scholarly journals Evolutionary phases of merging clusters as seen by LOFAR

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A25 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wilber ◽  
M. Brüggen ◽  
A. Bonafede ◽  
D. Rafferty ◽  
T. W. Shimwell ◽  
...  

Massive, merging galaxy clusters often host giant, diffuse radio sources that arise from shocks and turbulence; hence, radio observations can be useful for determining the merger state of a cluster. In preparation for a larger study, we selected three clusters – Abell 1319, Abell 1314, and RXC J1501.3+4220 (Z7215) – making use of the new LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) at 120–168 MHz, and together with archival data, show that these clusters appear to be in pre-merging, merging, and post-merging states, respectively. We argue that Abell 1319 is likely in its pre-merging phase, where three separate cluster components are about to merge. There are no radio haloes nor radio relics detected in this system. Abell 1314 is a highly disturbed, low-mass cluster that is likely in the process of merging. This low-mass system does not show a radio halo, however, we argue that the merger activates mechanisms that cause electron re-acceleration in the large 800 kpc radio tail associated with IC 711. In the cluster Z7215 we discover diffuse radio emission at the cluster centre, and we classify this emission as a radio halo, although it is dimmer and smaller than expected by the radio halo power versus cluster mass correlation. We suggest that the disturbed cluster Z7215 is in its post-merging phase. Systematic studies of this kind over a larger sample of clusters observed with LoTSS will help to constrain the timescales involved in turbulent re-acceleration and the subsequent energy losses of the underlying electrons.

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-102
Author(s):  
A. M. Unewisse ◽  
R. W. Hunstead

AbstractUsing a complete sample, we have looked for correlations in position between radio sources with S408 ≥ 1 Jy in the Molonglo Reference Catalogue (MRC) and rich clusters of galaxies in the Abell, Corwin and Olowin catalogue (ACO). Within a projected radius of 100 kpc of the cluster centre, we find an overdensity of radio sources similar to that seen by Robertson and Roach (1990). They attributed this feature to centrally located dominant cluster galaxies. We confirm this hypothesis by looking at the morphology of the clusters within this peak and by optically identifying galaxies associated with the radio emission. Due to the relatively high flux density limit imposed, the cluster radio sources in this sample are among the most powerful in the southern sky. The probability of a cluster containing a radio source of this power is found not to depend on cluster richness.


2018 ◽  
Vol 611 ◽  
pp. A94 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Martinez Aviles ◽  
M. Johnston-Hollitt ◽  
C. Ferrari ◽  
T. Venturi ◽  
J. Democles ◽  
...  

Aim. A fraction of galaxy clusters host diffuse radio sources whose origins are investigated through multi-wavelength studies of cluster samples. We investigate the presence of diffuse radio emission in a sample of seven galaxy clusters in the largely unexplored intermediate redshift range (0.3 < z < 0.44). Methods. In search of diffuse emission, deep radio imaging of the clusters are presented from wide band (1.1–3.1 GHz), full resolution (~5 arcsec) observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The visibilities were also imaged at lower resolution after point source modelling and subtraction and after a taper was applied to achieve better sensitivity to low surface brightness diffuse radio emission. In case of non-detection of diffuse sources, we set upper limits for the radio power of injected diffuse radio sources in the field of our observations. Furthermore, we discuss the dynamical state of the observed clusters based on an X-ray morphological analysis with XMM-Newton. Results. We detect a giant radio halo in PSZ2 G284.97-23.69 (z = 0.39) and a possible diffuse source in the nearly relaxed cluster PSZ2 G262.73-40.92 (z = 0.421). Our sample contains three highly disturbed massive clusters without clear traces of diffuse emission at the observed frequencies. We were able to inject modelled radio haloes with low values of total flux density to set upper detection limits; however, with our high-frequency observations we cannot exclude the presence of RH in these systems because of the sensitivity of our observations in combination with the high z of the observed clusters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. A59
Author(s):  
Surajit Paul ◽  
Sameer Salunkhe ◽  
Satish Sonkamble ◽  
Prateek Gupta ◽  
Tony Mroczkowski ◽  
...  

