Collimation of the kiloparsec-scale radio jets in NGC 2663

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Velović, Velibor, Filipović, M D, Barnes, L, Norris, R P, Tremblay, C D, Heald, G, Rudnick, L, Shabala, S S, Pannuti, T G, Andernach, H, Titov, O, Waddell, S G H, Koribalski, B S, Grupe, D, Jarrett, T, Alsaberi, R Z E, Carretti, E, Collier, J D, Einecke, S, Galvin, T J, Hotan, A, Manojlović, P, Marvil, J, Nandra, K, Reiprich, T H, Rowell, G, Salvato, M, Whiting, M
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 06.08.2022
• Subjects: Active galactic nuclei; Arrays; Brightening; Collimation; Elliptical galaxies; External pressure; Jets; Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Radio jets (astronomy); Radio observation
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2207.06713

We present the discovery of highly-collimated radio jets spanning a total of 355 kpc around the nearby elliptical galaxy NGC 2663, and the possible first detection of recollimation on kiloparsec scales. The small distance to the galaxy (~28.5 Mpc) allows us to resolve portions of the jets to examine their structure. We combine multiwavelength data: radio observations by the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and X-ray data from Chandra, Swift and SRG/eROSITA. We present intensity, rotation measure, polarisation, spectral index and X-ray environment maps. Regions of the southern jet show simultaneous narrowing and brightening, which can be interpreted as a signature of the recollimation of the jet by external, environmental pressure, though it is also consistent with an intermittent Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) or complex internal jet structure. X-ray data suggest that the environment is extremely poor; if the jet is indeed recollimating, the large recollimation scale (40 kpc) is consistent with a slow jet in a low-density environment.