The cool wake around 4C 34.16 as seen by XMM-Newton

We present XMM-Newton observations of the wake-radio galaxy system 4C 34.16, which shows a cool and dense wake trailing behind the host galaxy of 4C 34.16. A comparison with numerical simulations is enlightening, as they demonstrate that the wake is produced mainly by ram pressure stripping during the galactic motion through the surrounding cluster. The mass of the wake is a substantial fraction of the mass of the X-ray halo of an elliptical galaxy. This observational fact supports a wake formation scenario similar to that recently demonstrated numerically by Acreman et al.: the host galaxy of 4C 34.16 has fallen into its cluster, and is currently crossing its central regions. A substantial fraction of its X-ray halo has been stripped by ram pressure, and remains behind to form the galaxy wake.