Radio observations of Planck clusters

Abstract

AbstractRecently, a number of new galaxy clusters have been detected by the ESA‐Planck satellite, the South Pole Telescope, and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope using the Sunyaev‐Zel'dovich effect. Several of the newly detected clusters are massive, merging systems with disturbed morphology in the X‐ray surface brightness. Diffuse radio sources in clusters, called giant radio halos and relics, are direct probes of cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the intra‐cluster medium. These radio sources are found to occur mainly in massive merging clusters. Thus, the new SZ‐discovered clusters are good candidates to search for new radio halos and relics. We have initiated radio observations of the clusters detected by Planck with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. These observations have already led to the detection of a radio halo in PLCKG171.9–40.7, the first giant halo discovered in one of the new Planck clusters. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)