{
  "abstract": "We present a deep Chandra (130 ks) study of a striking, tidally induced cold front in a subcluster merging with the galaxy cluster MCXC J0157.4-0550. The subcluster, nicknamed the `snail' (J0157), displays an extensive spiral structure that extends to $\\sim 260$ kpc --- one of the largest spiral cold fronts identified to date. Surface brightness and spectral analysis across four sectors reveal a consistent density jump of a factor of $\\sim 3$ across the front, together with significant temperature discontinuities, and thermodynamic mapping further delineates the coherent, low-entropy structure of the stripped gas. Unlike classical sloshing cold fronts, the spiral in J0157 arises not from oscillation of a displaced cool core, but from subcluster gas that has been ram pressure stripped and tidally wound into a spiral by orbital rotation. Applying Gaussian Gradient Magnitude filtering and azimuthal surface-brightness analysis, we identify quasi-periodic corrugations along the front consistent with candidate Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instabilities, with a characteristic scale of $\\sim 90$ kpc. The presence of these KH rolls constrains the effective ICM viscosity to $\\lesssim 0.59$ times the Spitzer value and the magnetic field strength at the interface to $\\lesssim 5.9\\ μ$G. These results establish J0157 as a useful laboratory for probing macro-scale merger-induced gas dynamics and micro-scale plasma transport processes in the intracluster medium.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.24360",
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Chao Geng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chong Ge"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ming Sun"
    },
    {
      "name": "Li Ji"
    },
    {
      "name": "Guilin Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhicheng He"
    },
    {
      "name": "Haiguang Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "John ZuHone"
    },
    {
      "name": "Paul Nulsen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Craig Sarazin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nobuhiro Okabe"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1br9sz26ec67q.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.24360",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1br9sz26ec67q",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24360",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.GA"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.HE"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223068446",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.24360",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-17",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1br9sz26ec67q.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:30:52Z",
      "native_id": "2610.24360",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24360"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.GA",
      "subfield": "galaxies"
    },
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.HE",
      "subfield": "high-energy-astrophysics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Spiraling into the `snail' cluster MCXC J0157.4-0550",
  "title_text": "Spiraling into the `snail' cluster MCXC J0157.4-0550",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:33:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1br9sz26ec67q",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}