We report the discovery of a putative radio relic, 830 kpc in length, and found towards the outskirts of galaxy cluster Abell 1697 (z = 0.181), using the LOFAR Two Meter Sky Survey at 144 MHz. An X-ray-inferred mass of M500X-ray = 2.9−0.7+0.8 × 1014 M⊙ places Abell 1697 among the least massive relic hosts. The relic is also detected at 325 MHz in the Westerbork Northern Sky Survey and at 1.4 GHz in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey, with an average spectral index of α(144, 325, 1400 MHz) = − 0.98 ± 0.01, and magnetic field of Beq ∼ 0.6 μG. This relic, located in the north-east periphery of the cluster, is 300 kpc wide, exhibits a gradual spectral steepening across the width (α144 MHz1.4 GHz(inj) = −0.70 ± 0.11 to α144 MHz1.4 GHz(edge) = −1.19 ± 0.15), as well as indications of a co-spatial X-ray (ROSAT) shock and the radio relic emission. The radio power of the relic is P1.4 GHz = 8.5 ± 1.1 × 1023 W Hz−1, which is found to be in good agreement with the expected empirical correlation between the radio power and largest linear size of relics. The relic is trailed by extended (790 × 550 kpc) diffuse radio emission towards the cluster centre, which is likely an ultra-steep spectrum (α144 MHz1.4 GHz < −1.84) radio source. This structure is also found to be older by at least 190 Myr, has a very low surface brightness of 0.3 μJy arcsec−2 and magnetic field Beq ∼ 0.8 μG, similar to that of a radio phoenix. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for the relic and the trailing diffuse radio emission, invoking re-acceleration due to wake turbulence, as well as the revival of fossil electrons in the remnant radio lobes of active galactic nuclei by the cluster merger shocks.


Author(s):  
C. S. Anderson ◽  
G. H. Heald ◽  
J. A. Eilek ◽  
E. Lenc ◽  
B. M. Gaensler ◽  
...  

Abstract We present the first Faraday rotation measure (RM) grid study of an individual low-mass cluster—the Fornax cluster—which is presently undergoing a series of mergers. Exploiting commissioning data for the POlarisation Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism (POSSUM) covering a ${\sim}34$ square degree sky area using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), we achieve an RM grid density of ${\sim}25$ RMs per square degree from a 280-MHz band centred at 887 MHz, which is similar to expectations for forthcoming GHz-frequency ${\sim}3\pi$ -steradian sky surveys. These data allow us to probe the extended magnetoionic structure of the cluster and its surroundings in unprecedented detail. We find that the scatter in the Faraday RM of confirmed background sources is increased by $16.8\pm2.4$ rad m−2 within 1 $^\circ$ (360 kpc) projected distance to the cluster centre, which is 2–4 times larger than the spatial extent of the presently detectable X-ray-emitting intracluster medium (ICM). The mass of the Faraday-active plasma is larger than that of the X-ray-emitting ICM and exists in a density regime that broadly matches expectations for moderately dense components of the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium. We argue that forthcoming RM grids from both targeted and survey observations may be a singular probe of cosmic plasma in this regime. The morphology of the global Faraday depth enhancement is not uniform and isotropic but rather exhibits the classic morphology of an astrophysical bow shock on the southwest side of the main Fornax cluster, and an extended, swept-back wake on the northeastern side. Our favoured explanation for these phenomena is an ongoing merger between the main cluster and a subcluster to the southwest. The shock’s Mach angle and stand-off distance lead to a self-consistent transonic merger speed with Mach 1.06. The region hosting the Faraday depth enhancement also appears to show a decrement in both total and polarised radio emission compared to the broader field. We evaluate cosmic variance and free-free absorption by a pervasive cold dense gas surrounding NGC 1399 as possible causes but find both explanations unsatisfactory, warranting further observations. Generally, our study illustrates the scientific returns that can be expected from all-sky grids of discrete sources generated by forthcoming all-sky radio surveys.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 375-375
Author(s):  
Sarah White

AbstractLow-frequency radio emission allows powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN) to be selected in a way that is unaffected by dust obscuration and orientation of the jet axis. It also reveals past activity (e.g. radio lobes) that may not be evident at higher frequencies. Currently, there are too few “radio-loud” galaxies for robust studies in terms of redshift-evolution and/or environment. Hence our use of new observations from the Murchison Widefield Array (the SKA-Low precursor), over the southern sky, to construct the GLEAM 4-Jy Sample (1,860 sources at S151MHz > 4 Jy). This sample is dominated by AGN and is 10 times larger than the heavily relied-upon 3CRR sample (173 sources at S178MHz > 10 Jy) of the northern hemisphere. In order to understand how AGN influence their surroundings and the way galaxies evolve, we first need to correctly identify the galaxy hosting the radio emission. This has now been completed for the GLEAM 4-Jy Sample – through repeated visual inspection and extensive checks against the literature – forming a valuable, legacy dataset for investigating relativistic jets and their interplay with the environment.


