X-ray spectroscopy of clusters of galaxies and of the cosmic web

Abstract

I present the results on the study of the chemical evolution of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) and on the evolution of clusters of galaxies in the context of the cosmic web. Clusters of galaxies are excellent laboratories to study the chemical enrichment history of the Universe. This thesis presents a thorough study of the chemical enrichment of two clusters of galaxies and a review on the observation of metals in the ICM. Furthermore, it presents the results on the investigation of merger histories of clusters in the high density environments of superclusters, on the problem of excess soft X-ray emission from clusters of galaxies, and on the search for the missing warm-hot phase of the intergalactic medium, where 30% to 40% of the baryons in the local universe reside. The first detection of X-ray emission from a filament connecting two massive clusters is presented. The properties of this emission suggest that it originates in the hottest and densest parts of the missing warm-hot phase of the intergalactic medium.