Giant Lobes of Centaurus A Radio Galaxy Observed with the Suzaku X-ray Satellite

Understand

[abridged] We report on Suzaku observations of selected regions within the Southern giant lobe of the radio galaxy Centaurus A.

• We focus on distinct X-ray features likely associated with fine radio structure of the lobe.
• We find that the spectral properties of the detected X-ray features are equally consistent with thermal emission from hot gas, or with a power-law radiation continuum.
• However, the plasma parameters implied by these different models favor a synchrotron origin for the analyzed X-ray spots, indicating that a very efficient acceleration of electrons is taking place within the giant structure of Centaurus A, albeit only in isolated and compact regions.