AC 114: A cluster with a soft X-ray tail

We present Chandra observations of the galaxy cluster AC 114. The cluster shows a strongly irregular morphology, with signs of multiple merging activity. We report the discovery of a soft X-ray filament originating close to the core of the cluster, curving to the southeast for approximately 1.'5. We confirm that X-ray emission is associated with two of three mass concentrations identified in previous gravitational lensing studies of this object. These two mass concentrations are located at opposite ends of the soft filament, and we interpret this as evidence for interaction between them. The northern part of the cluster reveals signs of further dynamical activity. Two sharp discontinuities are detected in both the surface brightness and temperature profiles, evincing another more recent merger event that took place in or close to the cluster core. A preliminary combined mass and lensing analysis shows, in spite of the merger activity, remarkably good agreement between lensing and X-ray masses computed with the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium.