Three-panel processed observational Figure 1 of NGC 5728. Left: an adaptively smoothed 0.3–3 keV Chandra/ACIS-S image with the inner soft X-ray bicone outlined in green and the circumnuclear star-forming ring outlined in red. Center: an ALMA CO(2–1) map showing molecular spiral structure and two emission peaks around the nucleus. Right: a VLT/MUSE H-alpha plus [N II] map showing the approximately 1 kpc star-forming ring. White crosses mark the Chandra X-ray centroid in the center and right panels. Each panel includes a 5 arcsec, approximately 1 kpc scale bar; north is up.

Research article · 2024

Deep Chandra Observations of NGC 5728. III. Probing the High-resolution X-Ray Morphology and Multiphase Interstellar Medium Interactions in the Circumnuclear Region

ApJ 977, 275 (2024)

Paper-derived processed multiwavelength observational figure · Published Figure 1

Published-paper Figure 1. Left: merged 0.3–3 keV Chandra/ACIS-S imaging, adaptively smoothed with nine counts per kernel, a 0.5–5 image-pixel scale, and 30 iterations; green and red outlines identify the inner soft X-ray bicone and circumnuclear star-forming ring analyzed in the paper. Center: archival ALMA CO(2–1) emission showing molecular spiral structure and a double-peaked distribution around the nucleus. Right: archival VLT/MUSE H-alpha plus [N II] emission showing the approximately 1 kpc circumnuclear star-forming ring. White crosses mark the Chandra X-ray centroid in the center and right panels. Each panel includes a 5 arcsec, approximately 1 kpc scale bar; north is up. Smoothing and overlays are processed presentation products. Spatial correspondence motivates multiphase interpretations but does not by itself establish physical coupling or causality.

Trindade Falcão et al. 2024, “Deep Chandra Observations of NGC 5728. III. Probing the High-resolution X-Ray Morphology and Multiphase Interstellar Medium Interactions in the Circumnuclear Region,” ApJ 977, 275, DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad8de3, CC BY 4.0. Published Figure 1 proportionally resized and converted from PNG to WebP for web presentation. Chandra: NASA/CXC; ALMA: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); MUSE: ESO/VLT.

Research summary

Processed X-ray morphology and multiphase comparisons in circumnuclear NGC 5728

Paper III analyzes eleven Chandra/ACIS-S observations totaling 260.78 ks, using subpixel-processed imaging and imaging spectroscopy to examine energy-dependent X-ray morphology in the bicone and circumnuclear star-forming ring. Comparisons with archival ALMA CO(2–1), VLT/MUSE Hα+[N II], VLT/SINFONI H₂, and HST/WFC3 imaging identify spatial associations among hot, warm, and cold gas structures. Count excesses and surface-brightness differences are measured from the Chandra data; absorbing columns, plasma temperature, luminosities, and hot-gas properties are spectral- or model-derived. Obscuration, reprocessing, shocks, stellar-wind heating, compact-source identity, and direct multiphase interaction remain interpretations or alternatives. Paper III does not measure an X-ray velocity field, new gas kinematics, mass-outflow rate, coupling efficiency, or causal feedback sequence, and results from Papers I and II are not new Paper III measurements.