Intergalactic clouds in the Coma Cluster

Recent observations in several different spectral regions can be used to set definite limits on the existence of an intergalactic medium within the Coma cluster of galaxies, of density sufficient to bind the cluster gravitationally. \Ve present a theoretical discussion of the stability of this gas, and conclude that a narrow range of parameters may exist over which intergalactic clouds can account for the virial discrepancy in the Coma cluster. The recent discovery of X-radiation from the central region of the Coma cluster is interpreted as thermal emission from the (hotter) intercloud medium. Finally, we propose Lot observations as the crucial test of the hypothesis of intergalactic clouds.