TY - JOUR
T1 - A deep spectroscopic study of the filamentary nebulosity in NGC4696, the brightest cluster galaxy in the Centaurus cluster
AU - Canning, R. E.A.
AU - Fabian, A. C.
AU - Johnstone, R. M.
AU - Sanders, J. S.
AU - Crawford, C. S.
AU - Ferland, G. J.
AU - Hatch, N. A.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - We present results of deep integral-field spectroscopy observations using high-resolution optical (4150-7200Å) VLT VIsible MultiObject Spectrograph spectra of NGC 4696, the dominant galaxy in the Centaurus cluster (Abell 3526). After the Virgo cluster, this is the second nearest (z= 0.0104) example of a cool-core cluster. NGC 4696 is surrounded by a vast, luminous Hα emission-line nebula (LHα= 2.2 × 1040ergs-1). We explore the origin and excitation of the emission-line filaments and find their origin consistent with being drawn out, under rising radio bubbles, into the intracluster medium as in other similar systems. Contrary to previous observations, we do not observe evidence for shock excitation of the outer filaments. Our optical spectra are consistent with the recent particle heating excitation mechanism of Ferland et al.
AB - We present results of deep integral-field spectroscopy observations using high-resolution optical (4150-7200Å) VLT VIsible MultiObject Spectrograph spectra of NGC 4696, the dominant galaxy in the Centaurus cluster (Abell 3526). After the Virgo cluster, this is the second nearest (z= 0.0104) example of a cool-core cluster. NGC 4696 is surrounded by a vast, luminous Hα emission-line nebula (LHα= 2.2 × 1040ergs-1). We explore the origin and excitation of the emission-line filaments and find their origin consistent with being drawn out, under rising radio bubbles, into the intracluster medium as in other similar systems. Contrary to previous observations, we do not observe evidence for shock excitation of the outer filaments. Our optical spectra are consistent with the recent particle heating excitation mechanism of Ferland et al.
KW - Galaxies: clusters: individual: Centaurus
KW - Galaxies: individual: NGC 4696
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/80255124835
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/80255124835#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19470.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19470.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80255124835
SN - 0035-8711
VL - 417
SP - 3080
EP - 3099
JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
IS - 4
ER -