Interactions of Radio Galaxies and the Intra-Cluster Medium in Abell 160 and Abell 2462

Abstract

We present Chandra and VLA observations of two galaxy clusters, Abell 160 and Abell 2462, whose brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) host wide angle tailed radio galaxies (WATs). We search for evidence of interactions between the radio emission and the hot, X-ray emitting gas, and test various jet termination models. We find that both clusters have cool BCGs at the cluster centre, and that the scale of these cores ~30-40kpc for both sources) is of approximately the same scale as the length of the radio jets. For both sources, the jet flaring point is coincident with a steepening in the host cluster's temperature gradient, and similar results are found for 3C465 and Hydra A. However, none of the published models of WAT formation offer a satisfactory explanation as to why this may be the case. Therefore it is unclear what causes the sudden transition between the jet and the plume. Without accurate modelling, we cannot ascertain whether the steepening of the temperature gradient is the main cause of the transition, or merely a tracer of an underlying process.