High-resolution studies of the twin jet in NGC 1052
E. Ros, M. Kadler, Y. Y. Kovalev, H. D. Aller, M. F. Aller, S. Kaufmann
备注:
6 pages, 2 figures, needs PoS.cls; to be published in Proceedings of Science, proceedings of The 9th European VLBI Network Symposium on The role of VLBI in the Golden Age for Radio Astronomy and EVN Users Meeting, September 23-26, 2008, Bologna, Italy
The radio loud galaxy NGC 1052 is being studied in an intensive multi-band campaign including X-ray brigthness monitoring and spectroscopic observations, single-dish radio brightness monitoring at centimetre wavelengths, and a high-frequency very-long-baseline interferometry monitoring program. Here we present a progress report on our studies from this program. The final goal of our observations is to relate the findings from the high-resolution radio images with the observed variations in the X-ray regime, to address the accretion processes and their relationship with the radio jet activity.
We present in this paper the first near infrared study of the young open cluster NGC 2244, which is well known for its partially embedded nature in the Rosette Nebula. Based on the spatially complete 2 Micron All Sky Survey, the young OB cluster indicates apparent substructures. It is surprisingly resolved into a compact core that matches well the congregation of massive OB stars in the optical, a satellite cluster at a distance of 6.6 pc in its west and probably a major stellar aggregate resembling an arc in structure right below the core. This infrared study provides various new updates on i…
We present results from a combined radio, optical, and X-ray study of the jet-associated emission features in NGC1052. We analyse the radio-optical morphology and find a good positional correlation between the radio jet and the optical emission cone. Two optical emission knots are directly associated with radio counterparts exhibiting a radio to X-ray broadband spectrum not compatible with synchrotron emission. We discuss the possibility that the thermal soft spectrum of the extended X-ray emission originates from jet driven shocks produced in the interaction between the jet-plasma and its sur…
We present results of a VLBA multi-frequency study of the pc-scale twin jet in NGC1052. We observed this object at epoch 1998.99 with the VLBA at 5, 8.4, 22 and 43 GHz both in total and linearly polarized intensity. The spectral analysis confirms the necessity of a free-free absorbing medium, obscuring the innermost part of both jets. At 5 GHz we found a compact linearly polarized emission region at the base of the eastern jet with a degree of polarization of 1.5%. At higher frequencies there is no evidence for polarization in our data. A core shift analysis constrains the position of the cent…
Molecular line observations of NH3 (J,K)=(1,1), (2,2) and CH3OH at 24.93GHz taken with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) toward the massive twin cores NGC6334 I & I(N) reveal significant variations in the line emission between the two massive cores. The UCHII region/hot core NGC6334 I exhibits strong thermal NH3 and CH3OH emission adjacent to the UCHII region and coincident with two mm continuum peaks observed by Hunter et al. (in prep.). In contrast, we find neither compact NH3 nor thermal CH3OH line emission toward NGC6334 I(N). There, the NH3 emission is distributed over a broad…
NRAO Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of NGC 4278, NGC 4374 (M84), NGC 6166, and M87 (NGC 4486) have been made at 43 GHz in an effort to image the jet collimation region. This is the first attempt to image the first three sources at 43 GHz using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques. These three sources were chosen because their estimated black hole mass and distance implied a Schwarzschild radius with large angular size, giving hope that the jet collimation regions could be studied. Phase referencing was utilize for the three sources because of their expected low flu…
Observations of the core of the giant radio galaxy NGC315 made with VLBI interferometers are discussed in the context of a relativistic jet. The sidedness asymmetry suggests Doppler favoritism from a relativistic jet. The presence of moving features in the jet as well as jet counter--jet brightness ratios hint at an accelerating, relativistic jet. An increasing jet velocity is also supported by a comparison of the jet's observed properties with the predictions of an adiabatic expansion model. On the parsec scale, the jet is unpolarized at a wavelength of 6 cm to a very high degree in clear dis…
NGC 1052 offers the possibility to study the obscuring torus around a supermassive black hole, predicted by the standard model of active galactic nuclei, over a wide range of wavelengths from the radio to the X-ray regime. We present a detailed VLBI study of the parsec-scale structure of the ``twin-jet'' system in NGC 1052 in both total and polarized intensity and at multiple frequencies. We report the detection of linearly polarized emission from the base of the eastern jet at 5 GHz. While the radio spectrum in this region might be still consistent with synchrotron self absorption, the highly…
