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[2.22] Probing the z=0 warm-hot IGM with Chandra and FUSE

S. Mathur (Ohio State), F. Nicastro (CfA), R.J. Williams (Ohio State. et al.)

The hydrodynamical cosmological simulations tell us that the low redshift intergalactic medium is shock heated to high temperatures. The "missing baryons" at low redshift are believed to be hiding in this warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). Galaxies and clusters of galaxies form at the overdense knots in the web of filaments of the diffuse IGM. Our own Galaxy is no exception, so we expect to probe the z=0 IGM along any line of sight through the Milky Way. The best way to probe the warm-hot IGM (WHIM) is through the "X-ray forest" of absorption lines. The X-ray and far-UV observations of WHIM not only allow us to determine the physical conditions in the WHIM, but also to take the census of low redshift baryons. Here we report on our observations of z=0 WHIM with Chandra and FUSE.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.