Cluster Radio Relics Research Articles

Electron Reacceleration via Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Intracluster Medium

In galaxy clusters, the intracluster medium (ICM) is expected to host a diffuse, long-lived, and invisible population of “fossil” cosmic-ray electrons (CRe) with 1–100 MeV energies. These CRe, if reaccelerated by 100× in energy, can contribute synchrotron luminosity to cluster radio halos, relics, and phoenices. Reacceleration may be aided by CRe scattering upon the ion-Larmor-scale waves that spawn when ICM is compressed, dilated, or sheared. We study CRe scattering and energy gain due to ion cyclotron (IC) waves generated by continuously driven compression in 1D fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations. We find that pitch-angle scattering of CRe by IC waves induces energy gain via magnetic pumping. In an optimal range of IC-resonant momenta, CRe may gain up to ∼10%–30% of their initial energy in one compression/dilation cycle with magnetic field amplification ∼3–6×, assuming adiabatic decompression without further scattering and averaging over initial pitch angle.

Radio observations of the merging galaxy cluster system Abell 3391-Abell 3395

The pre-merging system of galaxy clusters Abell 3391-Abell 3395 located at a mean redshift of 0.053 has been observed at 1 GHz in an ASKAP/EMU Early Science observation as well as in X-rays with eROSITA. The projected separation of the X-ray peaks of the two clusters is ~50′ or ~3.1 Mpc. Here we present an inventory of interesting radio sources in this field around this cluster merger. While the eROSITA observations provide clear indications of a bridge of thermal gas between the clusters, neither ASKAP nor MWA observations show any diffuse radio emission coinciding with the X-ray bridge. We derive an upper limit on the radio emissivity in the bridge region of 〈J〉1 GHz < 1.2 × 10−44 W Hz−1 m−3. A non-detection of diffuse radio emission in the X-ray bridge between these two clusters has implications for particle-acceleration mechanisms in cosmological large-scale structure. We also report extended or otherwise noteworthy radio sources in the 30 deg2 field around Abell 3391-Abell 3395. We identified 20 Giant Radio Galaxies, plus 7 candidates, with linear projected sizes greater than 1 Mpc. The sky density of field radio galaxies with largest linear sizes of >0.7 Mpc is ≈1.7 deg−2, three times higher than previously reported. We find no evidence for a cosmological evolution of the population of Giant Radio Galaxies. Moreover, we find seven candidates for cluster radio relics and radio halos.

Morphology of radio relics – I. What causes the substructure of synchrotron emission?

ABSTRACT High-resolution radio observations of cluster radio relics often show complex spatial and spectral features. However, it is not clear what these features reveal about the underlying magnetic field properties. We performed three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical simulations of merger shock waves propagating through a magnetized, turbulent intracluster medium. Our model includes the diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) of cosmic ray electrons, their spatial advection and energy losses at run-time. With this set-up we can investigate the relation between radio substructure and pre-shock plasma conditions in the host cluster. We find that upstream turbulence plays a major role in shaping the properties of radio relics produced downstream. Within the assumption of DSA, we can reproduce the observed discrepancy between the X-ray derived Mach number of shocks, and the Mach number inferred from radio spectra. Our simulated spectral index maps and profiles across the radio relic also suggest that the standard deviation of the upstream magnetic field must be relatively small ($\sigma _B\le 1 \, \mu$G) in order to reproduce observations and therefore radio relics can potentially constrain the distribution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters outskirts.

Analytical model for cluster radio relics

ABSTRACT Radio relics are vast synchrotron sources that sit on the outskirts of merging galaxy clusters. In this work we model their formation using a Press–Schechter formalism to simulate merger rates, analytical models for the intracluster medium and the shock dynamics, as well as a simple model for the cosmic ray electrons at the merger shocks. We show that the statistical properties of the population of radio relics are strongly dependent on key physical parameters, such as the acceleration efficiency, the magnetic field strength at the relic, the geometry of the relic and the duration of the electron acceleration at merger shocks. It turns out that the flux distribution as well as the power–mass relation can constrain key parameters of the intracluster medium. With the advent of new large-area radio surveys, statistical analyses of radio relics will complement what we have learned from observations of individual objects.

