Shock waves form in the intergalactic space as an ubiquitous consequence of cosmic structure formation. Using N-body/hydrodynamic simulation data of a ACDM universe, we examined the properties of cosmological shock waves including their morphological distribution. Adopting a diffusive shock acceleration model, we then calculated the amount of cosmic ray energy as well as that of gas thermal energy dissipated at the shocks. Finally, the dynamical consequence of those cosmic rays on cluster properties is discussed.

Recent observations of galaxy clusters in radio and X-ray indicate that cosmic rays and magnetic fields may be energetically important in the intracluster medium. According to the estimates based on theses observational studies, the combined pressure of these two components of the intracluster medium may range between 10% ~ 100% of gas pressure, although their total energy is probably time dependent. Hence, these non-thermal components may have influenced the formation and evolution of cosmic structures, and may provide unique and vital diagnostic information through various radiations emitted via their interactions with surrounding matter and cosmic background photons. We suggest that shock waves associated with cosmic structures, along with individual sources such as active galactic nuclei and radio galaxies, supply the cosmic rays and magnetic fields to the intracluster medium and to surrounding large scale structures. In order to study 1) the properties of cosmic shock waves emerging during the large scale structure formation of the universe, and 2) the dynamical influence of cosmic rays, which were ejected by AGN-like sources into the intracluster medium, on structure formation, we have performed two sets of N-body /hydrodynamic simulations of cosmic structure formation. In this contribution, we report the preliminary results of these simulations.

In the standard theory of the large scale structure formation, matter accretes onto high density perturbations via gravitational instability. Collision less dark matter forms caustics around such structures, while collisional baryonic matter forms accretion shocks which then halt and heat the infalling gas. Here we discuss the characteristics. roles, and observational consequences of these accretion shocks.

Making use of the arbitrary shock theory developed by Ulmschneider (1967, 1971) and Ulmschneider and Kalkofen (1978), we have calculated the dissipation rates of upward-travelling slow-mode acoustic shock waves in umbral chromospheres for two umbral chromosphere models, a plateau model by Avrett (1981) and a gradient model by Yun and Beebe (1984). The computed shock dissipation rates are compared with the radiative cooling rate given by Avrett (1981). The results show that the slow-mode acoustic shock waves with a period of about 20 second can heat the low umbral chromospheres travelling with a mechanical energy flux of 2.6 × 10 6 e r g / c m 2 s at a height of 300 ∼ 400 k m above the temperature minimum region.