Dynamics of the radio galaxy 3C449

摘要

We present ROSAT PSPC observations of the twin-jet radio galaxy 3C449. Thesoft X-ray emission from this object is dominated by an extended halo with ascale comparable to that of the radio source. The asymmetry of the X-rayemission is reflected in that of the radio lobes, providing evidence that thebehaviour of the jets is strongly influenced by the external medium. A regionof reduced X-ray surface brightness coincident with the southern radio lobe of3C449 suggests that the radio source has displaced thermal plasma from theX-ray-emitting halo. However, the minimum pressure in the radio lobe isconsiderably lower than our estimates of the pressure in the external medium.We discuss the implications for the dynamics of the radio source.