The XMM Cluster Outskirts Project (X-COP): Physical conditions to the
  virial radius of Abell 2142
  Context. Galaxy clusters are continuously growing through the accretion of
matter in their outskirts. This process induces inhomogeneities in the gas
density distribution (clumping) which need to be taken into account to recover
the physical properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) at large radii. Aims.
We studied the thermodynamic properties in the outskirts (R > R500) of the
massive galaxy cluster Abell 2142 by combining the Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SZ)
effect with the X-ray signal. Methods. We combined the SZ pressure profile
measured by Planck with the XMM-Newton gas density profile to recover radial
profiles of temperature, entropy and hydrostatic mass out to 2R500. We used a
method that is insensitive to clumping to recover the gas density, and we
compared the results with traditional X-ray measurement techniques. Results.
When taking clumping into account, our joint SZ/X-ray entropy profile is
consistent with the predictions from pure gravitational collapse, whereas a
significant entropy flattening is found when the effect of clumping is
neglected. The hydrostatic mass profile recovered using joint X-ray/SZ data
agrees with that obtained from spectroscopic X-ray measurements and with mass
reconstructions obtained through weak lensing and galaxy kinematics.
Conclusions. We found that clumping can explain the entropy flattening observed
by Suzaku in the outskirts of several clusters. When using a method insensitive
to clumping for the reconstruction of the gas density, the thermodynamic
properties of Abell 2142 are compatible with the assumption that the thermal
gas pressure sustains gravity and that the entropy is injected at accretion
shocks, with no need to evoke more exotic physics. Our results highlight the
need for X-ray observations with sufficient spatial resolution, and large
collecting area, to understand the processes at work in cluster outer regions.
