# X-ray cavities in the hot corona of the lenticular galaxy NGC~4477

## TL;DR

This study reports the discovery of small X-ray cavities in the hot gas halo of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4477, indicating recent AGN activity and suggesting that AGN feedback operates universally across different galaxy types.

## Contribution

First detection of X-ray cavities in a lenticular galaxy, expanding understanding of AGN feedback in low-mass systems and their role in galaxy evolution.

## Key findings

- Identified symmetric X-ray cavities 1-1.1 kpc from galaxy center.
- Cavities are young, approximately 4 million years old.
- Total energy to create cavities is about 10^54 erg.

## Abstract

NGC 4477 is a low-mass lenticular galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, residing at 100\,kpc to the north of M87. Using a total of 116\,ks {\sl Chandra} observations, we study the interplay between its hot ($\sim$0.3\,keV) gas halo and the central supermassive black hole. A possible cool core is indicated by the short cooling time of the gas at the galaxy centre. We identify a pair of symmetric cavities lying 1.1\,kpc southeast and 0.9\,kpc northwest of the galaxy centre with diameters of 1.3\,kpc and 0.9\,kpc, respectively. We estimate that these cavities are newly formed with an age of $\sim$4\,Myr. No radio emission is detected at the positions of the cavities with the existing VLA data. The total energy required to produce the two cavities is $\sim$$10^{54}$\,erg, at least two orders of magnitude smaller than that of typical X-ray cavities. NGC 4477 is arguably far the smallest system and the only lenticular galaxy in which AGN X-ray cavities have been found. It falls on the scaling relation between the cavity power and the AGN radio luminosity, calibrated for groups and clusters. Our findings suggest that AGN feedback is universal among all cool core systems. Finally, we note the presence of molecular gas in NGC~4477 in the shape of a regular disk with ordered rotation, which may not be related to the feedback loop.