Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-10-05
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
ApJ L accepted. 4 pages, 4 figures. Some figures reduced in quality, publication-quality version available at http://hercule
Scientific paper
10.1086/524197
We present new deep Chandra observations of the Centaurus A jet, with a combined on-source exposure time of 719 ks. These data allow detailed X-ray spectral measurements to be made along the jet out to its disappearance at 4.5 kpc from the nucleus. We distinguish several regimes of high-energy particle acceleration: while the inner part of the jet is dominated by knots and has properties consistent with local particle acceleration at shocks, the particle acceleration in the outer 3.4 kpc of the jet is likely to be dominated by an unknown distributed acceleration mechanism. In addition to several compact counterjet features we detect probable extended emission from a counterjet out to 2.0 kpc from the nucleus, and argue that this implies that the diffuse acceleration process operates in the counterjet as well. A preliminary search for X-ray variability finds no jet knots with dramatic flux density variations, unlike the situation seen in M87.
Birkinshaw Mark
Brassington Nicola J.
Croston Judith H.
Evans Daniel A.
Forman William R.
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