scholarly journals A giant radio bridge connecting two clusters in Abell 1758

Author(s):  
A Botteon ◽  
R J van Weeren ◽  
G Brunetti ◽  
F de Gasperin ◽  
H T Intema ◽  
...  

Abstract Collisions between galaxy clusters dissipate enormous amounts of energy in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) through turbulence and shocks. In the process, Mpc-scale diffuse synchrotron emission in form of radio halos and relics can form. However, little is known about the very early phase of the collision. We used deep radio observations from 53 MHz to 1.5 GHz to study the pre-merging galaxy clusters A1758N and A1758S that are ∼2 Mpc apart. We confirm the presence of a giant bridge of radio emission connecting the two systems that was reported only tentatively in our earlier work. This is the second large-scale radio bridge observed to date in a cluster pair. The bridge is clearly visible in the LOFAR image at 144 MHz and tentatively detected at 53 MHz. Its mean radio emissivity is more than one order of magnitude lower than that of the radio halos in A1758N and A1758S. Interestingly, the radio and X-ray emissions of the bridge are correlated. Our results indicate that non-thermal phenomena in the ICM can be generated also in the region of compressed gas in-between infalling systems.

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Botteon ◽  
R. Cassano ◽  
D. Eckert ◽  
G. Brunetti ◽  
D. Dallacasa ◽  
...  

Context. Diffuse radio emission associated with the intracluster medium (ICM) is observed in a number of merging galaxy clusters. It is currently believed that a fraction of the kinetic energy in mergers is channeled into nonthermal components, such as turbulence, cosmic rays, and magnetic fields, which may lead to the formation of giant synchrotron sources in the ICM. Aims. Studying merging galaxy clusters in different evolutionary phases is fundamental for understanding the origin of radio emission in the ICM. Methods. We observed the nearby galaxy cluster pair RXC J1825.3+3026 (z ∼ 0.065) and CIZA J1824.1+3029 (z ∼ 0.071) at 120 − 168 MHz with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) and made use of a deep (240 ks) XMM-Newton dataset to study the nonthermal and thermal properties of the system. RXC J1825.3+3026 is in a complex dynamical state, with a primary ongoing merger in the E-W direction and a secondary later stage merger with a group of galaxies in the SW, while CIZA J1824.1+3029 is dynamically relaxed. These two clusters are in a pre-merger phase. Results. We report the discovery of a Mpc-scale radio halo with a low surface brightness extension in RXC J1825.3+3026 that follows the X-ray emission from the cluster center to the remnant of a galaxy group in the SW. This is among the least massive systems and the faintest giant radio halo known to date. In contrast to this, no diffuse radio emission is observed in CIZA J1824.1+3029, nor in the region between the pre-merger cluster pair. The power spectra of the X-ray surface brightness fluctuations of RXC J1825.3+3026 and CIZA J1824.1+3029 are in agreement with the findings for clusters exhibiting a radio halo and clusters where no radio emission has been detected, respectively. Conclusions. We provide quantitative support to the idea that cluster mergers play a crucial role in the generation of nonthermal components in the ICM.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 280-289
Author(s):  
CHIARA FERRARI

The existence of cosmic rays and weak magnetic fields in the intracluster volume has been well proven by deep radio observations of galaxy clusters. However a detailed physical characterization of the non-thermal component of large scale-structures, relevant for high-precision cosmology, is still missing. I will show the importance of combining numerical and theoretical works with cluster observations by a new-generation of radio, Gamma- and X-ray instruments.


1983 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 429-436
Author(s):  
P. C. Gregory ◽  
G. G. Fahlman

We propose that the central X-ray pulsar in G109.1–1.0, designated 1E 2259+586, ejects two oppositely directed precessing jets or beams, which give rise to the observed radio structure. The radio emission is interpreted as synchrotron emission from electrons accelerated at the interface of the jets with the walls of the SNR. Thus the observed intersecting arcs of radio emission represent the trace of the precessing jets on the supernova remnant walls. The precession axis is inclined at 37 degrees to the line of sight and the precession cone half angle is 55 degrees. The observed large scale X-ray jet in G109.1–1.0 is found to coincide in position with the precession axis as was found for the X-ray jets from SS 433.


2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. A108 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Giovannini ◽  
M. Cau ◽  
A. Bonafede ◽  
H. Ebeling ◽  
L. Feretti ◽  
...  

