scholarly journals A GMRT Narrowband vs. Wideband Analysis of the ACT-CL J0034.40225 Field Selected from the ACTPol Cluster Sample+

Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Sinenhlanhla P. Sikhosana ◽  
Kenda Knowles ◽  
C. H. Ishwara-Chandra ◽  
Matt Hilton ◽  
Kavilan Moodley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Radio Observations ◽  
Atacama Cosmology Telescope ◽  
Radio Halo ◽  
Diffuse Emissions ◽  
Compact Sources ◽  
Radio Halos

Low frequency radio observations of galaxy clusters are a useful probe of the non-thermal intracluster medium (ICM), through observations of diffuse radio emission such as radio halos and relics. Current formation theories cannot fully account for some of the observed properties of this emission. In this study, we focus on the development of interferometric techniques for extracting extended, faint diffuse emissions in the presence of bright, compact sources in wide-field and broadband continuum imaging data. We aim to apply these techniques to the study of radio halos, relics and radio mini-halos using a uniformly selected and complete sample of galaxy clusters selected via the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) project, and its polarimetric extension (ACTPol). We use the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) for targeted radio observations of a sample of 40 clusters. We present an overview of our sample, confirm the detection of a radio halo in ACT−CL J0034.4+0225, and compare the narrowband and wideband analysis results for this cluster. Due to the complexity of the ACT−CL J0034.4+0225 field, we use three pipelines to process the wideband data. We conclude that the experimental spam wideband pipeline produces the best results for this particular field. However, due to the severe artefacts in the field, further analysis is required to improve the image quality.

scholarly journals Cosmic Rays and Radio Halos in Galaxy Clusters: New Constraints from Radio Observations

2007 ◽  
Vol 670 (1) ◽  
pp. L5-L8 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Brunetti ◽  
T. Venturi ◽  
D. Dallacasa ◽  
R. Cassano ◽  
K. Dolag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Radio Observations ◽  
Radio Halos

scholarly journals Ultra-steep spectrum emission in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 1914

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A22 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mandal ◽  
H. T. Intema ◽  
T. W. Shimwell ◽  
R. J. van Weeren ◽  
A. Botteon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Galaxy Cluster ◽  
Diffuse Emission ◽  
Radio Observations ◽  
Very Large Array ◽  
Radio Halo ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Distinct Source ◽  
Relativistic Particles ◽  
Massive Galaxy

A number of radio observations have revealed the presence of large synchrotron-emitting sources associated with the intra-cluster medium. There is strong observational evidence that the emitting particles have been (re-)accelerated by shocks and turbulence generated during merger events. The particles that are accelerated are thought to have higher initial energies than those in the thermal pool but the origin of such mildly relativistic particles remains uncertain and needs to be further investigated. The galaxy cluster Abell 1914 is a massive galaxy cluster in which X-ray observations show clear evidence of merging activity. We carried out radio observations of this cluster with the LOw Frequency ARay (LOFAR) at 150 MHz and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 610 MHz. We also analysed Very Large Array (VLA) 1.4 GHz data, archival GMRT 325 MHz data, CFHT weak lensing data and Chandra observations. Our analysis shows that the ultra-steep spectrum source (4C38.39; α ≲ −2), previously thought to be part of a radio halo, is a distinct source with properties that are consistent with revived fossil plasma sources. Finally, we detect some diffuse emission to the west of the source 4C38.39 that could belong to a radio halo.

scholarly journals Diffuse radio sources in clusters of galaxies: models and long-wavelength radio observations

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (14) ◽  
pp. 369-371
Author(s):  
Craig L. Sarazin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Radio Sources ◽  
Clusters Of Galaxies ◽  
Radio Observations ◽  
Hadronic Interactions ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Cluster Environment ◽  
Cluster Mergers ◽  
Radio Halos

AbstractClusters of galaxies contain several types of diffuse radio sources with very steep radio spectra which are associated with the cluster environment, including central radio bubbles, cluster radio relics, and cluster radio halos. Radio halos and relics are found only in merging clusters. Cluster radio relics may be produced by particle acceleration in merger shocks, while radio halos, may result from electron re-acceleration by turbulence produced by mergers. Secondary production of electrons and positrons by hadronic interactions also plays a role. If cluster radio halos and relics are related to mergers, then deep low frequency radio surveys could detect 1000's of clusters. Long-wavelength radio observations have a great potential to help us understand clusters and large scale structure, and can provide a diagnostic of cluster mergers, which affect the use of clusters in cosmological and dark energy studies.

