The system of filaments in M87 - Evidence for matter falling into an active nucleus

Details The system of filaments in M87 - Evidence for matter falling into an active nucleus The system of filaments in M87 - Evidence for matter falling into an active nucleus

Oct 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979apjs...41..147f&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, vol. 41, Oct. 1979, p. 147-172.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

127

Astronomical Photometry, Elliptical Galaxies, Galactic Structure, Interstellar Matter, Line Spectra, Galactic Nuclei, Gas Ionization, Radio Sources (Astronomy), Shock Fronts, Spatial Distribution, Spectrophotometry, Tables (Data)

Scientific paper

Optical observations are presented which reveal a system of faint emission-line filaments in the inner part of the giant elliptical galaxy M87. It is shown that these filaments and the so-called counterjet and orthogonal fan jet belong to a common emission system which exhibits a clear spatial alignment with the double-lobed core radio source. Spectrophotometry of the filaments and nucleus of M87 is discussed which indicates a striking similarity in relative line strengths in the two regions. It is concluded that: (1) the gas in the filaments is ionized and excited in shock fronts; (2) the abundances and mechanisms of ionization and excitation are the same for the nucleus and the filaments; (3) the observed nuclear gas is gas that has fallen to the center of M87, rather than the result of an explosion in the nucleus; and (4) the M87 phenomenon can be understood by assuming that the filaments result from the formation of cold condensations in a hot intracluster or intragalactic medium that is accreting onto the nucleus of M87.

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