Particle Heating and Acceleration in Galaxy Clusters

Ellen Zweibel (University of Wisconsin-Madison) — January 20, 2025

Abstract

There is good evidence that plasma heating, thermal conduction, and viscosity in galaxy clusters is controlled through kinetic scale waves, instabilities, and other collisionless plasma processes. I will discuss our recent and ongoing work in this area, touching on the role of both thermal and nonthermal particles. Many of the same processes are likely to operate in other hot, diffuse plasma throughout the Universe.