Aims. Non-thermal properties of galaxy clusters have been studied using detailed and deep radio images in comparison with X-ray data. While much progress has been made in this area, most of the studied clusters are at a relatively low redshift (z <  0.3). Here we investigate the evolutionary properties of the non-thermal cluster emission using two statistically complete samples at z >  0.3. Methods. We obtained short JVLA observations at the L-band of the statistically complete sample of very X-ray luminous clusters from the Massive Cluster Survey (MACS), namely 34 clusters in the redshift range of 0.3–0.5 and with nominal X-ray fluxes in excess of 2 × 10−12 erg s−1 cm−2 (0.1–2.4 keV) in the ROSAT Bright Source Catalogue. We add to this list the complete sample of the 12 most distant MACS clusters (z >  0.5). Results. Most clusters show evidence of emission in the radio regime. We present the radio properties of all clusters in our sample and show images of newly detected diffuse sources. A radio halo is detected in 19 clusters and five clusters contain a relic source. Most of the brightest cluster galaxies (BCG) in relaxed clusters show radio emission with powers typical of FRII radio galaxies and some are surrounded by a radio mini-halo. Conclusions. The high frequency of radio emission from the BCG in relaxed clusters suggests that BCG feedback mechanisms are already in place at z ∼ 0.6. The properties of radio halos and the small number of detected relics suggest redshift evolution in the properties of diffuse sources. The radio power (and size) of radio halos could be related to the number of past merger events in the history of the system. In this scenario, the presence of a giant and high-power radio halo is indicative of an evolved system with a large number of past major mergers, whereas small low-power halos are found in less evolved clusters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (2) ◽  
pp. 2163-2174
Author(s):  
T Pasini ◽  
M Brüggen ◽  
F de Gasperin ◽  
L Bîrzan ◽  
E O’Sullivan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Our understanding of how active galactic nucleus feedback operates in galaxy clusters has improved in recent years owing to large efforts in multiwavelength observations and hydrodynamical simulations. However, it is much less clear how feedback operates in galaxy groups, which have shallower gravitational potentials. In this work, using very deep Very Large Array and new MeerKAT observations from the MIGHTEE survey, we compiled a sample of 247 X-ray selected galaxy groups detected in the COSMOS field. We have studied the relation between the X-ray emission of the intra-group medium and the 1.4 GHz radio emission of the central radio galaxy. For comparison, we have also built a control sample of 142 galaxy clusters using ROSAT and NVSS data. We find that clusters and groups follow the same correlation between X-ray and radio emission. Large radio galaxies hosted in the centres of groups and merging clusters increase the scatter of the distribution. Using statistical tests and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the correlation is not dominated by biases or selection effects. We also find that galaxy groups are more likely than clusters to host large radio galaxies, perhaps owing to the lower ambient gas density or a more efficient accretion mode. In these groups, radiative cooling of the intra-cluster medium could be less suppressed by active galactic nucleus heating. We conclude that the feedback processes that operate in galaxy clusters are also effective in groups.


2005 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 373-380
Author(s):  
Marguerite Pierre

We outline the main arguments in favor of cosmological X-ray surveys of galaxy clusters. We summarize recent advances in our understanding of cluster physics. After a short review of past surveys, we present the scientific motivations of the XMM Large Scale Structure survey. We further illustrate how such a survey can help constrain the nature of the dark energy as well as cluster scaling law evolution, i.e. non-gravitational physics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (4) ◽  
pp. 5620-5628
Author(s):  
Y Su ◽  
Y Zhang ◽  
G Liang ◽  
J A ZuHone ◽  
D J Barnes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The origin of the diverse population of galaxy clusters remains an unexplained aspect of large-scale structure formation and cluster evolution. We present a novel method of using X-ray images to identify cool core (CC), weak cool core (WCC), and non-cool core (NCC) clusters of galaxies that are defined by their central cooling times. We employ a convolutional neural network, ResNet-18, which is commonly used for image analysis, to classify clusters. We produce mock Chandra X-ray observations for a sample of 318 massive clusters drawn from the IllustrisTNG simulations. The network is trained and tested with low-resolution mock Chandra images covering a central 1 Mpc square for the clusters in our sample. Without any spectral information, the deep learning algorithm is able to identify CC, WCC, and NCC clusters, achieving balanced accuracies (BAcc) of 92 per cent, 81 per cent, and 83 per cent, respectively. The performance is superior to classification by conventional methods using central gas densities, with an average ${\rm BAcc}=81{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, or surface brightness concentrations, giving ${\rm BAcc}=73{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. We use class activation mapping to localize discriminative regions for the classification decision. From this analysis, we observe that the network has utilized regions from cluster centres out to r ≈ 300 kpc and r ≈ 500 kpc to identify CC and NCC clusters, respectively. It may have recognized features in the intracluster medium that are associated with AGN feedback and disruptive major mergers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Fassbender ◽  
R. Šuhada ◽  
A. Nastasi