scholarly journals Exploring Diffuse Radio Emission in the Southern Sky

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sara Shakouri
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Magnetic Field Direction ◽  
Diffuse Sources ◽  
Radio Halo ◽  
New Correlation ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
High Resolution Images ◽  
Radio Halos

<p>This thesis investigates currently observed correlations between the thermal and non-thermal (radio halos) components of galaxy clusters, and seeks to verify the reliability of the proposed radio halo scaling relations presented in the literature. It employs a two-pronged approach: 1) a statistical examination of 15 galaxy clusters; and 2) detailed multi-wavelength analysis of individual objects of interest.  We first investigated radio data for 15 galaxy clusters drawn from the parent REXCESS sample observed with the ATCA at 1.4 GHz to conduct a radio halo survey. Examination of available and re-processed low resolution images revealed cluster-scale diffuse objects in three clusters. One was a radio halo candidate in Abell 3888 (A3888), with the two remaining diffuse sources being radio relic candidates. Follow-up observations of the candidate clusters were performed in July and December 2011, and March 2012, with the upgraded ATCA (CABB). Radio observations with CABB in different array configurations were used to provide the required resolution and sensitivity to a wider range of angular scales to probe the candidate diffuse sources. Examination of the final CABB images confirmed the existence of the radio halo in A3888; however, the remaining candidates were found to be a head-tail galaxy and a very bright radio galaxy with extended emission. As this thesis presents some of the earliest CABB observations, new data reduction and imaging procedures were necessarily developed and presented here.  The statistical component of this thesis uses a halo sample obtained from the combined detection of this work and the literature to derive new correlations between the cluster observables and the radio halo power. The new correlation between the X-ray luminosity and radio halo power derived here is flatter than the previous correlation in the literature, suggesting that massive clusters may host lower power halos than previously thought. In addition, we derived the upper limits of the undetected power of possible radio halos for our non-halo clusters via injection of fake radio halos into the UV data. Our derived upper limits with respect to the anticipated halo powers according to the previous and new correlations and their interpretations are discussed in the thesis. The distribution of the combined upper limits (this work and the literature) compared to our new correlation shows no sign of the strong bi-modality found in the literature.  As previously mentioned, we detected a giant radio halo in A3888. We observed A3888 with the AAOmega spectrograph to infer the dynamics of the cluster. We measured the spectra of 254 galaxies within a 300 radius from the core of A3888 and combined these data with the available literature redshifts in the region. We identified 71 member galaxies of A3888 and examined the density contours, which indicated that the distribution of the member galaxies is elongated along an east-west axis. This elongation might be indicative of dynamical interactions in the cluster; however, there is no statistically significant deviation from Gaussianity in the velocity data. We then carried out a Lee-Fitchett 3D substructure test and found that A3888 is bimodal and has two subgroups.  The head-tail galaxy mentioned earlier in one of the clusters was originally thought to be a radio relic candidate. Owing to available broadband polarimetric data and well-separated jets of the head-tail galaxy, we investigated the magnetic field direction of the head-tail galaxy and conclude it is highly likely that a helical magnetic field is present in the jets.  We present the high-resolution images of our 15 clusters and create a catalogue of the detected sources. Finally, we discuss concerns with the current radio halo detections in the literature, and how radio halo surveys could be designed in the future to yield unbiased results.</p>

scholarly journals Diffuse Extragalactic Emission at Low Frequencies within the Epoch of Reionization 0-hour Field

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stefan Duchesne
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Scaling Relations ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Cluster Emission ◽  
Radio Halo

