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Variability and proper motion of x-ray knots in the jet of Centaurus A

Snios, Bradford; Wykes, Sarka; Nulsen, Paul E. J.; Kraft, Ralph P.; Meyer, Eileen T.; Birkinshaw, Mark; Worrall, Diana M.; Hardcastle, Martin J.; Roediger, Elke; Forman, William R.; Jones, Christine

Authors

Bradford Snios

Sarka Wykes

Paul E. J. Nulsen

Ralph P. Kraft

Eileen T. Meyer

Mark Birkinshaw

Diana M. Worrall

Martin J. Hardcastle

William R. Forman

Christine Jones



Abstract

© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. We report results from Chandra observations analyzed for evidence of variability and proper motion in the X-ray jet of Centaurus A. Using data spanning 15 yr, collective proper motion of 11.3 ± 3.3 mas yr -1 , or 0.68 ± 0.20c, is detected for the fainter X-ray knots and other substructure present within the jet. The three brightest knots (AX1A, AX1C, and BX2) are found to be stationary to an upper limit of . Brightness variations up to 27% are detected for several X-ray knots in the jet. For the fading knots, BX2 and AX1C, the changes in spectral slope expected to accompany synchrotron cooling are not found, ruling it out and placing upper limits of ≃80 μG for each of their magnetic field strengths. Adiabatic expansion can account for the observed decreases in brightness. Constraints on models for the origin of the knots are established. Jet plasma overrunning an obstacle is favored as the generator of stationary knots, while moving knots are likely produced either by internal differences in jet speed or the late stages of jet interaction with nebular or cloud material.

Citation

Snios, B., Wykes, S., Nulsen, P. E. . J., Kraft, R. P., Meyer, E. T., Birkinshaw, M., …Jones, C. (2019). Variability and proper motion of x-ray knots in the jet of Centaurus A. The Astrophysical journal, 871(2), Article 248. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aafaf3

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 2, 2019
Online Publication Date Feb 5, 2019
Publication Date Feb 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jan 7, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 871
Issue 2
Article Number 248
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aafaf3
Keywords Galaxies: active; Galaxies: individual (Centaurus A); Galaxies: jets; X-rays: galaxies
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1207165
Publisher URL https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aafaf3
Additional Information http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019arXiv190100509S

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Copyright Statement
© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.






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