HEATED INTRACLUSTER GAS AND RADIO CONNECTIONS: THE SINGULAR CASE OF MKW 3S

Abstract

Similarly to other cluster of galaxies previously classified as cooling flow systems, the Chandra observation of MKW3s reveals that this object has a complex X-ray structure hosting both a X-ray cavity and a X-ray filament. Unlike the other clusters, however, the temperature map of the core of MKW3s shows the presence of extended regions of gas heated above the radially averaged gas temperature at any radius. As the cluster does not show evidences for ongoing major mergers Mazzotta et al. suggest a connection between the heated gas and the activity of the central AGN. Nevertheless, due to the lack of high quality radio maps, this interpretation was controversial. In this paper we present the results of two new radio observations of MKW3s at 1.28GHz and 604MHz obtained at the GMRT. Together with the Chandra observation and a separate VLA observation at 327MHz from Young, we show unequivocal evidences for a close connection between the heated gas region and the AGN activity and we briefly summarize possible implications.