Open AccessDynamics of the radio galaxy 3C 449
Author(s) -
M. J. Hardcastle,
D. M. Worrall,
Mark Birkinshaw
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01535.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , rosat , x shaped radio galaxy , astronomy , radio galaxy , halo , surface brightness , galaxy
We present ROSAT PSPC observations of the twin‐jet radio galaxy 3C 449. The soft X‐ray emission from this object is dominated by an extended halo with a scale comparable to that of the radio source. The asymmetry of the X‐ray emission is reflected in that of the radio lobes, providing evidence that the behaviour of the jets is strongly influenced by the external medium. A region of reduced X‐ray surface brightness coincident with the southern radio lobe of 3C 449 suggests that the radio source has displaced thermal plasma from the X‐ray‐emitting halo. However, the minimum pressure in the radio lobe is considerably lower than our estimates of the pressure in the external medium. We discuss the implications for the dynamics of the radio source.