Open AccessX‐ray synchrotron emission from the oblique shock in the jet of the powerful radio galaxy 3C 346
Author(s) -
Worrall D. M.,
Birkinshaw M.
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09082.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , radio galaxy , jet (fluid) , line of sight , astronomy , knot (papermaking) , astrophysical jet , synchrotron radiation , galaxy , active galactic nucleus , optics , chemical engineering , engineering , thermodynamics
We report the first detection, with Chandra , of X‐ray emission from the jet of the powerful narrow‐line radio galaxy 3C 346. X‐rays are detected from the bright radio and optical knot at which the jet apparently bends by approximately 70°. The Chandra observation also reveals a bright galaxy‐scale atmosphere within the previously known cluster and provides a good X‐ray spectrum for the bright core of 3C 346. The X‐ray emission from the knot is synchrotron radiation, as seen in lower‐power sources. In common with these sources, there is evidence of morphological differences between the radio/optical and X‐ray structures, and the spectrum is inconsistent with a one‐component continuous‐injection model. We suggest that the X‐ray‐bright knot is associated with a strong oblique shock in a moderately relativistic, light jet, at ∼ 20° to the line of sight, and that this shock is caused by the jet interacting with the wake in the cluster medium behind the companion galaxy of 3C 346. The general jet curvature can result from pressure gradients in the cluster atmosphere.