We present results from a 49.3 ks Chandra X-ray observation of the strongly interacting dumbbell galaxies NGC4782(3C278) and NGC4783 that constrain the kinematics of the interaction and models for bending the radio jets associated with NGC4782. The galaxies are embedded in an approximately spherical distribution of group gas, centered on NGC4782,that is nearly isothermal with mean kT ~ 1.4+/- 0.4 keV. The X-ray morphology suggests that NGC4783 is infalling into a single, massive galaxy group (LGG316) with NGC4782 nearly at rest at the center of the group potential.NGC4783 shows a sharp X-ray s…
We have observed the radio source NGC 3862 (3C264) simultaneously with the EVN and the MERLIN arrays, obtaining detailed images of its radio structure from parsec to sub-kiloparsec scales. 3C264 shows a one-sided jet, with evident variations in its morphological properties with distance. We have analyzed HST optical data of NGC 3862 finding a one-to-one correspondence between radio and optical features in the jet. The radio to optical spectral index is approximately constant along the jet. Synchrotron appears as the most plausible mechanism for the observed jet emission at radio and optical wa…
Mapping the central 5 pc region of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 6251 with a 0.2 pc resolution using VLBI at two radio frequencies, 5 GHz and 15 GHz, we have found the sub-pc-scale counter jet for the first time in this radio galaxy. This discovery allows us to investigate the jet acceleration based on the relativistic beaming model (Ghisellini et al. 1993).
We have observed the twin-jet radio galaxy 3C296 with Chandra. X-ray emission is detected from the nucleus, from the inner parts of the radio jet, and from a small-scale thermal environment around the jet deceleration region. As we have found in previous observations of other twin-jet radio galaxies, the X-ray jet and a steep pressure gradient in the external thermal environment are associated with the region where strong bulk deceleration of the jet material is suggested by radio observations. Our observations provide additional evidence that the inner jets of twin-jet objects are always asso…
We report the results from a six-year, multi-epoch very long baseline interferomertry monitoring of the Seyfert galaxy NGC3079. We have observed NGC3079 during eight epochs between 1999 and 2005 predominantly at 5GHz, but covering the frequency range of 1.7GHz to 22GHz. Using our data and observations going back to 1985, we find that the separation of two of the three visible nuclear radio components underwent two decelerations. At the time of these decelerations, the flux density of one of the components increased by factors of five and two, respectively. We interpret these events as a radio …
Resolution of both approaching and receding ejecta in the galactic microquasars makes possible to measure the flux ratio S_a/S_r of the twin ejecta, which contains an important information about the nature of the jets. We show that the flux ratio observed from GRS 1915+105 during the prominent March/April 1994 radio flare can be explained in terms of relativistic motion of discrete radio clouds, if one assumes that the twin ejecta are similar, but not completely identical, i.e. allowing for some asymmetry between the plasmoids in their speeds of propagation and/or luminosities. The recoil mome…
We report on large-scale, regular morphological patterns found in the radio jet of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 6251. Investigating morphological properties of this radio jet from the nucleus to a radial distance of $\sim$ 300 arcsec ($\approx$ 140 kpc) mapped at 1662 MHz and 4885 MHz by Perley, Bridle, & Willis, we find three chains, each of which consists of five radio knots. We also find that eight radio knots in the first two chains consist of three small sub-knots (the triple-knotty substructures). We discuss the observational properties of these regular morphological patterns.
We report sensitive VLA 3.6 cm radio observations toward the head of the Cone nebula in NGC 2264, made in 2006. The purpose of these observations was to study a non-thermal radio jet recently discovered, that appears to emanate from the head of the Cone nebula. The jet is highly polarized, with well-defined knots, and one-sided. The comparison of our images with 1995 archive data indicates no evidence of proper motions nor polarization changes. We find reliable flux density variations in only one knot, which we tentatively identify as the core of a quasar or radio galaxy. An extragalactic loca…
In order to investigate the genesis of powerful radio jet, we have mapped the central 10 pc region of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 6251 with a 0.2 pc resolution using Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) at two radio frequencies, 5 GHz and 15 GHz, we have found the sub-parsec-scale counterjet for the first time in this radio galaxy. This discovery allows us to investigate the jet acceleration based on the relativistic beaming model.
