Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical conditions in the hot spots of the radio galaxy Cygnus A

  • Published:
Astronomy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is shown that composite radio spectra of the hot spots of the radio galaxy Cygnus A can be fully explained by assuming a nonuniform distribution of the magnetic fields inside the hot spots, without invoking any physical mechanisms other than synchrotron radiation. The magnetic fields are strong (B ∼ 10−2−10−1 G) at the center of the hot spots, and decreases at the hot-spot edges to the level of the magnetic field of the radio lobes in which the hot spots are embedded (B ∼ 10−4−10−5 G). The difference in the magnetic field between the hot-spot center and edge decreases during the evolution, while the average magnetic-field intensity increases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. F. N. Owen, M. J. Ledlow, G. E. Morrison, and J. M. Hill, Astrophys. J. 488, L15 (1997).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. C. L. Carilli and P.D. Barthel, Astron. Astrophys.Rev. 7, 1 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. R. A. Perley, J.W. Dreher, and J. J. Cowan, Astroph. J. 285, 35 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Sorathia, N. Bartel, M. Bietenholtz, et al., in Cygnus A: Study of a Radio Galaxy, Ed. by C. L. Carilli and D. E. Harris (CambridgeUniv. Press, Cambridge, 1996), p. 86.

    Google Scholar 

  5. P. A. G. Scheuer and A. C. S. Readhead, Nature 277, 182 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. T. W. B. Muxlow, G. Pelletier, and J. Roland, Astron. Astrophys. 206, 237 (1998).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Mitton and M. Ryle, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 146, 221 (1969).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. G. K. Miley and C. Wade, Astrophys. Lett. 8, 11 (1971).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. P. J. Hargrave and M. Ryle, Mon.Not. R. Astron. Soc. 166, 305 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. R. A. Perley and C. Carilli, in Cygnus A: Study of a Radio Galaxy, Ed. by C. L. Carilli and D. E. Harris (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1996), p. 168.

    Google Scholar 

  11. C. J. Lonsdale and P. D. Barthel, Astron. J. 92, 12 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. R. A. Laing, in Proceedings of the ESO Workshop on Extranuclear Activity in Galaxies, Ed. by E. J. A. Meurs and R. A. E. Fosbury (European Southern Observatory, Garching beiMunchen, FRG, 1989), p. 121.

  13. A. R. S. Black, S. A. Baum, J. P. Leahy, et al., Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 256, 186 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. R. D. Blandford and M. J. Rees, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 165, 395 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. P. A. Scheuer, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 166, 513 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. C. Begelman, R. D. Blandford, and M. J. Rees, Rev. Mod. Phys. 56, 255 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. D. S. De Young, Astrophys. J. 241, 81 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. P. A. Hughes and A. J. Allen, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 106, 339 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. C. L. Carilli, R. A. Perley, and J. H. Dreher, Astrophys. J. 334, L73 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. P. A. G. Scheuer, in Extragalactic Radio Sources, Ed. by R. Fanti, K. Kellermann, and G. Setti, Proc. IAU Symp. 110, 197 (1982).

  21. K.C. Steenbrugge, K.M. Blundell, and P. Duffy, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 388, 1465 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. C. L. Carilli, R. A. Perley, J. W. Dreher, and J. P. Leahy, Astrophys. J. 383, 554 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. C. L. Carilli, J. W. Dreher, and R. A. Perley, in Hot Spots in Extragalactic Radio Sources, Ed. by K. Meisenheimer and H. J. Roser (Springer, Heidelberg, 1989), p. 51.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. M. C. H. Wright and M. Birkinshaw, Astrophys. J. 614, 115 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. T. J. W. Lazio, A. S. Cohen, N. E. Kassim, et al., Astroph. J. 642, L33 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. L. Stawarz, C. C. Cheung, D. E. Harris, and M. Ostrowski, Astrophys. J. 662, 213 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. K. C. Steenbrugge, I. Heywood, and K. M. Blundell, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 401, 67 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. S. C. Tsien and P. J. Duffet-Smith, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 198, 941 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. V. S. Artyukh and P. A. Chernikov, Astron. Rep. 55, 194 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. J.W. Dreher, Astron. J. 86, 883 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. M. D. Smith, M. L. Norman, K. H. Winkler, and L. Smar, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 214, 67 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. V. S. Artyukh and P. A. Chernikov, Astron. Rep. 45, 16 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. S. I. Syrovatsky, Sov. Astron. 3, 22 (1959).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. N. S. Kardashev, A. D. Kuz’min, and S. I. Syrovatsky, Sov. Astron. 6, 167 (1962).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. N. S. Kardashev, Sov. Astron. 6, 317 (1962).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. A. A. Korchak, Astron. Zh. 34, 365 (1957).

    MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. W. J. Jaffe and G. C. Perola, Astron. Astrophys. 26, 423 (1973).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. A. R. Bell, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 182, 443 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. R. D. Blandford and J. F. Ostriker, Astrophys. J. 221, L29 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. J. P. Leahy, T. W. B. Muxlow, and P. W. Stephens, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 239, 401 (1989).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. A. R. Bell, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 182, 147 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. A. R. Bell, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 225, 615 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. J. A. Eilek and P. Hughes, in Beams and Jets in Astrophysics, Ed. by P. A. Hughes (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1991), p. 428.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. V. A. Razin, Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Radiofiz. 3, 921 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  45. C. L. Carilli, J.W. Dreher, S. Conner, and R.A. Perley, Astron. J. 98, 513 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. J. Roland, G. Pelletier, and T. W. B. Muxlow, Astron. Astrophys. 207, 16 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory, Astro Space Center, Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow oblast’, 142290, Russia

    V. S. Artyukh, S. A. Tyul’bashev & P. A. Chernikov

Authors
  1. V. S. Artyukh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. A. Tyul’bashev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. A. Chernikov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. S. Artyukh.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © V.S. Artyukh, S.A. Tyul’bashev, P.A. Chernikov, 2012, published in Astronomicheskii Zhurnal, 2012, Vol. 89, No. 9, pp. 754–760.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Artyukh, V.S., Tyul’bashev, S.A. & Chernikov, P.A. Physical conditions in the hot spots of the radio galaxy Cygnus A. Astron. Rep. 56, 680–685 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772912090016

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772912090016

Keywords

Search

Navigation