Radio and x-ray variability of the nucleus of Centaurus A (NGC 5128). [10. 7 to 89 GHz, > 20 keV]

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5297984

Beall, J H; Rose, W K; Graf, W; Price, K M; Dent, W A

Centaurus A was observed at radio frequencies of 10.7, 31.4, 85.2, and 89 GHz and at X-ray energies greater than 20 keV. The source exhibits significant variability in all the observed radio frequencies. The observed radio and X-ray intensities show some concurrent variations but do not track one another throughout the observations. A model of the source in which X-rays are produced by inverse Compton scattering of blackbody photons by relativistic electrons is proposed to explain these observations. The observed variations in the electromagnetic spectrum are consistent with adiabatic expansion of a trapped plasma in conjunction with turbulent accelerations of the relativistic electrons.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, Md. (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 5297984
• Report Number(s): N-77-26060; NASA-TM-X-71327; X-682-77-93
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY RANGE
FREQUENCY RANGE
GALAXIES
GHZ RANGE
GHZ RANGE 01-100
KEV RANGE
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA
VARIATIONS
X-RAY SPECTRA