We present 5.2" x 2.6" resolution interferometry of CO J=1-0 emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 253. The high spatial resolution of these new data, in combination with recent high resolution maps of 13CO, HCN and near-infrared emission, allow us for the first time to link unambiguously the gas properties in the central starburst of NGC 253 with its bar dynamics. We confirm that the star formation results from bar-driven gas flows as seen in "twin peaks" galaxies. Two distinct kinematic features are evident from the CO map and position-velocity diagram: a group of clouds rotating as a solid…
Deep ROSAT PSPC and HRI observations of the nuclear starburst, UV flat spectrum spiral NGC6217 reveal a jet-like X-ray filament extending out 2.7' (18.8 kpc) to the SW of the galaxy. Radio images of NGC6217 show an extent in the same direction, giving further evidence for a one-sided X-ray jet interpretation of this feature. It's X-ray spectrum is harder than that of NGC6217 and the luminosity in the 0.5-2.0 keV band ~1.7 E39 erg\s. We compare our findings to parameters of other X-ray jets from other active galaxies. We also give positions of a total of 91 X-ray sources detected in the field t…
A quasar search in the region of the active galaxy NGC 1097 yielded 31 quasars in 1984. After completion of the 2dF survey in 2004 the number of catalogued quasars just within 1 degree of the galaxy increased to 142. About 38 $\pm$ 10 of these are in excess of average background values. The evidence in 1984 is confirmed here by an increasing density of quasars as one approaches NGC 1097. Quasars within 1 degree differ from the background by being significantly brighter. There also appear two elliptical rings or arcs of quasars at r $\sim$ 20'and 40'.
Molecular gas in the merging starburst galaxy NGC 3256 has been imaged with the Submillimeter Array at a resolution of 1'' x 2'' (170 x 340 pc at 35 Mpc). This is the first interferometric imaging of molecular gas in the most luminous galaxy within z=0.01. There is a large disk of molecular gas (r > 3 kpc) in the center of the merger with a strong gas concentration toward the double nucleus. The gas disk having a mass of ~3*10^9 Msun in the central 3 kpc rotates around a point between the two nuclei that are 850 pc apart on the sky. The molecular gas is warm and turbulent and shows spatial var…
We present 2.4" resolution, high sensitivity radio continuum observations of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 4258 in total intensity and linear polarization obtained with the Very Large Array at 3.6 cm (8.44 GHz). The radio emission along the northern jet and the center of the galaxy is polarized and allows investigation of the magnetic field. Assuming energy-equipartition between the magnetic field and the relativistic particles and distinguishing between (1) a relativistic electron-proton jet and (2) a relativistic electron-positron jet, we obtain average magnetic field strengths of about (1) 3…
The barred galaxy NGC 7479 hosts a remarkable jet-like radio continuum feature: bright, 12-kpc long in projection, and hosting an aligned magnetic field. The degree of polarization is 6%-8% along the jet, and remarkably constant, which is consistent with helical field models. The radio brightness of the jet suggests strong interaction with the ISM and hence a location near the disk plane. We observed NGC 7479 at four wavelengths with the VLA and Effelsberg radio telescopes. The equipartition strength is 35-40 micro-G for the total and >10 micro-G for the ordered magnetic field in the jet. The …
The NGC 383 group is a rich group of galaxies that harbours the central radio source 3C 31 = NGC 383. After presenting results from the X-ray analysis of the extended intra-group medium and the central radio galaxy, we discuss the spatial morphology of X-ray emitting gas as compared to the radio plasma and perform a comparison of the pressures of both components.
