3C 17: The BCG of a galaxy cluster at z=0.22

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a galaxy cluster at z=0.22 around the radio galaxy 3C 17, with detailed spectroscopic, photometric, and X-ray analysis revealing its properties and the dense intracluster medium influencing 3C 17's radio jet.

Contribution

It presents the first identification and characterization of a galaxy cluster associated with 3C 17, including spectroscopic, photometric, and X-ray evidence of hot gas and dense environment.

Findings

A galaxy cluster at z=0.22 with a virial radius of 0.37 Mpc.

3C 17 is the brightest cluster galaxy with a complex brightness profile.

Extended X-ray emission indicates hot intracluster gas.

Abstract

Gemini Multi Object Spectrograph medium-resolution spectra and photometric data of 39 objects in the field of the radio galaxy 3C 17 are presented. Based on the new data, a previously uncataloged cluster of galaxies is identified at a mean redshift of z=0.220 +/-0.003, a projected virial radius of 0.37 Mpc, and a velocity dispersion of sigma_v = 821 +/-171 km/s. The brightest member of this cluster is 3C 17 with M_r = -22.45 mag. The surface brightness profile of 3C 17 is best fit with two components (Exponential + Sersic) characteristic of brightest cluster galaxies. The spectrum of 3C 17 is dominated by broad emission lines Halpha + N[II] and Hbeta + [OIII]. Analysis of Chandra data shows extended emission around the cluster core that supports the existence of hot gas cospatial with 3C 17. The discovery of a cluster of galaxies around 3C 17 better explains the sharply bent morphology of the radio jet given that it propagates through a dense intracluster medium.