FEEDBACK IN THE CORES OF CLUSTERS A3581, 2A 0335+096, AND SERSIC 159-03
The cores of massive galaxy clusters, where hot gas is cooling rapidly, appear to undergo cycles of self-regulating energy feedback, in which active galactic nucleus (AGN) outbursts in the central galaxies episodically provide sufficient heating to offset much of the gas cooling. We use deep integral-field spectroscopy to study the optical line emission from the extended nebulae of three nearby brightest cluster galaxies and investigate how they are related to the processes of heating and cooling in the cluster cores. Two of these systems, A3581 and Sersic 159-03, appear to be experiencing phases of feedback that are dominated by the activity and output of a central AGN. A3581 shows evidence for significant interaction between the radio outflows and the optical nebula, in addition to accretion flows into the nucleus of the galaxy. X-ray and radio data show that Sersic 159-03 is dominated by the feedback of energy from the central AGN, but the kinematics of the optical nebula are consistent with infall or outflow of material along its bright filaments. The third system, 2A 0335+096, is dominated by mass accretion and cooling, and so we suggest that it is in an accumulation phase of the feedback cycle. The outer nebula forms a disk-like structure, {approx}14 kpc in radius, that rotates about the central galaxy with a velocity amplitude of {approx}200 km s{sup -1}. Overall, our data are consistent with ongoing AGN-driven feedback cycles occurring in these systems.
- OSTI ID:
- 22016335
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 747, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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2 kiloparsec accretion disk (. ) inside a 17 kiloparsec H-alpha bar in the cooling flow cluster 2A 0335+096
Cooling flow in the 2A 0335+096 cluster of galaxies