We present the first results from a 500 ks Chandra ACIS-I observation of M87. At soft energies (0.5Y1.0 keV), we detect filamentary structures associated with the eastern and southwestern X-ray and radio arms. Many filaments are spatially resolved with widths of $300 pc. This filamentary structure is particularly striking in the eastern arm, where we suggest the filaments are outer edges of a series of plasma-filled, buoyant bubbles whose ages differ by $6 ; 10 6 yr. These X-ray structures may be influenced by magnetic filamentation. At hard energies (3.5Y7.5 keV), we detect a nearly circular ring of outer radius 2.8 0 (13 kpc), which provides an unambiguous signature of a weak shock, driven by an outburst from the supermassive black hole (SMBH ). The density rise in the shock is shock / 0 % 1:3 (Mach number, M % 1:2). The observed spectral hardening in the ring corresponds to a temperature rise T shock /T 0 % 1:2, or M % 1:2, in agreement with the Mach number derived independently from the gas density. Thus, for the first time, we detect gas temperature and density jumps associated with a classical shock in the atmosphere around a SMBH. We also detect two additional surface brightness edges and pressure enhancements at radii of $0.6 0 and $1 0 . The $0.6 0 feature may be overpressurized thermal gas surrounding the relativistic plasma in the radio cocoon, the ''piston,'' produced by the current episode of AGN activity. The overpressurized gas is surrounded by a cool gas shell. The $1 0 feature may be an additional weak shock from a secondary outburst. In an earlier episode, the piston was responsible for driving the 2.8 0 shock.
We present new, high dynamic range VLA images of the inner jet of the closest radio galaxy, Centaurus A. Over a 10 yr baseline we detect apparent subluminal motions (v $ 0:5c) in the jet on scales of hundreds of parsecs. The inferred speeds are larger than those previously determined using VLBI on smaller scales and provide new constraints on the angle made by the jet to the line of sight if we assume jet-counterjet symmetry. The new images also allow us to detect faint radio counterparts to a number of previously unidentified X-ray knots in the inner part of the jet and counterjet, showing conclusively that these X-ray features are genuinely associated with the outflow. However, we find that the knots with the highest X-ray/radio flux density ratios do not have detectable proper motions, suggesting that they may be related to standing shocks in the jet; we consider some possible internal obstacles that the jet may encounter. Using new, high-resolution Chandra data, we discuss the radio to X-ray spectra of the jet and the discrete features that it contains, and we argue that the compact radio and X-ray knots are privileged sites for the in situ particle acceleration that must be taking place throughout the jet. We show that the offsets observed between the peaks of the radio and X-ray emission at several places in the Cen A jet are not compatible with the simplest possible models involving particle acceleration and downstream advection together with synchrotron and expansion losses.
We combined deep Chandra, ROSAT HRI, and XMM-Newton observations of M87 to study the impact of AGN outbursts on its gaseous atmosphere. Many X-ray features appear to be a direct result of repetitive AGN outbursts. In particular, the X-ray cavities around the jet and counter jet are likely due to the expansion of radio plasma, while rings of enhanced emission at 14 and 17 kpc are probably shock fronts associated with outbursts that began 1 − 2 × 10 7 years ago. The effects of these shocks are also seen in brightenings within the prominent X-ray arms. On larger scales, ∼50 kpc from the nucleus, depressions in the surface brightness may be remnants of earlier outbursts. As suggested for the Perseus cluster (Fabian et al.), our analysis of the energetics of the M87 outbursts argues that shocks may be the most significant channel for AGN energy input into the cooling flow atmospheres of galaxies, groups, and clusters. For M87, the mean power driving the shock outburst, 2.4 × 10 43 ergs s −1 , is three times greater than the radiative losses from the entire "cooling flow". Thus, even in the absence of other energy inputs, outbursts every 3 × 10 7 years are sufficient to quench the flow.