<p>Low-frequency radio imaging of the southern sky has become available with the advent of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). The topic of this thesis is the study of extended, low-frequency radio emission, with a primary focus on the non-thermal synchrotron emission associated with the intra-cluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters. We do not limit the study to such emission, however, and investigate a small sample of other interesting and extended radio emission from objects in the southern sky.   A significant portion of this work is invested in detecting, and characterising, extended, diffuse radio emission from galaxy clusters within a 45 degree by 45 degree region of the southern sky centred on R.A. = 0 hours, decl. = -27 degrees. This field is chosen as a deep MWA image has been made available which is sensitive to extended structures. Within the field we search for low-frequency, diffuse cluster emission, previously detected or otherwise. In doing so we find 34 diffuse radio sources, 3 of which are newly detected haloes, 1 newly detected relic with many new candidates of each. Further, we detect a new phoenix candidate as well as 2 candidate dead radio galaxies at the centre of clusters. We confirm previous observations of such emission as well, and measure properties such as their integrated flux densities, spectral indices, and sizes where possible. We compare our sample of haloes with previously detected haloes and revisit established scaling relations of the radio halo power with the cluster X-ray luminosity and mass. We find that both scaling relations are consistent with previous findings despite the increase in sample size, though note that the raw scatter in the data for best-fitting parameters increases with increase in sample size. In this, we demonstrate the utility of low-frequency radio telescopes like the MWA in detecting such emission, showing that the MWA is pushing into higher-redshift, lower-mass systems, though we caution that the low resolution of the MWA can work against us.  We follow-up on two galaxy clusters found to host extended emission - Abell S1136 and Abell S1063. In the case of Abell S1136 we observe the emission at its centre with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and determine the presence of a core, suggesting the emission to be that of an ancient episode of an active galactic nucleus in the central elliptical of the cluster, ESO 470-G020. After reducing archival ATCA data for Abell S1063 we find no evidence of a halo and consider the source to be constructed of blended point sources. We close with a description of a strong double-lobed radio source associated with a non-elliptical host ESO 472-G013, likely a spiral or irregular galaxy, that was found serendipitously whilst searching for diffuse cluster emission. We explore the host within the context of star-formation, and consider the possible origins of the AGN and lobes due to interaction with either the nearby spiral, ESO 472-G012, or a past or ongoing merger event.</p>

scholarly journals Observations of compact sources in galaxy clusters using MUSTANG2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon R Dicker ◽  
Elia S Battistelli ◽  
Tanay Bhandarkar ◽  
Mark J Devlin ◽  
Shannon M Duff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Angular Separation ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Atacama Cosmology Telescope ◽  
Compact Source ◽  
Sunyaev Zel'dovich Effect ◽  
Source Contamination ◽  
Green Bank Telescope ◽  
Compact Sources

Abstract Compact sources can cause scatter in the scaling relationships between the amplitude of the thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect (tSZE) in galaxy clusters and cluster mass. Estimates of the importance of this scatter vary – largely due to limited data on sources in clusters at the frequencies at which tSZE cluster surveys operate. In this paper we present 90 GHz compact source measurements from a sample of 30 clusters observed using the MUSTANG2 instrument on the Green Bank Telescope. We present simulations of how a source’s flux density, spectral index, and angular separation from the cluster’s center affect the measured tSZE in clusters detected by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT). By comparing the MUSTANG2 measurements with these simulations we calibrate an empirical relationship between 1.4 GHz flux densities from radio surveys and source contamination in ACT tSZE measurements. We find 3 per cent of the ACT clusters have more than a 20 per cent decrease in Compton-y but another 3 per cent have a 10 per cent increase in the Compton-y due to the matched filters used to find clusters. As sources affect the measured tSZE signal and hence the likelihood that a cluster will be detected, testing the level of source contamination in the tSZE signal using a tSZE selected catalog is inherently biased. We confirm this by comparing the ACT tSZE catalog with optically and X-ray selected cluster catalogs. There is a strong case for a large, high resolution survey of clusters to better characterize their source population.

scholarly journals Particle re-acceleration in the ICM and low-frequency observations

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (14) ◽  
pp. 374-375
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Brunetti
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Radio Observations ◽  
Low Frequencies

AbstractThe particle reaceleration model is one of the most promising possibilities to explain the Mpc-scale diffuse radio emission detected in a number of galaxy clusters. Ongoing and future radio observations at low frequencies may help in constraining and testing this model.

scholarly journals Diffuse Extragalactic Emission at Low Frequencies within the Epoch of Reionization 0-hour Field

