Gas sloshing, cold front formation, and metal redistribution: the Virgo
  cluster as a quantitative test case
  (abridged) We perform hydrodynamical simulations of minor-merger induced gas
sloshing and the subsequent formation of cold fronts in the Virgo cluster. We
show for the first time that sloshing reproduces all characteristics of the
observed cold fronts quantitatively, and we suggest a third cold front at 20
kpc NW of the Virgo core. We identify several new features typical for sloshing
cold fronts, most importantly a large-scale brightness asymmetry. We can trace
these new features not only in Virgo, but also in other sloshing cold front
clusters. By comparing synthetic and real observations, we estimate that the
original minor merger event took place about 1.5 Gyr ago when a subcluster of
2-4 \times 10^13 M\odot passed the Virgo core at 100 to 400 kpc distance, where
a smaller mass corresponds to a smaller pericentre distance, and vice versa.
From the merger geometry, we derive the current location of the disturbing
subcluster to be about 1-2 Mpc E of the Virgo core. A possible candidate is
M60. Additionally, we quantify the metal redistribution by sloshing and discuss
its importance. We verify that the subcluster required to produce the observed
cold fronts could be completely ram pressure stripped before reaching the Virgo
centre, and discuss the conditions required for this to be achieved. Finally,
we demonstrate that the bow shock of a fast galaxy passing the Virgo cluster at
~ 400 kpc distance also causes sloshing and leads to very similar cold front
structures. The responsible galaxy would be located about 2 Mpc north of the
Virgo centre. A possible candidate is M85.