We derive cosmological constraints using a galaxy cluster sample selected from the 2500 deg 2 SPT-SZ survey. The sample spans the redshift range 0.25<z<1.75 and contains 343 clusters with SZ detection significance ξ>5. The sample is supplemented with optical weak gravitational lensing measurements of 32 clusters with 0.29<z<1.13 (from Magellan and Hubble Space Telescope) and X-ray measurements of 89 clusters with 0.25<z<1.75 (from Chandra). We rely on minimal modeling assumptions: (i) weak lensing provides an accurate means of measuring halo masses, (ii) the mean SZ and X-ray observables are related to the true halo mass through power-law relations in mass and dimensionless Hubble parameter E(z) with a priori unknown parameters, and (iii) there is (correlated, lognormal) intrinsic scatter and measurement noise relating these observables to their mean relations. We simultaneously fit for these astrophysical modeling parameters and for cosmology. Assuming a flat νΛCDM model, in which the sum of neutrino masses is a free parameter, we measure Ω m =0.276±0.047, σ 8 =0.781±0.037, and σ 8 (Ω m /0.3) 0.2 =0.766±0.025. The redshift evolutions of the X-ray Y X-mass and M gas-mass relations are both consistent with self-similar evolution to within 1σ. The mass slope of the Y X-mass relation shows a 2.3σ deviation from self-similarity. Similarly, the mass slope of the M gas-mass relation is steeper than self-similarity at the 2.5σ level. In a νwCDM cosmology, we measure the dark energy equation-of-state parameter w=−1.55±0.41 from the cluster data. We perform a measurement of the growth of structure since redshift z∼1.7 and find no evidence for tension with the prediction from general relativity. This is the first analysis of the SPT cluster sample that uses direct weak-lensing mass calibration and is a step toward using the much larger weak-lensing data set from DES. We provide updated redshift and mass estimates for the SPT sample.
We present spectral results from Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of a sample of 22 low-redshift (z < 0:1) radio galaxies and consider whether the core emission originates from the base of a relativistic jet, or an accretion flow, or contains contributions from both. We find correlations between the unabsorbed X-ray, radio, and optical fluxes and luminosities of FR I-type radio-galaxy cores, implying a common origin in the form of a jet. On the other hand, we find that the X-ray spectra of FR II-type radio galaxy cores are dominated by absorbed emission, with N H k 10 23 atoms cm À2 , which is likely to originate in an accretion flow. We discuss several models that may account for the different nuclear properties of FR I-and FR II-type cores and also demonstrate that both heavily obscured, accretion-related and unobscured, jet-related components may be present in all radio galaxy nuclei. Any absorbed, accretion-related components in FR I-type galaxies have low radiative efficiencies.
We present deep LOFAR observations between 120 and 181 MHz of the "Toothbrush" (RX J0603.3+4214), a cluster that contains one of the brightest radio relic sources known. Our LOFAR observations exploit a new and novel calibration scheme to probe 10 times deeper than any previous study in this relatively unexplored part of the spectrum. The LOFAR observations, when combined with VLA, GMRT, and Chandra X-ray data, provide new information about the nature of cluster merger shocks and their role in re-accelerating relativistic particles. We derive a spectral index of 0.8 0.1 a = - at the northern edge of the main radio relic, steepening toward the south to 2 a » -. The spectral index of the radio halo is remarkably uniform ( 1.16 a = -, with an intrinsic scatter of 0.04 ). The observed radio relic spectral index gives a Mach number of 2.8 0.3 0.5 = -+ , assuming diffusive shock acceleration. However, the gas density jump at the northern edge of the large radio relic implies a much weaker shock ( 1.2 » , with an upper limit of 1.5 » ). The discrepancy between the Mach numbers calculated from the radio and X-rays can be explained if either (i) the relic traces a complex shock surface along the line of sight, or (ii) if the radio relic emission is produced by a re-accelerated population of fossil particles from a radio galaxy. Our results highlight the need for additional theoretical work and numerical simulations of particle acceleration and reacceleration at cluster merger shocks.
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