ChandraObservation of the Interaction of the Radio Source and Cooling Core in Abell 2063

Abstract

We present the results of a Chandra observation of the cooling core cluster Abell 2063. Spectral analysis shows that there is cool gas (2 keV) associated with the cluster core, which is more than a factor of 2 cooler than the outer cluster gas (4.1 keV). There also is spectral evidence for a weak cooling flow, ≈ 20 M☉ yr-1. The cluster exhibits a complex structure in the center that consists of several bright knots of emission, a depression in the emission to the north of the center of the cluster, and a shell of emission surrounding it. The depression in the X-ray emission is coincident with the position of the northeastern radio lobe of the radio source associated with the cluster central galaxy. The shell surrounding this region appears to be hotter, which may be the result of a shock that has been driven into the gas by the radio source. The power output of the radio source appears to be sufficient to offset the cooling flow, and heating of the gas through shocks is a possible explanation of how the energy transfer is established.