We present a combined radio, optical, and X-ray study of the nearby LINER galaxy NGC 1052. Data from a short (2.3 ksec) {\it CHANDRA} observation of NGC 1052 reveal the presence of various jet-related X-ray emitting regions, a bright compact core and unresolved knots in the jet structure as well as an extended emitting region inside the galaxy well aligned with the radio synchrotron jet-emission. The spectrum of the extended X-ray emission can best be fitted with a thermal model with $kT = (0.4-0.5)$ keV, while the compact core exhibits a very flat spectrum, best approximated by an absorbed po…
(Abridged) We discuss multiple VLBI continuum and spectral line observations and WSRT spectroscopy of NGC 1052. Sub-parsec scale features move outward at approximately 0.26c in bi-symmetric jets, most likely oriented near the plane of the sky. Absorption and emission signatures reveal ionised, atomic, and molecular components of the surrounding medium. Seven-frequency (1.4 to 43 GHz) VLBA observations show free-free absorption in the inner parsec, probably together with synchrotron self-absorption. There is apparently a geometrically thick but patchy structure oriented roughly orthogonal to th…
The bright radio structure of the LINER elliptical galaxy NGC1052 is dominated by bi-symmetric jets on parsec scales. Features move outward on both sides of the core at v_{app}~0.26c. We have established the occurrence of free-free absorption, and suggest the presence of a patchy, geometrically region oriented roughly orthogonal to the jets; components have a wide range of spectral shapes and brightness temperatures. We distinguish three velocity systems in HI absorption. The ``high velocity'' system is the most prominent of these; it is redshifted from systemic by about 150 km/s. In HI VLBI i…
We present Chandra X-ray results for the jet, nucleus, and gaseous atmosphere of NGC 315, a nearby radio galaxy whose jet kinematics are known through deep radio mapping. Diffuse X-ray synchrotron emission is detected from the jet out to 30 arcsec from the nucleus, through regions both of fast bulk flow and deceleration. The X-ray to radio flux ratio drops considerably where the flow decelerates, but the X-ray and radio emissions show similar transverse extents throughout, requiring distributed particle acceleration to maintain the supply of X-ray-emitting electrons. A remarkable knotty filame…
NGC 4258 is a well known spiral galaxy with a peculiar large scale jet flow detected in the radio and in H-alpha. Due to the special geometry of the galaxy, the jets emerge from the nuclear region through the galactic disk. Also the distribution of molecular gas looks different from that in other spiral galaxies: [12]CO(1-0)emission has only been detected in the center and along the jets and only up to distances of about 50 arcsec (1.8 kpc) from the nucleus. The reason for the CO concentration along the inner jets in NGC 4258 was not understood and is the motivation for the observations presen…
The structure of AGN accretion disks on sub-parsec scales can be probed through free-free absorption of synchrotron emission from the base of symmetric radio jets. We present new VLBA observations of the nearby FR-I radio galaxy NGC 4261 at 22 and 43 GHz, and combine these with previous VLBA observations at 1.6 and 8.4 GHz to map absorption caused by an inner accretion disk. Assuming the disk is geometrically and optically thin and composed of a uniform 10^4 K plasma, the average electron density in the inner 0.1 pc is 10^3 - 10^8 cm^-3. Equating thermal gas pressure and magnetic field strengt…
We present multi-frequency, high resolution VLBA circular polarization images of the radio source 3C 84 in the center of NGC 1275. Our images reveal a complex distribution of circular polarization in the inner parsec of the radio jet, with local levels exceeding 3% polarization, the highest yet detected with VLBI techniques. The circular polarization changes sign along the jet, making 3C 84 also the first radio jet to show both signs of circular polarization simultaneously. The spectrum and changing sign of the circular polarization indicate that it is unlikely to be purely intrinsic to the em…
We present new infrared imaging of the NGC 2264 G protostellar outflow region, obtained with the InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope. A jet in the red outflow lobe (eastern lobe) is clearly detected in all four IRAC bands and, for the first time, is shown to continuously extend over the entire length of the red outflow lobe traced by CO observations. The redshifted jet also extends to a deeply embedded Class 0 source, VLA 2, confirming previous suggestions that it is the driving source of the outflow (Gomez et al. 1994). The images show that the easternmost part o…
We present a model for the structure, temporal behavior, and evolutionary status of the bipolar nebula M2-9. According to this model the system consists of an AGB or post-AGB star and a hot white dwarf companion, with an orbital period of about 120 years. The white dwarf has undergone a symbiotic nova eruption about 1200 years ago, followed by a supersoft x-ray source phase. The positional shift of the bright knots in the inner nebular lobes is explained in terms of a revolving ionizing source. We show that the interaction between the slow, AGB star's wind, and a collimated fast wind from the …
