Reflections of Active Galactic Nucleus Outbursts in the Gaseous Atmosphere of M87
Reflections of Active Galactic Nucleus Outbursts in the Gaseous Atmosphere of M87
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DOI：
10.1086/429746
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发表时间：
2003-12
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影响因子：
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通讯作者：
W. Forman;P. Nulsen;P. Nulsen;S. Heinz;F. Owen;J. Eilek;A. Vikhlinin;M. Markevitch;R. Kraft;E. Churazov;C. Jones
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作者：
W. Forman;P. Nulsen;P. Nulsen;S. Heinz;F. Owen;J. Eilek;A. Vikhlinin;M. Markevitch;R. Kraft;E. Churazov;C. Jones
我们结合深钱德拉，ROSAT HRI，和XMM-牛顿观测M87研究活动星系核（AGN）爆发的气体大气的影响。许多X射线特征似乎是活动星系核重复爆发的直接结果。特别是，喷流和反喷流周围的X射线空洞可能是由于射电等离子体的膨胀，而14和17 kpc的增强发射环可能是与1-2 × 107年前开始的爆发有关的激波锋面。这些冲击的影响也可以在突出的X射线臂内的增亮中看到。在更大的尺度上，距核心约50千秒差距，表面亮度的凹陷可能是早期爆发的残余。正如Fabian和他的合著者对英仙座星系团所建议的那样，我们对M87爆发的能量学分析认为，激波可能是活动星系核能量输入到星系、星系团和星系团的冷却流大气中的最重要通道。对于M87，驱动冲击波爆发的平均功率为2.4 × 1043 ergs-1，是整个冷却流辐射损失的3倍。因此，即使在没有其他能量输入的情况下，每3 × 107年爆发一次也足以使流动熄灭。
We combined deep Chandra, ROSAT HRI, and XMM-Newton observations of M87 to study the impact of active galactic nucleus (AGN) outbursts on its gaseous atmosphere. Many X-ray features appear to be a direct result of repetitive AGN outbursts. In particular, the X-ray cavities around the jet and counterjet are likely due to the expansion of radio plasma, while rings of enhanced emission at 14 and 17 kpc are probably shock fronts associated with outbursts that began 1-2 × 107 yr ago. The effects of these shocks are also seen in brightenings within the prominent X-ray arms. On larger scales, ~50 kpc from the nucleus, depressions in the surface brightness may be remnants of earlier outbursts. As suggested for the Perseus Cluster by Fabian and his coauthors, our analysis of the energetics of the M87 outbursts argues that shocks may be the most significant channel for AGN energy input into the cooling-flow atmospheres of galaxies, groups, and clusters. For M87, the mean power driving the shock outburst, 2.4 × 1043 ergs s-1, is 3 times greater than the radiative losses from the entire cooling flow. Thus, even in the absence of other energy inputs, outbursts every 3 × 107 yr are sufficient to quench the flow.