Interaction in Abell 2256: The BeppoSAX View

We present results from a spatially resolved spectral analysis of the merging cluster Abell 2256. The long integration time (135 ks) and the good spatial resolution of the Medium-Energy Concentrator/Spectrometer on board BeppoSAX allow us to derive a new and substantially improved measurement of the temperature structure. We find that, within a central region of the cluster, where the effects of the merger are visible in the ROSAT surface brightness image, the azimuthally averaged projected temperature is remarkably flat; outside this region, the projected temperature rapidly declines. The BeppoSAX data also show clear evidence of an azimuthal temperature gradient in the 4&arcmin;-8&arcmin; (0.4-0.8 Mpc) radial bin, oriented in the same direction as the merger itself. Our metal abundance profile shows, for the first time, firm evidence of an abundance gradient in a rich merging cluster. Intriguingly, the abundance map shows, in the southeast sector, i.e., the one farthest away from the merger, a sharp factor of 2 drop in abundance at a radius comparable to the core radius of the cluster. A possible interpretation is that prior to the merger event, a cooling flow had already developed in the core of the infalling subgroup, as suggested by Fabian & Daines. The interaction between the substructures would have disrupted the cooling flow, thereby reheating and remixing the gas. Since the merger in A2256 is still in a relatively early stage, the gas located on the side opposite the merger event would still retain the low abundances associated with the intracluster medium prior to the cooling flow disruption.