Observational constraints on the average radial distribution profile of AGN in distant galaxy clusters can provide important clues on the triggering mechanisms of AGN activity in dense environments and are essential for a completeness evaluation of cluster selection techniques in the X-ray and mm wavebands. The aim of this work is a statistical study with XMM-Newtonof the presence and distribution of X-ray AGN in the large-scale structure environments of 22 X-ray luminous galaxy clusters in the redshift range0.9<z≲1.6compiled by the XMM-NewtonDistant Cluster Project (XDCP). To this end, the X-ray point source lists from detections in the soft band (0.35–2.4 keV) and full band (0.3–7.5 keV) were stacked in cluster-centric coordinates and compared to average background number counts extracted from three independent control fields in the same observations. A significant full-band (soft-band) excess of ∼78 (67) X-ray point sources is found in the cluster fields within an angular distance of8′(4 Mpc) at a statistical confidence level of 4.0σ (4.2σ), corresponding to an average number of detected excess AGN per cluster environment of 3.5 ± 0.9 (3.0 ± 0.7). The data point towards a rising radial profile in the cluster region (r<1 Mpc) of predominantly low-luminosity AGN with an average detected excess of about one point source per system, with a tentative preferred occurrence along the main cluster elongation axis. A second statistically significant overdensity of brighter soft-band-detected AGN is found at cluster-centric distances of 4′–6′(2-3 Mpc), corresponding to about three times the average cluster radiusR200of the systems. If confirmed, these results would support the idea of two different physical triggering mechanisms of X-ray AGN activity in dependence of the radially changing large-scale structure environment of the distant clusters. For high-zcluster studies at lower spatial resolution with the upcoming eROSITA all-sky X-ray survey, the results suggest that cluster-associated X-ray AGN may impose a bias in the spectral analysis of high-zsystems, while their detection and flux measurements in the soft band may not be significantly affected.


1976 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 273-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Hearn

The application of x-ray topographic techniques to the measurement of stress in thin, films is discussed. Quantitative measurements of stresses in thin films deposited on semiconductor substrates, such as silicon, are also discussed. Double crystal and single crystal techniques are used for such measurements. Both techniques are applied to the measurements of stress in silicon oxide, silicon nitride and polycrystalline silicon films on silicon. The doubly crystal technique is useful for measurements of stresses as low as 109 dynes/cm2 in films only 1000A thick. The single crystal technique is less sensitive by one order of magnitude. The advantage of the single crystal technique is its simplicity and speed. It is useful for large scale measurements as encountered in the manufacture of silicon integrated circuit.


2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Prior ◽  
Konstantinos N. Gourgouliatos

Context. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) launch highly energetic jets sometimes outshining their host galaxy. These jets are collimated outflows that have been accelerated near a supermassive black hole located at the centre of the galaxy. Their, virtually indispensable, energy reservoir is either due to gravitational energy released from accretion or due to the extraction of kinetic energy from the rotating supermassive black hole itself. In order to channel part of this energy to the jet, though, the presence of magnetic fields is necessary. The extent to which these magnetic fields survive in the jet further from the launching region is under debate. Nevertheless, observations of polarised emission and Faraday rotation measure confirm the existence of large scale magnetic fields in jets. Aims. Various models describing the origin of the magnetic fields in AGN jets lead to different predictions about the large scale structure of the magnetic field. In this paper we study the observational signatures of different magnetic field configurations that may exist in AGN jets in order to asses what kind of information regarding the field structure can be obtained from radio emission, and what would be missed. Methods. We explore three families of magnetic field configurations. First, a force-free helical magnetic field corresponding to a dynamically relaxed field in the rest frame of the jet. Second, a magnetic field with a co-axial cable structure arising from the Biermann-battery effect at the accretion disk. Third, a braided magnetic field that could be generated by turbulent motion at the accretion disk. We evaluate the intensity of synchrotron emission, the intrinsic polarization profile and the Faraday rotation measure arising from these fields. We assume that the jet consists of a relativistic spine where the radiation originates from and a sheath containing thermalised electrons responsible for the Faraday screening. We evaluate these values for a range of viewing angles and Lorentz factors. We account for Gaussian beaming that smooths the observed profile. Results. Radio emission distributions from the jets with dominant large-scale helical fields show asymmetry across their width. The Faraday rotation asymmetry is the same for fields with opposing chirality (handedness). For jets which are tilted towards the observer the synchrotron emission and fractional polarization can distinguish the field’s chirality. When viewed either side-on or at a Blazar type angle only the fractional polarization can make this distinction. Further this distinction can only be made if the direction of the jet propagation velocity is known, along with the location of the jet’s origin. The complex structure of the braided field is found not to be observable due to a combination of line of sight integration and limited resolution of observation. This raises the possibility that, even if asymmetric radio emission signatures are present, the true structure of the field may still be obscure.


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