Chandra View of the Ultra-Steep Spectrum Radio Source in Abell 2443: Merger Shock-Induced Compression of Fossil Radio Plasma?

TL;DR

This study uses Chandra X-ray data to analyze the disturbed intracluster medium of Abell 2443, revealing shock fronts and a correlation with a radio relic, suggesting merger shock-induced compression of fossil plasma.

Contribution

First detailed X-ray analysis of Abell 2443 showing shock fronts and their connection to the ultra-steep spectrum radio source, indicating merger shock effects on fossil plasma.

Findings

Detection of a cool tail and elongated gas core.

Identification of a cold front and shock front near the core.

Correlation between the shock front and the radio relic.

Abstract

We present a new Chandra X-ray observation of the intracluster medium in the galaxy cluster Abell 2443, hosting an ultra-steep spectrum radio source. The data reveal that the intracluster medium is highly disturbed. The thermal gas in the core is elongated along a northwest to southeast axis and there is a cool tail to the north. We also detect two X-ray surface brightness edges near the cluster core. The edges appear to be consistent with an inner cold front to the northeast of the core and an outer shock front to the southeast of the core. The southeastern edge is coincident with the location of the radio relic as expected for shock (re)acceleration or adiabatic compression of fossil relativistic electrons.