Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2001-09-20
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.331:273,2002
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
11 pages, 14 figures (3 colour), accepted by MNRAS, high res. version at http://www-xray.ast.cam.ac.uk/papers/cen1_accptd.pdf
Scientific paper
10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05211.x
We present Chandra data from a 31.7 ks observation of the Centaurus cluster, using the ACIS-S detector. Images of the X-ray emission show a plume-like feature at the centre of the cluster, of extent 60 arcsec (20 kpc in projection). The feature has the same metallicity as gas at a similar radius, but is cooler. Using adaptive binning, we generate temperature, abundance and absorption maps of the cluster core. The radial abundance profile shows that the previously known, steep abundance gradient peaks with a metallicity of 1.3-1.8 Zsolar at a radius of about 45 arcsec (15 kpc), before falling back to 0.4 Zsolar at the centre of the cluster. A radial temperature profile shows that the temperature decreases inwards. We determine the spatial distributions of each of two temperature components, where applicable. The radiative cooling time of the cooler component within the inner 10 arcsec (3 kpc) is less than 2x10^7 yr. X-ray holes in the image coincident with the radio lobes are seen, as well as two outer sharp temperature drops, or cold fronts. The origin of the plume is unclear. The existence of the strong abundance gradient is a strong constraint on extensive convection or gas motion driven by a central radio source.
Fabian Andrea C.
Sanders Jeffrey S.
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