Anisotropic inverse Compton emission in the radio galaxy 3 C 265 3

We present the results from a Chandra observation of the powerful radio galaxy 3C 265. We detect X–ray emission from the nucleus, the radio hotspots and lobes. In particular, the lobe X–ray emission is well explained as anisotropic inverse Compton scattering of the nuclear photons by the relativistic electrons in the radio lobes; the comparison between radio synchrotron and IC emission yields a magnetic field strength a factor ≃ 2 lower than that calculated under minimum energy conditions. The X–ray spectrum of the nucleus is consistent with that of a powerful, strongly absorbed quasar and the X–ray emission of the south-eastern hotspot can be successfully reproduced by a combination of synchro-self Compton and inverse Compton emission assuming a magnetic field slightly lower than equipartition.