Probing the Curious Case of a Galaxy Cluster Merger in Abell 115 with
  High Fidelity Chandra X-ray Temperature and Radio Maps
  We present results from an X-ray and radio study of the merging galaxy
cluster Abell 115. We use the full set of 5 Chandra observations taken of A115
to date (360 ks total integration) to construct high-fidelity temperature and
surface brightness maps. We also examine radio data from the Very Large Array
at 1.5 GHz and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 0.6 GHz. We propose that
the high X-ray spectral temperature between the subclusters results from the
interaction of the bow shocks driven into the intracluster medium by the motion
of the subclusters relative to one another. We have identified morphologically
similar scenarios in Enzo numerical N-body/hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy
clusters in a cosmological context. In addition, the giant radio relic feature
in A115, with an arc-like structure and a relatively flat spectral index, is
likely consistent with other shock-associated giant radio relics seen in other
massive galaxy clusters. We suggest a dynamical scenario that is consistent
with the structure of the X-ray gas, the hot region between the clusters, and
the radio relic feature.
