2004MNRAS.355...11O -
Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 355, 11-19 (2004/November-3)
The unusual morphology of the intragroup medium in NGC 5171.
OSMOND J.P.F., PONMAN T.J. and FINOGUENOV A.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present the results of a 24-ks XMM-Newton observation of the NGC 5171 group of galaxies. NGC 5171 is unusual in that it is an X-ray bright group (LX> 1042 erg/s), with irregular contours which are not centred on a bright galaxy. The global spectrum is adequately described by a single-temperature apec model with TX= 0.96±0.04 keV and Z= 0.13±0.02Z☉, in good agreement with previous ROSAT data. We find that the X-ray contours are centred on a bright ridge of emission stretching from the brightest group galaxy to a nearby galaxy. Spectral mapping reveals this ridge to be both cool (TX~ 1.1 keV) and metallic (Z~ 0.4 Z☉) in comparison to its surroundings, suggesting it is the result of a tidal interaction between the two galaxies. Optical data reveal the member galaxies to have a high velocity dispersion (σv= 494±99 km/s) and a significantly non-Gaussian velocity distribution, suggesting that the group is in the process of merging. A region of hot gas with TX= 1.58±0.36 keV is found to the west of the bright central ridge, and we interpret this as shock-heating resulting from the merging. A further region of emission to the south-east of the bright central ridge, with TX= 1.14±0.13 keV, is probably associated with a background group, four times more distant.
Abstract Copyright:
2004 RAS
Journal keyword(s):
galaxies: clusters: general - galaxies: evolution - galaxies: formation - galaxies: general - intergalactic medium - X-rays: galaxies: clusters
Simbad objects:
7
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