NGC 741 - Mergers and AGN feedback on galaxy group scale

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex interactions of mergers and AGN feedback in the galaxy group NGC 741, using deep X-ray and radio data to understand their effects on the intra-group medium and implications for cosmological studies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed multi-wavelength analysis of NGC 741, revealing the interplay of merging processes, AGN activity, and gas dynamics on the galaxy group scale.

Findings

Identification of multiple merging phenomena and gas sloshing features.

Evidence of gas stripping and cavity formation related to AGN activity.

Insights into the heating mechanisms of the intra-group medium.

Abstract

Low mass galaxy cluster systems and groups play an essential role in upcoming cosmological studies such as those to be carried out with eROSITA. Though the effects of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and merging processes are of special importance to quantify biases like selection effects or deviations from hydrostatic equilibrium, they are poorly understood on the galaxy group scale. We present an analysis of recent deep Chandra and XMM-Newton integrations of NGC741, which provides an excellent example of a group with multiple concurrent phenomena: both an old central radio galaxy and a spectacular infalling head-tail source, strongly-bent jets, a 100kpc radio trail, intriguing narrow X-ray filaments, and gas sloshing features. Supported principally by X-ray and radio continuum data, we address the merging history of the group, the nature of the X-ray filaments, the extent of gas stripping from NGC742, the character of cavities in the group, and the roles of the central AGN and infalling galaxy in heating the intra-group medium.