Existence of the previously reported eastern ghost cavity in NGC4472 (M49)

Determine whether the previously reported eastern ghost cavity in the elliptical galaxy NGC4472 (M49) is real by establishing the presence or absence of a genuine X-ray cavity at the reported location.

Background

NGC4472 (M49) shows extended low-frequency radio tails with LOFAR and complex X-ray structure. The authors identify and measure a cavity associated with the eastern radio tail, but also discuss additional, more distant “ghost” cavities proposed in earlier X-ray work.

At the position of the previously reported eastern ghost cavity, the LOFAR data do not show radio filling; instead, the radio emission declines there. As a result, the authors state that they cannot confirm the existence of this eastern ghost cavity with their radio data, leaving its reality unresolved.