Direct evidence for outflow of metal-enriched gas along the radio jets of hydra A

Abstract

Using deep Chandra observations of the Hydra A galaxy cluster, we examine the metallicity structure near the central galaxy and along its powerful radio source. We show that the metallicity of the intracluster medium is enhanced by up to 0.2 dex along the radio jets and lobes compared to the metallicity of the undisturbed gas. The enhancements extend from a radius of 20 kpc from the central galaxy to a distance of ∼ 120 kpc. We estimate the total iron mass that has been transported out of the central galaxy to be between 2 × 107 M ⊙ and 7 × 107 M ⊙, which represents 10%-30% of the iron mass within the central galaxy. The energy required to lift this gas is roughly 1% to 5% of the total energetic output of the active galactic nuclei. Evidently, Hydra A's powerful radio source is able to redistribute metal-enriched, low entropy gas throughout the core of the galaxy cluster. The short re-enrichment timescale <10 9 yr implies that the metals lost from the central galaxy will be quickly replenished. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.