The efficiency of magnetic field amplification at shocks by turbulence

Turbulent dynamo field amplification has often been invoked to explain the strong field strengths in thin rims in supernova shocks ($\sim 100 \, \mu$G) and in radio relics in galaxy clusters ($\sim \mu$G). We present high resolution MHD simulations of the interaction between pre-shock turbulence, clumping and shocks, to quantify the conditions under which turbulent dynamo amplification can be significant. We demonstrate numerically converged field amplification which scales with Alfv\'en Mach number, $B/B_0 \propto {\mathcal M}_{\rm A}$, up to ${\mathcal M}_{\rm A} \sim 150$. This implies that the post-shock field strength is relatively independent of the seed field. Amplification is dominated by compression at low ${\mathcal M}_{\rm A}$, and stretching (turbulent amplification) at high ${\mathcal M}_{\rm A}$. For high $\mathcal{M}_{\rm A}$, the $B$-field grows exponentially and saturates at equipartition with turbulence, while the vorticity jumps sharply at the shock and subsequently decays; the resulting field is orientated predominately along the shock normal (an effect only apparent in 3D and not 2D). This agrees with the radial field bias seen in supernova remnants. By contrast, for low $\mathcal{M}_{\rm A}$, field amplification is mostly compressional, relatively modest, and results in a predominantly perpendicular field. The latter is consistent with the polarization seen in radio relics. Our results are relatively robust to the assumed level of gas clumping. Our results imply that the turbulent dynamo may be important for supernovae, but is only consistent with the field strength, and not geometry, for cluster radio relics. For the latter, this implies strong pre-existing $B$-fields in the ambient cluster outskirts.

The impact of the SZ effect on cm-wavelength (1–30 GHz) observations of galaxy cluster radio relics

Radio relics in galaxy clusters are believed to be associated with powerful shock fronts that originate during cluster mergers, and are a testbed for the acceleration of relativistic particles in the intracluster medium. Recently, radio relic observations have pushed into the cm-wavelength domain (1–30 GHz) where a break from the standard synchrotron power law spectrum has been found, most noticeably in the famous “Sausage” relic. Such spectral steepening is seen as an evidence for non-standard relic models, such as ones requiring seed electron population with a break in their energy spectrum. In this paper, however, we point to an important effect that has been ignored or considered insignificant while interpreting these new high-frequency radio data, namely the contamination due to the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect that changes the observed synchrotron flux. Even though the radio relics reside in the cluster outskirts, the shock-driven pressure boost increases the SZ signal locally by roughly an order of magnitude. The resulting flux contamination for some well-known relics are non-negligible already at 10 GHz, and at 30 GHz the observed synchrotron fluxes can be diminished by a factor of several from their true values. At higher redshift the contamination gets stronger due to the redshift independence of the SZ effect. Interferometric observations are not immune to this contamination, since the change in the SZ signal occurs roughly at the same length scale as the synchrotron emission, although there the flux loss is less severe than single-dish observations. Besides presenting this warning to observers, we suggest that the negative contribution from the SZ effect can be regarded as one of the best evidence for the physical association between radio relics and shock waves. We present a simple analytical approximation for the synchrotron-to-SZ flux ratio, based on a theoretical radio relic model that connects the nonthermal emission to the thermal gas properties, and show that by measuring this ratio one can potentially estimate the relic magnetic fields or the particle acceleration efficiency.

