Steep-Spectrum Radio Sources in Clusters of Galaxies—The Southern Sample

1984 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. B. Slee ◽  
J. E. Reynolds

It is well established (e.g. Slee et al. 1983) that radio galaxies near the centres of rich clusters of galaxies tend to have steeper radio spectra than field radio galaxies. The fact that the sources with the steepest spectra occur in clusters that are highly luminous X-ray emitters has generally been interpreted in terms of the confining influence of a hot (~108 K), relatively dense (10-2 to 10-3 electrons cm-3) intra-cluster gas; the confined relativistic plasma then preferentially loses its high-energy electrons through synchrotron and inverse Compton losses, resulting in a steepening of the radio spectrum. A more detailed review of the evidence for this process is given by Robertson (1983).

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 317-321
Author(s):  
Vahe’ Petrosian

AbstractEvidence for non-thermal activity in clusters of galaxies is well established from radio observations of synchrotron emission by relativistic electrons, and new windows (in EUV and Hard X-ray ranges) have provided more powerful tools for its investigation. The hard X-ray observations, notably from Coma, are summarized and results of a new RXTE observations of a high red-shift cluster are presented. It is shown that the most likely emission mechanism for these radiations is the inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background photons by the same electrons responsible for the radio radiation. Various scenarios for acceleration of the electrons are considered and it is shown that the most likely model is episodic acceleration by shocks or turbulence, presumably induced by merger activity, of high energy electrons injected into the inter-cluster medium by galaxies or active galactic nuclei.


2002 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
T.A. Enßlin

A short review on theoretical implications of non-thermal emission (radio, extreme ultraviolet, high energy X-ray) from the intra-cluster medium is given. The origin of cluster radio halos and cluster radio relics is discussed within the framework of a network of processes producing a non-thermal electron population. Emphasis is given to the role of old, remnant, presently invisible relativistic plasma released by former radio galaxies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (1) ◽  
pp. 988-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
D M Worrall ◽  
M Birkinshaw ◽  
H L Marshall ◽  
D A Schwartz ◽  
A Siemiginowska ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Despite the fact that kpc-scale inverse-Compton (iC) scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons into the X-ray band is mandated, proof of detection in resolved quasar jets is often insecure. High redshift provides favourable conditions due to the increased energy density of the CMB, and it allows constraints to be placed on the radio synchrotron-emitting electron component at high energies that are otherwise inaccessible. We present new X-ray, optical, and radio results from Chandra, HST, and the VLA for the core and resolved jet in the z = 3.69 quasar PKS J1421−0643. The X-ray jet extends for about 4.5 arcsec (32 kpc projected length). The jet’s radio spectrum is abnormally steep and consistent with electrons being accelerated to a maximum Lorentz factor of about 5000. Results argue in favour of the detection of iC X-rays for modest magnetic field strength of a few nT, Doppler factor of about 4, and viewing angle of about 15°, and predict the jet to be largely invisible in most other spectral bands including the far- and mid-infrared and high-energy gamma-ray. The jet power is estimated to be about 3 × 1046 erg s−1 which is of order a tenth of the quasar bolometric power, for an electron–positron jet. The jet radiative power is only about 0.07 per cent of the jet power, with a smaller radiated power ratio if the jet contains heavy particles, so most of the jet power is available for heating the intergalactic medium.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S342) ◽  
pp. 176-179
Author(s):  
Giulia Migliori

AbstractObservations at high-energies are important to define the first stages of the evolution of extragalactic radio sources and to characterize the interstellar medium of their host galaxies. In some of the X-ray-observed Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs, among the youngest and most compact radio galaxies), we measured values of the total hydrogen column densities large enough to slow or prevent the radio source growth. The γ-ray window has the potential to constrain the non-thermal contribution of jets and lobes to the total high-energy emission. However, so far, young radio sources remain elusive in γ-rays, with only a handful of detections (or candidates) reported by Fermi. I present our γ-ray study of the CSO PKS 1718–649, and draw comparison with the restarted, γ-ray detected, radio galaxy 3C 84.


