Chandra X-Ray Observations of the Inner Optical Filaments in Centaurus A

We have obtained Chandra High Resolution Camera (0.1-10 keV) X-ray imaging of the inner optical filaments of Cen A. Faint X-ray emission is observed associated with the filaments with significance levels of 2-3.5 s when the data are adaptively smoothed. Comparison with optical [O III] l5007 emission-line imaging suggests that the X-ray-emitting gas is associated with the northwest edge of the optical line-emitting gas. This region of the filaments is closest to the radio jet and is therefore a candidate for shock heating induced by turbulent instabilities in the interstellar medium. The observed X-ray luminosity is significantly smaller than that predicted by purely radiative shock models of the filaments, implying that mechanical energy input does not provide 100% of the ionizing energy budget for the filaments.