Multiphase Signatures of AGN Feedback in Abell 2597
Abstract
We present new Chandra X-ray observations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the cool core cluster Abell 2597. The data reveal an extensive kpc-scale X-ray cavity network as well as a 15 kpc filament of soft-excess gas exhibiting strong spatial correlation with archival VLA radio data. In addition to several possible scenarios, multiwavelength evidence may suggest that the filament is associated with multiphase (10^3 - 10^7 K) gas that has been entrained and dredged-up by the propagating radio source. Stemming from a full spectral analysis, we also present profiles and 2D spectral maps of modeled X-ray temperature, entropy, pressure, and metal abundance. The maps reveal an arc of hot gas which in projection borders the inner edge of a large X-ray cavity. Although limited by strong caveats, we suggest that the hot arc may be (a) due to a compressed rim of cold gas pushed outward by the radio bubble or (b) morphologically and energetically consistent with cavity-driven active galactic nucleus (AGN) heating models invoked to quench cooling flows, in which the enthalpy of a buoyant X-ray cavity is locally thermalized as ambient gas rushes to refill its wake. If confirmed, this would be the first observational evidence for this model.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1205.2374,
title = {Multiphase Signatures of AGN Feedback in Abell 2597},
author = {G. R. Tremblay and C. P. O'Dea and S. A. Baum and T. E. Clarke and C. L. Sarazin and J. N. Bregman and F. Combes and M. Donahue and A. C. Edge and A. C. Fabian and G. J. Ferland and B. R. McNamara and R. Mittal and J. B. R. Oonk and A. C. Quillen and H. R. Russell and J. S. Sanders and P. Salomé and G. M. Voit and R. J. Wilman and M. W. Wise},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1205.2374},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
16 pages, 11 figures; Accepted for publication in MNRAS