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stefan Duchesne
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Scaling Relations ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Cluster Emission ◽  
Radio Halo

<p>Low-frequency radio imaging of the southern sky has become available with the advent of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). The topic of this thesis is the study of extended, low-frequency radio emission, with a primary focus on the non-thermal synchrotron emission associated with the intra-cluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters. We do not limit the study to such emission, however, and investigate a small sample of other interesting and extended radio emission from objects in the southern sky.   A significant portion of this work is invested in detecting, and characterising, extended, diffuse radio emission from galaxy clusters within a 45 degree by 45 degree region of the southern sky centred on R.A. = 0 hours, decl. = -27 degrees. This field is chosen as a deep MWA image has been made available which is sensitive to extended structures. Within the field we search for low-frequency, diffuse cluster emission, previously detected or otherwise. In doing so we find 34 diffuse radio sources, 3 of which are newly detected haloes, 1 newly detected relic with many new candidates of each. Further, we detect a new phoenix candidate as well as 2 candidate dead radio galaxies at the centre of clusters. We confirm previous observations of such emission as well, and measure properties such as their integrated flux densities, spectral indices, and sizes where possible. We compare our sample of haloes with previously detected haloes and revisit established scaling relations of the radio halo power with the cluster X-ray luminosity and mass. We find that both scaling relations are consistent with previous findings despite the increase in sample size, though note that the raw scatter in the data for best-fitting parameters increases with increase in sample size. In this, we demonstrate the utility of low-frequency radio telescopes like the MWA in detecting such emission, showing that the MWA is pushing into higher-redshift, lower-mass systems, though we caution that the low resolution of the MWA can work against us.  We follow-up on two galaxy clusters found to host extended emission - Abell S1136 and Abell S1063. In the case of Abell S1136 we observe the emission at its centre with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and determine the presence of a core, suggesting the emission to be that of an ancient episode of an active galactic nucleus in the central elliptical of the cluster, ESO 470-G020. After reducing archival ATCA data for Abell S1063 we find no evidence of a halo and consider the source to be constructed of blended point sources. We close with a description of a strong double-lobed radio source associated with a non-elliptical host ESO 472-G013, likely a spiral or irregular galaxy, that was found serendipitously whilst searching for diffuse cluster emission. We explore the host within the context of star-formation, and consider the possible origins of the AGN and lobes due to interaction with either the nearby spiral, ESO 472-G012, or a past or ongoing merger event.</p>

ASKAP reveals giant radio halos in two merging SPT galaxy clusters

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda G. Wilber ◽  
Melanie Johnston-Hollitt ◽  
Stefan W. Duchesne ◽  
Cyril Tasse ◽  
Hiroki Akamatsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Clusters ◽  
Particle Number Density ◽  
High Mass ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Radio Halo ◽  
South Pole Telescope ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
The Universe ◽  
New Discovery ◽  
Radio Halos

Abstract Early science observations from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) have revealed clear signals of diffuse radio emission associated with two clusters detected by the South Pole Telescope via their Sunyaev Zel’dovich signal: SPT CLJ0553-3342 (MACS J0553.4-3342) and SPT CLJ0638-5358 (Abell S0592) are both high-mass lensing clusters that have undergone major mergers. To create science-fidelity images of the galaxy clusters, we performed direction-dependent (DD) calibration and imaging on these ASKAP early science observations using state-of-the-art software killMS and DDFacet. Here, we present our DD calibrated ASKAP radio images of both clusters showing unambiguous giant radio halos with largest linear scales of ${\sim}1$ Mpc. The halo in MACS J0553.4-3342 was previously detected with Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations at 323 MHz but appears more extended in our ASKAP image. Although there is a shock detected in the thermal X-ray emission of this cluster, we find that the particle number density in the shocked region is too low to allow for the generation of a radio shock. The radio halo in Abell S0592 is a new discovery, and the Southwest border of the halo coincides with a shock detected in X-rays. We discuss the origins of these halos considering both the hadronic and turbulent re-acceleration models and sources of seed electrons. This work gives a positive indication of the potential of ASKAP’s Evolutionary Map of the Universe survey in detecting intracluster medium radio sources.

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