: neither of the widely accepted models are good description of clusters, or important elements of physics responsible for shaping zero curvature space are missing from the standard cosmological model. When all the effects are accrued, it is difficult to understand how WMAP could reveal no evidence whatsoever of lensing by groups and clusters., Comment: ApJ v628, pp. 583-593 (August 1, 2005)

The Coma cluster of galaxies was observed with XMM-Newton in 12 partially overlapping pointings. We present here the resulting X-ray map in different energy bands and discuss the large scale structure of this cluster. Many point sources were found throughout the observed area, at least 11 of them are coincident with bright galaxies. We also give a hardness ratio map at the so far highest angular resolution obtained for a cluster of galaxies. In this map we found soft regions at the position of bright galaxies, little variation in the central 15 arcmin, but some harder regions north of the line NGC 4874 - NGC 4889., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepetd for publication in the A&A special issue on XMM-Newton results

The Virgo and A1795 clusters of galaxies were re-observed by EUVE with {\it in situ} background measurements by pointing at small offsets. Earlier, a similar re-observational strategy applied to the cluster A2199 revealed that the background radial profile was consistent with a flat distribution, and therefore the original method of extracting cluster EUV signals by the subtraction of an aymptotically determined background was valid. It is shown here that the same conclusions hold for the current sample. A model of the background was obtained from its known properties and the {\it in situ} measurements, and the subtracted cluster fluxes remain in agreement with those reported in our discovery papers. They are also consistent with results from the most conservative procedure of direct point-to-point subtraction of the {\it in situ} background and proper error propagation, which still preserves the existence of the EUV excess and its rising radial trend. We present evidence which argues against the soft excess as due to peculiarities in the line-of-sight Galactic absorption. The data appear to favor a thermal origin of the emission., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, ApJL in press

Various independent ways of constraining key cosmological parameters yielded a consensus range of values which indicates that at the present epoch the bulk of the universe's baryons is in the form of a warm ($\sim$ 10$^6$ K) gas - a temperature regime which renders them difficult to detect. The discovery of EUV and soft X-ray excess emission from clusters of galaxies was originally interpreted as the first direct evidence for the large scale presence of such a warm component. We present results from an EUVE Deep Survey (DS) observation of the rich cluster Abell 2199 in the Lex/B (69 - 190 eV) filter passband. The soft excess radial trend (SERT), shown by a plot against cluster radius $r$ of the percentage EUV emission $\eta$ observed above the level expected from the hot intracluster medium (ICM), behaves as a simple function of $r$ which decreases monotonically towards $r = 0$; it smoothly turns negative at $r \sim$ 6 arcmin, inwards of this radius the EUV is absorbed by cold matter with a line-of-sight column density of $\geq$ 2.7 $\times$ 10$^{19}$ cm$^{-2}$. The centre of absorption is offset from that of the emission by $\sim$ 1 arcmin, and the area involved is much larger than that of the cooling flow. These facts together provide strong evidence for a centrally concentrated but cluster-wide distribution of clumps of cold gas which co-exist with warm gas of similar spatial properties. Further, the simultaneous modeling of EUV and X-ray data requires a warm component even within the region of absorption. The phenomenon demonstrates a three phase ICM, with the warm phase estimated to be $\sim$ 5-10 times more massive than the hot., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures (1 in color), A&A in press

The discovery of EUV and soft X-ray excess emission in clusters of galaxies (the cluster soft-excess phenomenon) challenged the notion of the hot ($\sim 10^{7-8}$ K) gas as the only dominant thermal component of the intracluster medium (ICM). The spatial analysis of ROSAT PSPC 1/4 keV images presented here reveals compelling evidence for substantial amounts of cold gas (HI) in the ICM of the Coma and Virgo clusters. This finding bolsters the original interpretation of the soft excess as emission from a `warm' ($\sim 10^6$ K) gas and points to the scenario of a multiphase ICM where the hot component co-exists with gases at sub-Virial temperatures (the `warm' and `cold' phases)., Comment: ApJ accepted

Several authors (S. Bowyer, T. Berghoeffer, and E. Korpela, hereinafter abbreviated as BBK) recently announced that the luminous extended EUV radiation from the clusters Abell 1795 and Abell 2199, which represents the large scale presence of a new and very soft emission component, is an illusion in the EUVE Deep Survey (DS) detector image. Specifically BBK found that the radial profile of photon background surface brightness, for concentric annuli centered at a detector position which has been used to observe cluster targets, shows an intrinsic `hump' of excess at small radii which resembles the detection of extended cluster EUV. We accordingly profiled background data, but found no evidence of significant central excess. However, to avoid argument concerning possible variability in the background pattern, we performed a clincher test which demonstrates that a cluster's EUV profile is invariant with respect to photon background. The test involves re-observation of A2199 and A1795 when the photon background was respectively three and two times higher than before, and using a different part of the detector. The radial profiles of both clusters, which have entirely different shapes, were accurately reproduced. In this way the BBK scenario is quantitatively excluded, with the inevitable conclusion that the detected signals are genuinely celestial., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures

We report the detection of both soft and hard excess X-ray emission in the cluster of galaxies A 2199, based upon spatially resolved spectroscopy with data from the BeppoSAX, EUVE and ROSAT missions. The excess emission is visible at radii larger than 300 kpc and increases in strength relative to the isothermal component. The total 0.1-100 keV luminosity of this component is 15 % of the cluster luminosity, but it dominates the cluster luminosity at high and low energies. We argue that the most plausible interpretation of the excess emission is an inverse Compton interaction between the cosmic microwave background and relativistic electrons in the cluster. The observed spatial distribution of the non-thermal component implies that there is a large halo of cosmic ray electrons between 0.5-1.5 Mpc surrounding the cluster core. The prominent existence of this component has cosmological implications, as it is significantly changing our picture of a clusters's particle acceleration history, dynamics between the thermal and relativistic media, and total mass budgets., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal, Letters

Since all of the five clusters of galaxies observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer deep survey telescope are found to possess a diffuse EUV emitting component which is unrelated to the virial gas at X-ray temperatures, the question concerning the nature of this new component has been a subject of controversy. Here we present results of an EUV and soft X-ray spatial analysis of the rich clusters Abell 2199 and 1795. The EUV emission does not resemble the X-ray morphology of clusters: at the cluster core the EUV contours are organized, but at larger radii they are anisotropic, and therefore need not have originated from a hydrostatically stable medium. The ratio of EUV to soft X-ray intensity rises with respect to cluster radius, to reach values ~10 times higher than that expected from the virial gas. The strong EUV excess which exists in the absence of soft X-ray excess poses formidable problems to the non-thermal (inverse-Compton) scenario, but may readily be explained as due to emission lines present only in the EUV range. In particular, warm gas produced by shock heating could account for such lines without proliferation of bolometric luminosities and mass budgets., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures (4 in color), minor typos corrected; ApJL accepted

Several nearby clusters exhibit an excess of soft X-ray radiation which cannot be attributed to the hot virialized intra-cluster medium. There is no consensus to date on the origin of the excess emission: it could be either of thermal origin, or due to an inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background. Using high resolution XMM-Newton data of Sersic 159-03 we first show that strong soft excess emission is detected out to a radial distance of 0.9 Mpc. The data are interpreted using the two viable models available, i.e., by invoking a warm reservoir of thermal gas, or relativistic electrons which are part of a cosmic ray population. The thermal model leads to a better goodness-of-fit, and the emitting warm gas must be high in mass and low in metallicity.