Interaction of Cygnus A with its environment

TL;DR

This paper studies the interaction of Cygnus A with its environment using Chandra X-ray observations, revealing nonthermal cocoon shocks, synchrotron X-ray jets, and a non-relativistic energy flow from the nucleus to hotspots.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the physical processes in Cygnus A, including the nature of X-ray emission and jet dynamics, based on detailed X-ray observations.

Findings

X-ray emission from cocoon shocks is nonthermal

X-ray jets are interpreted as synchrotron emission

Jet flow is non-relativistic, carrying over one solar mass per year

Abstract

Cygnus A, the nearest truly powerful radio galaxy, resides at the centre of a massive galaxy cluster. Chandra X-ray observations reveal its cocoon shocks, radio lobe cavities and an X-ray jet, which are discussed here. It is argued that X-ray emission from the outer regions of the cocoon shocks is nonthermal. The X-ray jets are best interpreted as synchrotron emission, suggesting that they, rather than the radio jets, are the path of energy flow from the nucleus to the hotspots. In that case, a model shows that the jet flow is non-relativistic and carries in excess of one solar mass per year.