Radio loud AGN and the L_X - \sigma relation of galaxy groups and clusters

TL;DR

This study reveals that galaxy clusters with radio-loud central galaxies exhibit more concentrated X-ray profiles, higher luminosities, and larger central masses compared to radio-quiet clusters, indicating a link between radio activity and X-ray properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates a significant correlation between radio activity of central galaxies and the X-ray properties of galaxy clusters, highlighting differences in luminosity and surface brightness profiles.

Findings

Radio-loud clusters have more concentrated X-ray surface brightness profiles.

Clusters with radio-loud central galaxies have over twice the X-ray luminosity of radio-quiet ones.

Radio-quiet, high velocity dispersion clusters are underluminous in X-rays.

Abstract

We use the ROSAT All-Sky Survey to study the X-ray properties of a sample of 625 groups and clusters of galaxies selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We stack clusters with similar velocity dispersions and investigate whether their average X-ray luminosities and surface brightness profiles vary with the radio activity level of their central galaxies. We find that at a given value of $\sigma$, clusters with a central radio AGN have more concentrated X-ray surface brightness profiles, larger central galaxy masses, and higher X-ray luminosities than clusters with radio-quiet central galaxies. The enhancement in X-ray luminosity is more than a factor of two, is detected with better than 6$\sigma$ significance, and cannot be explained by X-ray emission from the radio AGN itself. This difference is largely due to a subpopulation of radio-quiet, high velocity dispersion clusters with low mass central galaxies. These clusters are underluminous at X-ray wavelengths when compared to otherwise similar clusters where the central galaxy is radio-loud, more massive, or both.