A Uniform Contribution of Core-Collapse and Type Ia Supernovae to the
  Chemical Enrichment Pattern in the Outskirts of the Virgo Cluster
  We present the first measurements of the abundances of $\alpha$-elements (Mg,
Si, and S) extending out to beyond the virial radius of a cluster of galaxies.
Our results, based on Suzaku Key Project observations of the Virgo Cluster,
show that the chemical composition of the intra-cluster medium is consistent
with being constant on large scales, with a flat distribution of the Si/Fe,
S/Fe, and Mg/Fe ratios as a function of radius and azimuth out to 1.4 Mpc (1.3
$r_{200}$). Chemical enrichment of the intergalactic medium due solely to core
collapse supernovae (SNcc) is excluded with very high significance; instead,
the measured metal abundance ratios are generally consistent with the Solar
value. The uniform metal abundance ratios observed today are likely the result
of an early phase of enrichment and mixing, with both SNcc and type Ia
supernovae (SNIa) contributing to the metal budget during the period of peak
star formation activity at redshifts of 2-3. We estimate the ratio between the
number of SNIa and the total number of supernovae enriching the intergalactic
medium to be between 12-37%, broadly consistent with the metal abundance
patterns in our own Galaxy or with the SNIa contribution estimated for the
cluster cores.
