论文标题

宽银河系中西部热点的Chandra成像A:图像反卷积和可变性分析

Chandra Imaging of the Western Hotspot in the Radio Galaxy Pictor A: Image Deconvolution and Variability Analysis

论文作者

Thimmappa, R., Stawarz, Ł., Marchenko, V., Balasubramaniam, K., Cheung, C. C., Siemiginowska, A.

论文摘要

在这里,我们根据Chandra X射线观测值获得的数据,对最近功能强大(FR II型)射线星系A Pictor A的X射线形态和通量变异性分析。热点标志着起源于系统活跃核的相对论射流在与宿主星系的数百千里杆菌距离处相互作用,形成了终止减震器,从而形成了终止减震器,从而将喷射散装的动力学转化为血浆的内部能量。由于电子在冲击阵线处加速到超相关能量的电子的同步发射,因此热点在X射线中是明亮的。在我们的分析中,我们利用几个针对热点的Chandra观测值,这些观测值在过去的几十年中,具有各种曝光和离轴角度。对于每个指向,我们详细研究PSF,这使我们能够执行图像反卷积并解析热点结构。特别是,观察到X射线热点的最亮段沿垂直于射流的方向延伸,形成了薄薄的$ \ sim $ 3 kpc-long,我们在反向冲击的前面识别出来。此功能的位置与热点的光学强度峰的位置非常吻合,但显然与无线电强度峰位置相距,该位置位于$ \ sim $ 1 kpc $ 1 kpc。此外,我们测量了反浏览图像的净计数率,在监测的15年时间范围内发现逐渐的通量减少了约30%。

Here we present an analysis of the X-ray morphology and flux variability of the particularly bright and extended Western hotspot in the nearest powerful (FR II-type) radio galaxy, Pictor A, based on data obtained with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The hotspot marks the position where the relativistic jet, that originates in the active nucleus of the system, interacts with the intergalactic medium, at hundreds-of-kiloparsec distances from the host galaxy, forming a termination shock that converts jet bulk kinetic energy to internal energy of the plasma. The hotspot is bright in X-rays due to the synchrotron emission of electrons accelerated to ultra-relativistic energies at the shock front. In our analysis, we make use of several Chandra observations targeting the hotspot over the last decades with various exposures and off-axis angles. For each pointing, we study in detail the PSF, which allows us to perform the image deconvolution, and to resolve the hotspot structure. In particular, the brightest segment of the X-ray hotspot is observed to be extended in the direction perpendicular to the jet, forming a thin, $\sim$3 kpc-long, feature that we identify with the front of the reverse shock. The position of this feature agrees well with the position of the optical intensity peak of the hotspot, but is clearly off-set from the position of the radio intensity peak, located $\sim$1 kpc further downstream. In addition, we measure the net count rate on the deconvolved images, finding a gradual flux decrease by about 30% over the 15-year timescale of the monitoring.

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