High-resolution x-ray observations of M87: Nucleus, jet, and radio halo

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160316· OSTI ID:6423357

Schreier, E J; Gorenstein, P; Feigelson, E D

X-ray observations of M87 made using the Einstein Observatory HRI show the presence of four components. A broad, diffuse component associated with hot gas in the galaxy follows and approximte inverse power law; the pressur of the gas could be sufficient to confine the inner and outer radio lobes. A diffuse, asymmetrical X-ray distribution to the east and southwest appears similar to the radio morphology and is consistent with an inverse Compton model. An X-ray source centered on the nucleus of the galaxy is extended by 2''-3'' and may be due to thermal bremsstrahlung; a possible compact (nuclear) source of less than 10/sup 41/ ergs s/sup -1/ is weak compared with other active galaxies, and its implications for the presence of a massive black hole are discussed. A structure correlated with the radio-optical jet is also seen; the X-ray flux is consistent with an extrapolation of the optical synhrotron spectrum. The four components suggest that all three canonical astrophysical X-ray emission mechanisms are present in M87: thermal bremsstrahlung, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• OSTI ID: 6423357
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 261:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
JETS
MORPHOLOGY
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
SPECTRA
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
X-RAY GALAXIES
X-RAY SPECTRA