English

Chandra X-Ray Observations of Abell 119: Cold Fronts And A Shock In An Evolved Off-Axis Merger

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2023-08-10 v2

Abstract

We present Chandra X-ray observations of the dynamically complex galaxy cluster Abell 119 (z=0.044z = 0.044). A119 is host to two NAT radio sources (0053-015 & 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 which are found to be cold fronts, possibly associated with large-scale sloshing of ICM gas. We also identify a brightness edge to the south which is found to be a shock front with Mach number M=1.21±0.11M = 1.21 \pm 0.11, consistent with a merger shock. In addition, previous optical studies show alignment of optical substructures along the north-south direction. The elongated X-ray emission, orientations of the NAT tails, and alignment of optical substructure all suggest recent or on-going merger activity in the NE-SW direction.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2308.04367,
  title  = {Chandra X-Ray Observations of Abell 119: Cold Fronts And A Shock In An Evolved Off-Axis Merger},
  author = {Courtney B. Watson and Elizabeth L. Blanton and Scott W. Randall and Craig L. Sarazin and Arnab Sarkar and John A. ZuHone and E. M. Douglass},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2308.04367},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal on 08/07/2023