2023ApJ...955..103W -
Astrophys. J., 955, 103 (2023/October-1)
CHANDRA X-Ray Observations of A119: Cold Fronts and a Shock in an Evolved Off-axis Merger.
WATSON C.B., BLANTON E.L., RANDALL S.W., SARAZIN C.L., SARKAR A., ZUHONE J.A. and DOUGLASS E.M.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present Chandra X-ray observations of the dynamically complex galaxy cluster A119 (z = 0.044). A119 is host to two narrow-angle-tail (NAT) radio sources (0053-015 and 0053-016), whose tails are oriented parallel to each other, despite orthogonally oriented jet axes. Imaging and spectral analysis reveal X-ray emission elongated along the NE-SW axis, along with the presence of complex structures, including surface brightness discontinuities, which suggest possible merger activity along this axis. From radial profiles of the X-ray surface brightness, temperature, pressure, and density, we identify two surface brightness edges that are found to be cold fronts, possibly associated with large-scale sloshing of intracluster medium gas. We also identify a brightness edge to the S that is found to be a shock front with Mach number M = 1.21 ± 0.11, consistent with a merger shock. In addition, previous optical studies show the alignment of optical substructures along the N-S direction. The elongated X-ray emission, orientations of the NAT tails, and alignment of the optical substructure all suggest recent or ongoing merger activity in the NE-SW direction.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Galaxy clusters - Intracluster medium
Simbad objects:
11
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