2025-12-16 NASA
Two composite images show side-by-side observations of the Perseus Cluster from NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer) and Chandra X-ray Observatory. Scientists used data from both observatories, along with data from Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, to confirm measurements of the galaxy cluster.X-ray: (Chandra) NASA/CXC/SAO, (IXPE) NASA/MSFC; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk and K. Arcand
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ixpe/nasa-ixpes-longest-observation-solves-black-hole-jets-mystery/
- https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae157d
3C 84ジェットにおけるコンプトン散乱の検出 Detection of Compton Scattering in the Jet of 3C 84
Ioannis Liodakis, Sudip Chakraborty, Frédéric Marin, Steven R. Ehlert, Thibault Barnouin, Pouya M. Kouch, Kari Nilsson, Elina Lindfors, Tapio Pursimo, Georgios F. Paraschos,…
The Astrophysical Journal Letters Published: 2025 November 11
DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/ae157d
Abstract
3C 84 is the brightest cluster galaxy in the Perseus Cluster. It is among the closest radio-loud active galaxies and among the very few that can be detected from low-frequency radio up to TeV γ-rays. Here we report on the first X-ray polarization observation of 3C 84 with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, for a total of 2.2 Ms coinciding with a flare in γ-rays. This is the longest observation for a radio-loud active galaxy, which allowed us to reach unprecedented sensitivity, leading to the detection of an X-ray polarization degree of ΠX = 4.2% ± 1.3% (∼3.2σ confidence) at an X-ray electric vector polarization angle of ψX = 163° ± 9°, which is aligned with the radio jet direction on the sky. Optical polarization observations show fast variability about the jet axis as well. Our results strongly favor models in which X-rays are produced by Compton scattering from relativistic electrons—specifically synchrotron self-Compton—that takes place downstream, away from the supermassive black hole.