We have derived simplified equations for a freely expanding, pressure driven jet model as a function of jet power and applied it successfully to the radio cores in the black hole candidates GRS 1915+105, NGC 4258, and M81 which are observationally well defined systems, and to Sgr A*. By using equipartition assumptions, the model has virtually no free parameters and can explain all sources by just scaling the jet power. In GRS 1915+105 it also naturally explains the jet velocity and the radio time delay. The jet powers we derive for the radio cores of the first three sources are comparable to t…
We present multi-frequency simultaneous VLBA observations at 15, 22 and 43 GHz towards the nucleus of the nearby radio galaxy NGC 1052. These three continuum images reveal a double-sided jet structure, whose relative intensity ratios imply that the jet axis is oriented close to the sky plane. The steeply rising spectra at 15-43 GHz at the inner edges of the jets strongly suggest that synchrotron emission is absorbed by foreground thermal plasma. We detected H2O maser emission in the velocity range of 1550-1850 km/s, which is redshifted by 50-350 km/s with respect to the systemic velocity of NG…
We present 86.8 GHz SiO J=2-1 observations of the molecular outflow from the protostellar source NGC 1333 IRAS 2A. Silicon monoxide is a sensitive tracer of shocks in molecular gas, and the emission clearly traces terminal bowshocks at the ends of the outflow lobes, as well as emission knots and a source coincident with the protostar. Our three-field mosaic from the BIMA interferometer covers the entire outflow length, including both lobes. The most prominent emission feature, the eastern bowshock, shows SiO at the leading edge, clearly displaced from the maximum seen in CO. This is in contras…
We present a study of high-resolution long-slit spectra of the narrow-line region (NLR) in NGC 1068 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard The Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The spectra were retrieved from the Multimission Archive at Space Telescope (MAST) obtained from two visits and seven orbits of HST time. We also obtained MERLIN radio maps of the center of NGC 1068 to examine the dependence of the NLR cloud velocities on the radio structure. The radial velocities and velocity dispersions of the bright NLR clouds appear to be unaffected by the radio knots, indi…
We have obtained HST FOC f/48 long-slit spectroscopy of the inner 4" of the Narrow Line Region of NGC 1068 between 3500-5400A with a spectral resolution of 1.78A/pixel. At a spatial scale of 0.0287" per pixel these data provide an order of magnitude improvement in resolution over previous ground based spectra and allow us to trace the interaction between the radio jet and the gas in the NLR. Our results show that, within +/-0.5" of the radio-jet the emission lines are kinematically disturbed and split into two components whose velocity separation is 1500 km/sec. The filaments associated with t…
A comparison is made between the properties of CAL 83, CAL 87, RX J0513.9-6951, 1E 0035.4-7230 (SMC 13), RX J0019.8+2156, and RX J0925.7-4758, all supersoft X-ray binaries. Spectra with the same resolution and wavelength coverage of these systems are compared and contrasted. Some new photometry is also presented. The equivalent widths of the principal emission lines of H and He II differ by more than an order of magnitude among these sources, although those of the highest ionization lines (e.g. O VI) are very similar. In individual systems, the velocity curves derived from various ions often d…
We report X-ray imaging of the powerful FR-II radio galaxy 3C353 using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. 3C353's two 4"-wide and 2'-long jets allow us to study in detail the internal structure of the large-scale relativistic outflows at both radio and X-ray photon energies with the sub-arcsecond spatial resolution. In a 90 ks Chandra observation, we have detected X-ray emission from most radio structures in 3C353, including the nucleus, the jet and the counterjet, the terminal jet regions (hotspots), and one radio lobe. We show that the detection of the X-ray emission associated with the radio kn…
We have studied the inner regions of the LINER galaxy NGC1052 since the mid 1990s at high resolution with 15 GHz very-long-baseline interferometry observations. A compact, two-sided jet structure is revealed, with multiple sub-parsec scale features moving outward from the central region with typical speeds of 0.26 c. Complementary to this, since early 2005 we are performing a multi-mission campaign of observations of this source, including X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray, and radio flux density monitoring, and VLBA observations at 22 GHz and 43 GHz. X-ray variability is present at time scales of wee…
