Beppo-Sax Observation of the Coma cluster

Original · EN

We present first results of the BeppoSAX observation of the Coma Cluster. Thanks to the unprecedented sensitivity of the PDS instrument, the source has been detected up to 80 keV. There is clear evidence for emission in excess to the thermal one above 25 keV, very likely of non-thermal origin. We have therefore, for the first time, detected the long sought Inverse Compton emission on CMB photons predicted in clusters, like Coma, with radio halos. Combining X and radio observations, a value of 0.16 micro Gauss for the volume-averaged intracluster magnetic field is derived.