2002 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 217-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Andernach ◽  
O.V. Verkhodanov ◽  
N.V. Verkhodanova

We used radio source catalogues accessible from the CATS database to establish radio continuum spectra for decametric radio sources in the UTR-2 catalogue. In an attempt to find further candidates for high-redshift radio galaxies, we searched the FIRST and NVSS surveys for counterparts of a sample of UTR sources with ultra-steep radio spectra (USS, α ≤ −1.2, S ∼ vα). We derived accurate positions and sizes for 23 of these USS sources. The search for optical counterparts from the APM (object) and DSS (image) databases, as well as infrared and X—ray identifications of these UTR sources are in progress.


1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gordon Robertson

The study of radio galaxies situated within clusters of galaxies has become a broad field, with hundreds of papers published in the last few years. This review will therefore be restricted mainly to consideration of the interactions between the extended components of radio sources in clusters and the diffuse gas (intracluster medium, ICM) which occurs in clusters. In particular, attention will be focused on what we can learn about the ICM from this interaction, in conjunction with other data such as X-ray observations. In the case of quasars in clusters of galaxies the emphasis is rather different, so discussion of this topic is deferred to section 6.


2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A174
Author(s):  
Mukul Mhaskey ◽  
Surajit Paul ◽  
Neeraj Gupta ◽  
Dipanjan Mukherjee ◽  
Gopal-Krishna

We report the detection of HI 21-cm absorption in a member of the rare and recently discovered class of compact radio sources: extremely inverted spectrum extragalactic radio sources (EISERS). The EISERS conceivably form a special subclass of the inverted spectrum radio galaxies since the spectral index of the optically thick part of the spectrum for these sources crosses the synchrotron self-absorption limit of α = +2.5 (S(ν) ∝ να). We searched for HI absorption in two EISERS using the recently upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) and detected an absorption feature in one of them. The strong associated HI absorption detected against the source J1209−2032 (z = 0.4040) implies an optical depth of 0.178 ± 0.02, corresponding to an HI column density of 34.8 ± 2.9 × 1020 cm−2, for an assumed HI spin temperature of 100 K and covering factor of 1. This is among the highest known optical depth and HI column densities found for compact radio sources of peaked spectrum type and supports the free-free absorption model for the steeply inverted radio spectrum of this source. For the other source, J1549+5038 (z = 2.171), no HI absorption was detected in our observations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S313) ◽  
pp. 231-235
Author(s):  
Leah K. Morabito ◽  
Adam Deller ◽  
J. B. R. Oonk ◽  
Huub Röttgering ◽  
George Miley

AbstractThe correlation between radio spectral steepness and redshift has been successfully used to find high redshift (z ⩾ 2) radio galaxies, but the origin of this relation is unknown. The ultra-steep spectra of high-z radio sources make them ideally suited for studies with the Low Band Antenna of the new Low Frequency Array, which covers 10–80 MHz and has baselines up to about 1300 km. As part of an ongoing survey, we use the longest baselines to map the low-frequency (< 70 MHz) spatial distributions along the jets of 5 bright extended steep spectrum high-z radio sources. From this, we will determine whether the spectra change over these spatially resolved sources, thereby constraining particle acceleration processes. We present early results from our low-frequency survey of ultra-steep spectrum radio galaxies. The first low frequency long baseline images of these objects are presented.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S296) ◽  
pp. 295-299
Author(s):  
Marie-Hélène Grondin ◽  
John W. Hewitt ◽  
Marianne Lemoine-Goumard ◽  
Thierry Reposeur ◽  

AbstractThe supernova remnant (SNR) Puppis A (aka G260.4-3.4) is a middle-aged supernova remnant, which displays increasing X-ray surface brightness from West to East corresponding to an increasing density of the ambient interstellar medium at the Eastern and Northern shell. The dense IR photon field and the high ambient density around the remnant make it an ideal case to study in γ-rays. Gamma-ray studies based on three years of observations with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard Fermi have revealed the high energy gamma-ray emission from SNR Puppis A. The γ-ray emission from the remnant is spatially extended, and nicely matches the radio and X-ray morphologies. Its γ-ray spectrum is well described by a simple power law with an index of ~2.1, and it is among the faintest supernova remnants yet detected at GeV energies. To constrain the relativistic electron population, seven years of Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data were also analyzed, and enabled to extend the radio spectrum up to 93 GHz. The results obtained in the radio and γ-ray domains are described in detail, as well as the possible origins of the high energy γ-ray emission (Bremsstrahlung, Inverse Compton scattering by electrons or decay of neutral pions produced by proton interactions).


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