Spectral age modelling of the ‘Sausage’ cluster radio relic

CIZA J2242.8+5301 is a post-core passage, binary merging cluster that hosts a large, thin, arc-like radio relic, nicknamed the `Sausage', tracing a relatively strong shock front. We perform spatially-resolved spectral fitting to the available radio data for this radio relic, using a variety of spectral ageing models, with the aim of finding a consistent set of parameters for the shock and radio plasma. We determine an injection index of $0.77^{+0.03}_{-0.02}$ for the relic plasma, significantly steeper than was found before. Standard particle acceleration at the shock front implies a Mach number $M=2.90^{+0.10}_{-0.13}$, which now matches X-ray measurements. The shock advance speed is $v_\mathrm{shock}\approx2500$ km s$^{-1}$, which places the core passage of the two subclusters $0.6-0.8$ Gyr ago. We find a systematic spectral age increase from $0$ at the northern side of the relic up to $\sim60$ Myr at $\sim145$ kpc into the downstream area, assuming a $0.6$ nT magnetic field. Under the assumption of freely-ageing electrons after acceleration by the `Sausage' shock, the spectral ages are hard to reconcile with the shock speed derived from X-ray and radio observations. Re-acceleration or unusually efficient transport of particle in the downstream area and line-of-sight mixing could help explain the systematically low spectral ages.

Discovery of spectral curvature in the shock downstream region: CIZA J2242.8+5301

Giant cluster radio relics are thought to form at shock fronts in the course of collisions between galaxy clusters. Via processes that are still poorly understood, these shocks accelerate or re-accelerate cosmic-ray electrons and might amplify magnetic fields. The best object to study this phenomenon is the galaxy cluster CIZA J2242.8+5301 as it shows the most undisturbed relic. By means of Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) data at seven frequencies spanning from 153 MHz to 2272 MHz, we study the synchrotron emission in this cluster. We aim at distinguishing between theoretical injection and acceleration models proposed for the formation of radio relics. We also study the head-tail radio sources to reveal the interplay between the merger and the cluster galaxies. We produced spectral index, curvature maps and radio colour-colour plots and compared our data with predictions from models. We present one of the deepest 153 MHz maps of a cluster ever produced, reaching a noise level of 1.5 mJy/beam. We derive integrated spectra for four relics in the cluster, discovering extremely steep spectrum diffuse emission concentrated in multiple patches. We find a possible radio phoenix embedded in the relic to the south of the cluster. The spectral index of the northern relic retains signs of steepening from the front towards the back of the shock also at the radio frequencies below 600 MHz. The spectral curvature in the same relic also increases in the downstream area. The data is consistent with the Komissarov-Gubanov injection models, meaning that the emission we observe is produced by a single burst of spectrally-aged accelerated radio electrons.

Why are central radio relics so rare?

In this paper we address the question why cluster radio relics that are connected to shock acceleration, so-called radio gischt, have preferentially been found in the outskirts of galaxy clusters. By identifying merger shock waves in cosmological grid simulations, we explore several prescriptions for relating the energy dissipated in shocks to the energy emitted in the radio band. None of the investigated models produce detectable radio relics within 100-200 kpc from the cluster centre. All models cause > 50 per cent of the detectable relic emission at projected distances > 800 kpc. Central radio relics caused by shocks that propagate along the line-of-sight are rare events for simple geometrical reasons, and they have a low surface brightness making them elusive for current instruments. Our simulations show that the radial distribution of observed relics can be explained by the radial trend of dissipated kinetic energy in shocks, that increases with distance from the cluster centre up until half of the virial radius.

AN ULTRA-STEEP-SPECTRUM RADIO RELIC IN THE GALAXY CLUSTER A2443

We present newly discovered radio emission in the galaxy cluster Abell 2443 which is (1) diffuse, (2) extremely steep spectrum, (3) offset from the cluster center, (4) of irregular morphology and (5) not clearly associated with any of the galaxies within the cluster. The most likely explanation is that this emission is a cluster radio relic, associated with a cluster merger. We present deep observations of Abell 2443 at multiple low frequencies (1425, 325 and 74 MHz) which help characterize the spectrum and morphology of this relic. Based on the curved spectral shape of the relic emission and the presence of small scale structure, we suggest that this new source is likely a member of the radio phoenix class of radio relics.

