Resolving molecular gas in the central galaxies of cooling flow clusters

Edge, A.C.; Frayer, D.T.

Abstract

We present aperture synthesis images of the CO (1-0) line emission in five central galaxies in cooling flow clusters using the Owens Valley Millimeter Array. Three of the five sources are significantly resolved, but the majority of the emission is from a compact (<20 kpc) region centered on the central galaxy. These results are consistent with the newly emerging view that cooling flows deposit much less gas over a shorter period in a smaller volume than previously thought. The size constraints derived imply that the molecular gas has a large (>1022 cm-2) column density. We review the implications of these results and the prospects for observations in the near future.

Citation

Edge, A., & Frayer, D. (2003). Resolving molecular gas in the central galaxies of cooling flow clusters. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 594(1), L13-L17. https://doi.org/10.1086/378386

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2003-09
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2008
• Journal: Astrophysical Journal Letters
• Print ISSN: 2041-8205
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-8213
• Publisher: American Astronomical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 594
• Issue: 1
• Pages: L13-L17
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/378386
• Keywords: Cooling flows, Galaxies, X-ray, Thermal emission, High-resolution, Star-clusters, XMM-Newton, Hydra-A, NGC-1275, Chandra, Abell-1795, Accretion.