Multifrequency study of a double–double radio galaxy J0028+0035

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a double–double radio source (DDRS) J0028+0035. We observed it with LOFAR, GMRT, and the VLA. By combining our observational data with those from the literature, we gathered an appreciable set of radio flux density measurements covering the range from 74 MHz to 14 GHz. This enabled us to carry out an extensive review of physical properties of the source and its dynamical evolution analysis. In particular, we found that, while the age of the large-scale outer lobes is about 245 Myr, the renewal of the jet activity, which is directly responsible for the double–double structure, took place only about 3.6 Myr ago after about 11 Myr long period of quiescence. Another important property typical for DDRSs and also present here is that the injection spectral indices for the inner and the outer pair of lobes are similar. The jet powers in J0028+0035 are similar too. Both these circumstances support our inference that it is, in fact, a DDRS which was not recognized as such so far because of the presence of a coincident compact object close to the inner double so that the centre of J0028+0035 is apparently a triple.

A multiwavelength study of the dual nuclei in Mrk 212

ABSTRACT We present radio observations of the galaxy merger remnant Mrk 212 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the upgraded Giant Meter Radio Telescope (uGMRT). Mrk 212 has two previously known radio sources associated with the two optical nuclei, S1 and S2, with a projected separation of ∼6 kpc, making it a dual active galactic nuclei (AGN) candidate. Our new 15-GHz VLA observations reveal that S1 is a double radio source centred around the optical nucleus; its total extent is ∼750 pc its average 1.4−8.5 GHz spectral index is −0.81 ± 0.06. S1 therefore resembles a compact symmetric object. The 15-GHz VLA image identifies the radio source at S2 to be a compact core. Our radio observations therefore strongly support the presence of a dual AGN in Mrk 212. The optical emission line flux ratios obtained from the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) observations however, show that S1 and S2 both fall in the AGN + star formation (SF) region of the Baldwin, Philips and Terlevich (BPT) diagram. Weak AGN lying in the SF or AGN + SF intermediate regions in the BPT diagram have indeed been reported in the literature; our sources clearly fall in the same category. We find an extended radio structure in our newly reduced 8.5-GHz-VLA data, that is offset by ∼1 arcsec from the optical nucleus S2. New deep FUV and NUV observations with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope aboard AstroSat reveal SF knots around S2 as well as kpc-scale tidal tails; the SF knots around S2 coincide with the extended radio structure detected at 8.5 GHz. The radio spectral indices are consistent with SF. Any possible association with the AGN in S2 is unclear at this stage.

MHD numerical simulations of Perseus A: formation of filaments and magnetic loops

The Perseus Cluster (A426) is the brightest cluster of galaxies observed in X-rays in the sky and its giant central galaxy (NGC1275) hosts the extended double radio source 3C84. There is a spectacular H-alpha nebulosity surrounding NGC1275 with loops and filaments that are probably magnetized and extend over 100 kpc. The continuous blowing of bubbles leading to the propagation of shock fronts is also evident and more recently, outflow and infall velocities of several 1000 km/s have been detected associated to the surrounding filaments. We here present preliminary results of 2.5D MHD simulations of the Perseus cluster central region assuming that the production of the outflow structures and loops that arise from the surface of NGC1275 are due to turbulent injection triggered by recent star formation and SNe activity in the galaxy. This is in turn, probably induced by a continuous gas infall from the satellite galaxies around NGC1275. Our simulations which include both, the turbulent gas outflow and gas infall from the surroundings, have revealed a continuous formation of the observed features, like the filaments, the gigantic magnetic loops and weak shock fronts that propagate into the ICM medium with the observed velocities of 1000–5000 km/s. After 10 Myr, a nearly steady state is established between the outflow material emerging from the central galaxy and the inflow gas from the surrounds. The outflow activity seems to retard the cannibalism action of the central galaxy over the surrounding galaxies. This result may have important implications over the evolution of the whole cluster as it seems to indicate that the SF and SNe production that are induced by the cannibalism may help to decelerate the later due to turbulence and outflow production. These results also offer important clues to the hot halo formation in the center of the cluster and in the suppression of cooling flows.

The Relic Radio Source B2 0924+30

The double radio source B2 0924+30, associated with the luminous E/S0 galaxy IC2476, may be considered a prototypical genuine relic of a ‘dead’ radio galaxy as it seems to perfectly fulfill the following criteria: It has a rather steep overall radio spectrum (Ekers et al., 1981; Cordey, 1987). Its core luminosity is by far the lowest known so far (Giovannini et al., 1988). No coherent jet structure or other signs of activity are visible. Since only four possibly genuine relics of radio galaxies are known so far (Harris et al., 1993), a study of the archetypical source B2 0924+30 is of eminent importance for the understanding of this rare species of radio galaxies.