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Abstract
We report the discovery with Chandra of X-ray-emitting gas associated with the jet-cloud interaction in the radio galaxy 3C 277.3 (Coma A), a source that falls in the most important power range for radio-mode feedback in the Universe. This hot gas, heated by the jet, dominates the mass of the cloud which is responsible for an extreme projected deflection of the kpc-scale radio jet. Highly absorbed X-ray emission from the nucleus of 3C 277.3 confirms that the jet lies close to the plane of the sky and so has a large intrinsic deflection. We detect group gas on the scale of the radio lobes, and see X-ray cavities coincident with the brightest radio emission, with the lobes embraced by X-ray enhancements that we argue are the result of shocks. The anti-correlation between the locations of X-ray arms and H$\alpha$-emitting filaments that are believed to have originated from a merger with one or more gas-rich galaxies suggests that shocks advancing around the lobe are inhibited by the dense colder material. Synchrotron X-ray emission is detected from the upstream edge of a second bright radio knot. X-rays are also detected from the location where an undetected counterjet enters the northern radio hotspot. We suggest that these X-rays are synchrotron radiation from a shock in a small-scale substructure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 174-183 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Volume | 458 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 5 Feb 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2016 |
Keywords
- galaxies: active
- galaxies: jets
- galaxies: individual (3C 277.3, Coma A)
- galaxies: ISM
- radio continuum: galaxies
- X-rays: galaxies
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Dive into the research topics of 'X-rays associated with the jet-cloud-interacting radio galaxy 3C 277.3 (Coma A): Implications for energy deposition'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Research in planetary formation, astrophysics, and cosmology at Bristol
Birkinshaw, M. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/15 → 31/03/18
Project: Research
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Research in planetary physics, astrophysics and cosmology at Bristol
Birkinshaw, M. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/12 → 1/04/15
Project: Research