1979 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bologna ◽  
F. Celani ◽  
B. Caporaletti ◽  
A. Codino ◽  
B. D'Ettore Piazzoli ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Pelisoli ◽  
S. O. Kepler ◽  
Detlev Koester

AbstractEvolved stars with a helium core can be formed by non-conservative mass exchange interaction with a companion or by strong mass loss. Their masses are smaller than 0.5 M⊙. In the database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), there are several thousand stars which were classified by the pipeline as dwarf O, B and A stars. Considering the lifetimes of these classes on the main sequence, and their distance modulus at the SDSS bright saturation, if these were common main sequence stars, there would be a considerable population of young stars very far from the galactic disk. Their spectra are dominated by Balmer lines which suggest effective temperatures around 8 000-10 000 K. Several thousand have significant proper motions, indicative of distances smaller than 1 kpc. Many show surface gravity in intermediate values between main sequence and white dwarf, 4.75 < log g < 6.5, hence they have been called sdA stars. Their physical nature and evolutionary history remains a puzzle. We propose they are not H-core main sequence stars, but helium core stars and the outcomes of binary evolution. We report the discovery of two new extremely-low mass white dwarfs among the sdAs to support this statement.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 268-268
Author(s):  
Carol E. Thornton ◽  
Aaron J. Barth ◽  
Luis C. Ho ◽  
Jenny E. Greene

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has made it possible to identify the first samples of active galaxies with estimated black hole masses below ~ 106M⊙. We have obtained Spitzer IRS low-resolution spectra, covering 5–38 μm, of a sample of 41 Seyfert galaxies with low-mass black holes. Our sample includes SDSS-selected objects from the low-mass Seyfert 1 sample of Greene & Ho (2004) and the low-mass Seyfert 2 sample of Barth et al. (2008), as well as NGC 4395 and POX 52. The goals of this work are to examine the dust emission properties of these objects and investigate the relationship between type 1 and type 2 AGNs at low luminosities and low masses, to search for evidence of star formation, and to use emission-line diagnostics to constrain physical conditions within the narrow-line regions. Here we present preliminary results from this project.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S324) ◽  
pp. 123-126
Author(s):  
Richard Saxton ◽  
S. Komossa ◽  
Andrew Read ◽  
Paulina Lira ◽  
Kate D. Alexander ◽  
...  

AbstractXMM-Newton performs a survey of the sky in the 0.2-12 keV X-ray band while slewing between observation targets. The sensitivity in the soft X-ray band is comparable with that of the ROSAT all-sky survey, allowing bright transients to be identified in near real-time by a comparison of the flux in both surveys. Several of the soft X-ray flares are coincident with galaxy nuclei and five of these have been interpreted as candidate tidal disruption events (TDE). The first three discovered had a soft X-ray spectrum, consistent with the classical model of TDE, where radiation is released during the accretion phase by thermal processes. The remaining two have an additional hard, power-law component, which in only one case was accompanied by radio emission. Overall the flares decay with the classical index of t−5/3 but vary greatly in the early phase.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-371
Author(s):  
S. Narusawa ◽  
A. Yamasaki ◽  
Y. Nakamura

Although the evolution of binary systems has been qualitatively interpreted with the evolutionary scenario, the quantitative interpretation of any observed system is still unsatisfactory due to the difficulty of the quantitative treatment of mass and angular momentum transfer/loss. To reach a true understanding of the evolution of binary systems, we have to accumulate more observational evidence. So far, we have observed several binaries that are short-period and noncontact, and found the existence of extremely small-mass systems. In the present paper, we study another short-period (P=0.659d), noncontact, eclipsing binary system, V392 Ori. We have made photometric and spectroscopic observations of V392 Ori. The light curves are found to vary, suggesting the existence of circumstellar matter around the system. Combining the photometric and spectroscopic results, we obtain parameters describing the system; we find the mass of the primary component is only 0.6Mʘ- undermassive for its spectral and luminosity class A5V, suggesting that a considerable amount of its original mass has been lost from the system during the course of evolution. The low-mass problem is very important for investigation of the evolution of close binary systems: largemass loss within and/or after the main-sequence will have a significant influence on the future evolution of binary systems.


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