We report the Chandra detection of resolved X-ray emission of luminosity 3.5 \times 10^{40} ergs s^{-1} (0.4--4.5 keV) and power-law energy spectral index alpha = 1.5 \pm 0.7 from a roughly 10 arcsec length of the north-west radio jet in NGC 315. The X-ray emission is brightest at the base of the radio-bright region about 3 arcsec from the nucleus, and is consistent with a synchrotron origin. At a projected distance of 10 arcsec from the core, the jet is in approximate pressure balance with an external medium which is also detected through its X-ray emission and which has kT \approx 0.6 \pm 0.…
We report results from nearly simultaneous pentachromatic VLBI observations towa rds a nearby GPS galaxy NGC 1052. The observations at 1.6 and 4.8 GHz with VSOP, and at 2.3, 8.4, and 15.4 GHz wit h VLBA, provide linear resolutions of $\sim 0.1$ pc. Convex spectra of a double-sided jet imply that synchrotron emission is obscured through foreground cold dense plasma, in terms of free--free absorption (FFA). We found a central condensation of the plasma which covers about 0.1 pc and 1 pc of the approaching and receding jets, respectively. A simple model with a geometrically thick plasma torus per…
We have conducted VLBI observations of water maser and radio continuum emission in the nucleus of NGC 3079. The 22 GHz maser emission arises in compact clumps, distributed along an axis that is aligned with the major axis of the galactic disk. The velocities of the masers are consistent with their lying in the inner parsec of a molecular disk rotating in the same sense as the rest of the galaxy. However, the velocity field has a significant non-rotational component, which may indicate supersonic turbulence. The bright maser emission is not coincident with any detected compact 22 GHz continuum …
We apply our intrinsically symmetrical, decelerating relativistic jet model to deep VLA imaging of the inner 140 arcsec of the giant low-luminosity radio galaxy NGC 315. An optimized model accurately fits the data in both total intensity and linear polarization. We infer that the velocity, emissivity and field structure in NGC 315 are very similar to those of the other low-luminosity sources we have modelled, but that all of the physical scales are larger by a factor of about 5. We derive an inclination to the line of sight of 38 degrees for the jets. Where they first brighten, their on-axis v…
We present here new VLBI observations of one FR-I radio galaxy (NGC2484) and two Broad Line FR-II radio galaxies (3C109 and 3C382). For 3C109 new VLA maps are also shown. These sources belong to a complete sample of radio galaxies under study for a better knowledge of their structures at parsec resolution. The parsec structure of these 3 objects is very similar: asymmetric emission which we interpret as the core plus a one-sided jet. The parsec scale jet is always on the same side of the main kpc-scale jet. The limit on the jet to counterjet brightness ratio, the ratio of the core radio power …
We present BIMA 3 mm observations of the radio continuum source and the molecular gas disk in the radio loud Fanaroff & Riley Type I (FR I)galaxy NGC3801.We have detected a continuum source in the nucleus and determined that it has a flat millimeter-wave spectrum, suggesting that the emission is non-thermal and due to an AGN; the radio core is not evident in existing VLA observations. We also map the extended 3 mm emission from the previously known radio jets. In addition, we detect CO (1--0) emission associated with the dust disk observed in previous HST images. A velocity gradient is observe…
We present the first X-ray monitoring observations of the X-ray bright FRI radio galaxy NGC6251 observed with RXTE for 1 year. The primary goal of this study is to shed light on the origin of the X-rays, by investigating the spectral variability with model-independent methods coupled with time-resolved and flux-selected spectroscopy. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1) Throughout the monitoring campaign, NGC6251 was in relatively high-flux state. 2) The flux persistently changed with fluctuations of the order of ~2 on time scales of 20-30 days. 3) When the hardness ratio is plott…
We observed the nuclear region of NGC 4261 (3C270) with the VLBA at two frequencies (1.6 and 8.4 GHz) simultaneously. We find that the position angle of the parsec-scale radio axis agrees, within the errors, with the position angle of the VLA-scale jet. Our observations also reveal basically symmetric radio structures at both 1.6 and 8.4 GHz. Analysis of these images shows that most of the central 10 pc of this source is not significantly affected by free-free absorption, even though HST images show that the nucleus contains a nearly edge-on disk of gas and dust on larger scales. Our highest a…
