Inverse-Compton emission from the lobes of 3C 353

TL;DR

This paper detects inverse-Compton X-ray emission from the lobes of radio galaxy 3C 353, using multi-frequency radio and X-ray data to analyze electron populations and magnetic fields, revealing spatial variations.

Contribution

It combines radio and X-ray observations to constrain magnetic fields and electron populations in radio galaxy lobes, demonstrating spatial magnetic field variations in 3C 353.

Findings

Inverse-Compton emission detected in 3C 353 lobes

Magnetic field strength varies across the lobes

Consistent inverse-Compton levels with other radio galaxies

Abstract

X-ray emission due to inverse-Compton scattering of microwave background photons by electrons in the lobes of powerful radio galaxies has now been seen in a large number of objects. Combining an inverse-Compton model for the lobe X-ray emission with information obtained from radio synchrotron emission provides a method of constraining the electron population and magnetic field energy density, which cannot be accomplished using the radio data alone. Using six frequencies of new and archival radio data and new XMM-Newton observations of the Fanaroff & Riley class II radio galaxy 3C353, we show that inverse-Compton emission is detected in the radio lobes of this source at a level consistent with what is seen in other objects. We argue that variations in the X-ray/radio ratio in the brighter eastern lobe require positionally varying magnetic field strength. We also examine the X-ray nucleus and the cluster, Zw 1819.1-0108, spatially and spectrally.