VLA observations of the multiple jet galaxy 3C 75

Abstract

VLA observations of the central radio source in Abell 400, 3C 75, at 6 and 20 cm are presented. The VLA maps show that this radio source consists of a pair of twin jets originating in the apparently double nucleus of the central galaxy in this cluster. On larger scales the jets merge into two tails resembling the wide angle tail class of radio sources. Just as for the wide angle tail radio source, 3C 465, it is found that the standard models for bending this source fail quantitatively. The problem becomes even harder because of the low velocity dispersion and temperature for Abell 400 and the fact that the jets from both nuclei bend in the same direction. Models with jet velocities less than 1000 km/s at the first bends seem necessary if the sources are bent by the motion of the galaxy through the ICM. Particle acceleration seems necessary in the most diffuse parts of the source with the energy source likely to be the ICM itself.