We present results from {\it Chandra} observations of the galaxy pair NGC 7619 and NGC 7626, the two dominant members of the Pegasus group. The X-ray images show a brightness edge associated with each galaxy, which we identify as merger cold fronts. The edges are sharp, and the axes of symmetry of the edges are roughly anti-parallel, suggesting that these galaxies are falling towards one another in the plane of the sky. The detection of merger cold fronts implies a merging subgroup scenario, since the alternative is that the galaxies are falling into a pre-existing $\sim1$ keV halo without a d…
We present an XMM observation of the radio jet and diffuse halo of the nearby radio galaxy NGC6251. The EPIC spectrum of the galaxy's halo is best-fitted by a thermal model with temperature kT~1.6 keV and subsolar abundances. Interestingly, an additional hard X-ray component is required to fit the EPIC spectra of the halo above 3 keV, and is independently confirmed by an archival Chandra observation. However, its physical origin is not clear. Contribution from a population of undetected Low Mass X-ray Binaries seems unlikely. Instead, the hard X-ray component could be due to inverse Compton sc…
We present images of the jets in the nearby radio galaxy NGC 315 made with the VLA at five frequencies between 1.365 and 5 GHz with resolutions between 1.5 and 45 arcsec FWHM. Within 15 arcsec of the nucleus, the spectral index of the jets is 0.61. Further from the nucleus, the spectrum is flatter, with significant transverse structure. Between 15 and 70 arcsec from the nucleus, the spectral index varies from 0.55 on-axis to 0.44 at the edge. This spectral structure suggests a change of dominant particle acceleration mechanism with distance from the nucleus and the transverse gradient may be a…
The radio jet axis of NGC 1068 is characterised by energetic activity from x-ray to radio wavelengths. Detailed kinematic and polarization studies have shown that this activity is confined to bipolar cones centered on the AGN which intersect the plane of the disk. Thus, molecular clouds at 1 kpc distance along this axis are an important probe of the nuclear ionizing luminosity and spectrum. Extended MIR emission coincident with the clouds is reasonably understood by dust heated to high temperatures by the nuclear radiation field. This model predicts that the nuclear spectrum is quasar-like (po…
This is a paper on young jet material in a frustratingly complex environment. NGC 1052 has a compact, flat- or GHz-peaked-spectrum radio nucleus consisting of bi-symmetric jets, oriented close to the plane of the sky. Many features on both sides move away at v_app~0.26c (H_0=65 km/s/Mpc). VLBI at seven frequencies shows a wide range of spectral shapes and brightness temperatures; there is clearly free-free absorption, probably together with synchrotron self-absorption, on both sides of the core. The absorbing structure is likely to be geometrically thick and oriented roughly orthogonal to the …
The idea that Fanaroff-Riley Class~I Radio Galaxies contain core jets with Lorentz factors of the order of a few and are the parent population for BL~Lac Objects is examined, with particular reference to the data on two FRI Radio Galaxies, NGC~315 and NGC~6251. Conservation laws for an entraining relativistic jet are derived and are used to determine a relationship between Mach number and velocity for initially relativistic jets. One immediate consequence of this relationship is that, if an initially relativistic jet is decelerated to a transonic Mach number between, say 0.5 and 1.5, then its …
Measurements of the velocities of galaxies thought to be associated with the giant radio galaxy NGC 6251 confirm the presence of a poor cluster with a systemic redshift of z= 0.0244 +/- 0.0004 and a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of sigma_{z}= 283 (+109, -52) km/s. This suggests a cluster atmosphere temperature of T = 0.7 (+0.6, -0.2) keV, which is not enough to confine the radio jet by gas pressure. The core of NGC 6251 shows strong emission lines of [O III] and H alpha + [N II], but there is no evidence for line emission from the jet (detected in optical continuum by Keel (1988)).
In order to find a law characterising the decrease of velocity along a jet, five analytical methods are suggested. The first two simple models examine the variation of velocity in the presence of Newton's or Stoke's resistance. The equation that represents the conservation of the momentum along a pyramidal sector is solved from an analytical point of view (third model). The application of the conservation of the total momentum flux allows us to deduce the velocity of the galaxy as a function of time for classical velocities (fourth model) and relativistic velocities (fifth model). The variatio…
This paper presents high resolution X-ray observations with Chandra of NGC 4258 and infers the nature of the so called ``anomalous arms'' in this galaxy. The anomalous arms dominate the X-ray image; diffuse X-ray emission from the ``plateaux'' regions, seen in radio and H$α$ imaging, is also found. X-ray spectra have been obtained at various locations along the anomalous arms and are well described by thermal (mekal) models with kT in the range 0.37 - 0.6 keV. The previously known kpc-scale radio jets are surrounded by cocoons of hot X-ray emitting gas for the first 350 pc of their length. The…