Diffuse radio source candidate in CIZA J1358.9−4750

Abstract

Abstract We report on results of our upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) observations for an early-stage merging galaxy cluster, CIZA J1358.9−4750 (CIZA1359), in Band-3 (300–500 MHz). We achieved the image dynamic range of ∼38000 using the direction dependent calibration and found a candidate of diffuse radio emission at 4σrms significance. The flux density of the candidate at 400 MHz, 24.04 ± 2.48 mJy, is significantly positive compared to noise, where its radio power, 2.40 × 1024 W Hz−1, is consistent with those of typical diffuse radio sources of galaxy clusters. The candidate is associated with a part of the X-ray shock front at which the Mach number reaches its maximum value of $\mathcal {M}\sim 1.7$. The spectral index (Fν ∝ να) of the candidate, α = −1.22 ± 0.33, is in agreement with an expected value derived from the standard diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) model. However, such a low Mach number with a short acceleration time would require seed cosmic rays supplied from active galactic nucleus (AGN) activities of member galaxies, as suggested in some other clusters. Indeed, we found seven AGN candidates inside the diffuse source candidate. Assuming the energy equipartition between magnetic fields and cosmic rays, the magnetic field strength of the candidate was estimated to be 2.1 μG. We also find head–tail galaxies and radio phoenixes or fossils near CIZA1359.