Cygnus A |
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Authors: | CL Carilli PD Barthel |
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Institution: | (1) Leiden Observatory, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands , NL;(2) Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA , US;(3) Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, P.O. Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands , NL |
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Abstract: | Cygnus A was the first hyper-active galaxy discovered, and it
remains by far the closest of the ultra-luminous radio galaxies. As
such, Cygnus A has played a fundamental role in the study of virtually
all aspects of extreme activity in galaxies. We present a review of jet
theory for powering the double-lobed radio emitting structures in
powerful radio galaxies, followed by a review of observations of Cygnus
A in the radio, optical, and X-ray relevant to testing various aspects
of jet theory. Issues addressed include: jet structure from pc- to
kpc-scales, jet stability, confinement, composition, and velocity, the
double shock structure for the jet terminus and the origin of multiple
radio hotspots, the nature of the filamentary structure in the radio
lobes, and the hydrodynamic evolution of the radio lobes within a dense
cluster atmosphere, including an analysis of pressure balance between
the various gaseous components. Also discussed are relativistic
particle acceleration and loss mechanisms in Cygnus A, as well as
magnetic field strengths and geometries both within the radio source,
and in the intracluster medium. We subsequently review the
classification, cluster membership, and the emission components of the
Cygnus A galaxy. The origin of the activity is discussed.
Concentrating on the nuclear regions of the galaxy, we review the
evidence for an obscured QSO, also given the constraints on the
orientation of the radio source axis with respect to the sky plane. We
present an overview of models of central engines in AGN and observations
of Cygnus A which may be relevant to testing such models. We conclude
with a brief section concerning the question of whether Cygnus A is
representative of powerful high redshift radio galaxies.
Received October 10, 1995 |
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Keywords: | : Galaxies: active - Galaxies: individual: Cygnus A - Radio continuum: galaxies |
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