Open AccessExtended inverse‐Compton emission from distant, powerful radio galaxies
Author(s) -
Erlund M. C.,
Fabian A. C.,
Blundell Katherine M.,
Celotti A.,
Crawford C. S.
Publication year - 2006
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.1365-2966.2006.10660.x
Subject(s) - physics , cosmic microwave background , astrophysics , radio galaxy , redshift , compton scattering , x shaped radio galaxy , astronomy , galaxy , photon , anisotropy , optics
ABSTRACT We present Chandra observations of two relatively high redshift FR II radio galaxies, 3C 432 and 3C 191 ( z = 1.785 and 1.956, respectively), both of which show extended X‐ray emission along the axis of the radio jet or lobe. This X‐ray emission is most likely to be due to inverse‐Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons. Under this assumption, we estimate the minimum energy contained in the particles responsible. This can be extrapolated to determine a rough estimate of the total energy. We also present new, deep radio observations of 3C 294, which confirm some association between radio and X‐ray emission along the north‐east–south‐west radio axis and also that radio emission is not detected over the rest of the extent of the diffuse X‐ray emission. This together with the offset between the peaks of the X‐ray and radio emissions may indicate that the jet axis in this source is precessing.