Peering Into the Extended X-ray Emission on Megaparsec Scale in 3C 187

TL;DR

This study analyzes Chandra X-ray data of radio galaxy 3C 187 to determine the origin of its diffuse X-ray emission, testing whether it is due to inverse Compton scattering, thermal gas, or a galaxy cluster environment.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed imaging and spectral analysis of 3C 187's diffuse X-ray emission, assessing the roles of IC/CMB, thermal IGM, and cluster association.

Findings

Diffuse X-ray emission extends along the radio axis.

Emission is consistent with inverse Compton scattering of CMB photons.

No significant evidence of a galaxy cluster environment.

Abstract

Context. The diffuse X-ray emission surrounding radio galaxies is generally interpreted either as due to inverse Compton scattering of non-thermal radio-emitting electrons on the Cosmic Microwave Background (IC/CMB), or as the thermal emission arising from the hot gas of the intergalactic medium (IGM) permeating galaxy clusters hosting such galaxies, or as a combination of both. In this work we present an imaging and spectral analysis of Chandra observations for the radio galaxy 3C 187 to investigate its diffuse X-ray emission and constrain the contribution of these different physical mechanisms. Aims. The main goals of this work are: (i) to evaluate the extension of the diffuse X-ray emission from this source, (ii) to investigate the two main processes that can account for its origin - IC/CMB and thermal emission from the IGM - and (iii) to test the possibility for 3C 187 to belong to a cluster of galaxies, that can account for the observed diffuse X-ray emission. Methods. To evaluate the extension of the X-ray emission around 3C 187 we extracted surface flux profiles along and across the radio axis. We also extracted X-ray spectra in the region of the radio lobes and in the cross-cone region to estimate the contribution of the non-thermal (IC/CMB) and thermal (IGM) processes to the observed emission, making use of radio (VLA and GMRT) data to investigate the multi-wavelength emission arising from the lobes. We collected Pan-STARRS photometric data to investigate the presence of a galaxy cluster hosting 3C 187, looking for the presence of a "red sequence" in the source field in the form of a tight clustering of the galaxies in the color space...