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High energy astrophysics > Warm-hot intergalactic medium
Cosmology > Large-scale structure of the universe > Warm-hot intergalactic medium
Galactic and extragalactic astronomy > Extragalactic astronomy > Intergalactic medium > Intergalactic medium phases > Warm-hot intergalactic medium

Preferred term

Warm-hot intergalactic medium  

Definition

  • The space containing a cluster of galaxies filled with a tenuous gas of temperature 105 to 107 K and density 10-6 to 10-4 cm-3. WHIM has been continuously shock-heated during the process of structure formation. It is so highly ionized that it can only absorb or emit far-ultraviolet and soft X-ray photons, primarily at spectral lines of highly ionized C, O, Ne, and Fe. WHIM is thought to be the main reservoir of missing baryons. (en)

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • Warm-hot intergalactic matter (en)
  • Warm hot intergalactic medium (en)
  • WHIM (en)

Contributor

Editorial note

URI

http://astrothesaurus.org/uat/1786

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