Observations of the giant radio lobes region of Centaurus A with SAS 3
Abstract
Observations of the X-ray flux from the extended radio lobes of the galaxy Centaurus A obtained with the SAS 3 observatory are reported. The 15 x 15 deg region that includes the lobes was mapped by superposing data from raster scans with the horizontal tubular collimator detectors, which have a 1.7 deg FWHM circular field of view. Data obtained is consistent with the presence of superposed emission from the point sources NGC 5128 and MX 1312-42, a previously unreported source detected by the Einstein Observatory IPC. Fluxes of 4.63 + or - 0.14 x 10 to the -10th and 4.6 + or - 0.6 x 10 to the -11th ergs/sq cm per sec were measured for NGC 5128 and MX 1312-42, respectively, with best fit power law spectra of indices 0.83 + or - 0.04 and 0.62 + or - 0.10 and hydrogen column densities of 1.23 + or - 0.10 x 10 to the 23rd and 9.7 + or - 15.0 x 10 to the 21st atoms/sq cm. Results imply an upper limit of 2.9 x 10 to the 11th for the X-ray emission from the extended radio lobes of Cen A between 2 and 10 keV, which indicates a lower limit to the magnetic field in the lobes of 1.6 x 10 to the -6th gauss.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158859
- Bibcode:
- 1981ApJ...245..840M
- Keywords:
-
- Elliptical Galaxies;
- Galactic Radio Waves;
- Galactic Structure;
- Radio Galaxies;
- X Ray Sources;
- X Ray Spectra;
- Diffuse Radiation;
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Heao 2;
- High Energy Electrons;
- Interplanetary Magnetic Fields;
- Lobes;
- Point Sources;
- Raster Scanning;
- Sas-3;
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Astronomy