A multi-wavelength view of cooling vs. AGN heating in the X-ray luminous cool-core of Abell 3581

TL;DR

This study examines the complex interplay of cooling and AGN heating in the cool core of galaxy group Abell 3581 through multi-wavelength observations, revealing active feedback, gas uplift, and core stripping processes.

Contribution

It provides a detailed multi-wavelength analysis of AGN feedback and cool core dynamics in Abell 3581, highlighting the impact of outbursts and sloshing motions.

Findings

Active radio mode feedback from the supermassive black hole.

Multiple AGN outbursts creating bubbles and uplifting gas.

Sloshing motions stripping the cool core, forming a spiraling cold front.

Abstract

We report the results of a multi-wavelength study of the nearby galaxy group, Abell 3581 (z=0.0218). This system hosts the most luminous cool core of any nearby group and exhibits active radio mode feedback from the super-massive black hole in its brightest group galaxy, IC 4374. The brightest galaxy has suffered multiple active galactic nucleus outbursts, blowing bubbles into the surrounding hot gas, which have resulted in the uplift of cool ionised gas into the surrounding hot intragroup medium. High velocities, indicative of an outflow, are observed close to the nucleus and coincident with the radio jet. Thin dusty filaments accompany the uplifted, ionised gas. No extended star formation is observed, however, a young cluster is detected just north of the nucleus. The direction of rise of the bubbles has changed between outbursts. This directional change is likely due to sloshing motions of the intragroup medium. These sloshing motions also appear to be actively stripping the X-ray cool core, as indicated by a spiraling cold front of high metallicity, low temperature, low entropy gas.