Magnetic turbulence in clusters of galaxies

AbstractGalaxy clusters are large laboratories for magnetic plasma turbulence and therefore permit us to confront our theoretical concepts of magnetogenesis with detailed observations. Magnetic turbulence in clusters can be studied via the radio-synchrotron emission from the intra-cluster medium in the form of cluster radio relics and halos. The power spectrum of turbulent magnetic fields can be examined via Faraday rotation analysis of extended radio sources. In case of the Hydra A cool core, the observed magnetic spectrum can be understood in terms of a turbulence-mediated feedback loop between gas cooling and the jet activity of the central galaxy. Finally, methods to measure higher-order statistics of the magnetic field using Stokes-parameter correlations are discussed, which permit us to determine the power spectrum of the magnetic tension force. This fourth-order statistical quantity offers a way to discriminate between different magnetic turbulence scenarios and different field structures using radio polarimetric observations.

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

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.

The 21-cm emission from the reionization epoch: extended and point source foregrounds

Fluctuations in the redshifted 21-cm emission from neutral hydrogen probe the epoch of reionization. We examine the observability of this signal and the impact of extragalactic foreground radio sources (both extended and point-like). We use cosmological simulations to predict the angular correlation functions of intensity fluctuations due to unresolved radio galaxies, cluster radio haloes and relics and free‐free emission from the interstellar and intergalactic medium at the frequencies and angular scales relevant for the proposed 21-cm tomography. In accord with previous findings, the brightness temperature fluctuations due to foreground sources are much larger than those from the primary 21-cm signal at all scales. In particular, diffuse cluster radio emission, which has been previously neglected, provides the most significant foreground contamination. However, we show that the contribution to the angular fluctuations at scales θ 1 arcmin is dominated by the spatial clustering of bright foreground sources. This excess can be removed if sources above flux levels S 0.1 mJy (out to redshifts of z ∼ 1 and z ∼ 2 for diffuse and point sources, respectively) are detected and removed. Hence, efficient source removal may be sufficient to allow the detection of angular fluctuations in the 21-cm emission free of extragalactic foregrounds at θ 1 arcmin. In addition, the removal of sources above S = 0.1 mJy also reduces the foreground fluctuations to roughly the same level as the 21-cm signal at scales θ 1 arcmin. This should allow the substraction of the foreground components in frequency space, making it possible to observe in detail the topology and history of reionization. Ke yw ords: galaxies: active ‐ intergalactic medium ‐ cosmology: theory ‐ diffuse radiation ‐ radio continuum: general.

A Comprehensive Radio and Optical Study of Abell 2256: Activity from an Infalling Group

Abell 2256 is a nearby (z ≈ 0.06), rich cluster of galaxies with fascinating observed properties across a range of wavelengths. Long believed to represent a cluster merger, recent X-ray and optical results have suggested that in addition to primary cluster and subcluster there is evidence for a third, poorer system. We present wide-field high-sensitivity 1.4 GHz VLA radio observations of Abell 2256 in conjunction with optical imaging and additional spectroscopy. Over 40 cluster radio galaxies are identified, with optical spectroscopy indicating emission source (star formation or active galactic nucleus) for most of them. While overall fraction of galaxies exhibiting radio emission is consistent with a large sample of other nearby clusters, we find an increase in activity level of galaxies belonging to third system (hereafter the Group). Specifically, Group has relatively more star formation than both primary cluster and main subcluster. The position of Group is also coincident with observed cluster radio relic. We suggest that Group recently (~0.3 Gyr) merged with primary cluster and that this merger, not ongoing merger of primary and main subcluster, might be responsible for many of unusual radio properties of Abell 2256. Furthermore, greater star formation activity of Group suggests that infall of groups is an important driver of galaxy evolution in clusters.

ChandraObservations of the Disruption of the Cool Core in A133

We present the analysis of a Chandra observation of the galaxy cluster A133, which has a cooling flow core, a central radio source, and a diffuse, filamentary radio source that has been classified as a radio relic. The X-ray image shows that the core has a complex structure. The most prominent feature is a of emission that extends from the central cD galaxy to the northwest and partly overlaps the radio relic. Spectral analysis shows that the emission from the tongue is thermal emission from relatively cool gas at a temperature of ~1.3 keV. One possibility is that this tongue is produced by Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instabilities through the interaction between the cold gas around the cD galaxy and hot intracluster medium. We estimate the critical velocity and timescale for the KH instability to be effective for the cold core around the cD galaxy. We find that the KH instability can disrupt the cold core if the relative velocity is 400 km s-1. We compare the results with those of clusters in which sharp, undisrupted cold fronts have been observed; in these clusters, the low-temperature gas in their central regions has a more regular distribution. In contrast to A133, these cluster cores have longer timescales for the disruption of the core by the KH instability when they are normalized to the timescale of the cD galaxy motion. Thus, the other cores are less vulnerable to KH instability. Another possible origin of the tongue is that it is gas that has been uplifted by a buoyant bubble of nonthermal plasma that we identify with the observed radio relic. From the position of the bubble and the radio estimate of the age of the relic source, we estimate a velocity of ~700 km s-1 for the bubble. The structure of the bubble and this velocity are consistent with numerical models for such buoyant bubbles. The energy dissipated by the moving bubble may affect the cooling flow in A133. The combination of the radio and X-ray observations of the radio relic suggest that it is a relic radio lobe formerly energized by the central cD rather than a merger shock-generated cluster radio relic. The lobe may have been displaced from the central cD galaxy by the motion of the cD galaxy or by the buoyancy of the lobe.

Particle Acceleration and Diffusion in Fossil Radio Plasma

AbstractThe strong activity of radio galaxies should have led to a nearly ubiquitous presence of fossil radio plasma in the denser regions of the inter-galactic medium as clusters, groups and filaments of galaxies. This fossil radio plasma can contain large quantities of relativistic particles (electrons and possibly protons) by magnetic confinement. These particles might be released and/or re-energized under environmental influences as turbulence and shock waves. Possible connections of such processes to the formation of the observed sources of diffuse radio emission in clusters of galaxies (the cluster radio halos and the cluster radio relics) are discussed.

Theoretical Implications of Diffuse Non-Thermal Emission from Clusters of Galaxies

A short review on theoretical implications of non-thermal emission (radio, extreme ultraviolet, high energy X-ray) from the intra-cluster medium is given. The origin of cluster radio halos and cluster radio relics is discussed within the framework of a network of processes producing a non-thermal electron population. Emphasis is given to the role of old, remnant, presently invisible relativistic plasma released by former radio galaxies.

On the formation of cluster radio relics

ABSTRA C T In several merging clusters of galaxies so-called cluster radio relics have been observed. These are extended radio sources which do not seem to be associated with any radio galaxies. Two competing physical mechanisms to accelerate the radio-emitting electrons have been proposed: (i) diffusive shock acceleration and (ii) adiabatic compression of fossil radio plasma by merger shock waves. Here the second scenario is investigated. We present detailed three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of the passage of a radio plasma cocoon filled with turbulent magnetic fields through a shock wave. Taking into account synchrotron, inverse Compton and adiabatic energy losses and gains, we evolved the relativistic electron population to produce synthetic polarization radio maps. On contact with the shock wave the radio cocoons are first compressed and finally torn into filamentary structures, as is observed in several cluster radio relics. In the synthetic radio maps the electric polarization vectors are mostly perpendicular to the filamentary radio structures. If the magnetic field inside the cocoon is not too strong, the initially spherical radio cocoon is transformed into a torus after the passage of the shock wave. Very recent, high-resolution radio maps of cluster radio relics seem to exhibit such toroidal geometries in some cases. This supports the hypothesis that cluster radio relics are fossil radio cocoons that have been revived by a shock wave. For a late-stage relic the ratio of its global diameter to the filament diameter should correlate with the shock strength. Finally, we argue that the total radio polarization of a radio relic should be well correlated with the three-dimensional orientation of the shock wave that produced the relic.

Low‐Frequency VLA Observations of Abell 754: Evidence for a Cluster Radio Halo and Possible Radio Relics

We present 74 MHz and 330 MHz VLA observations of Abell 754. Diffuse, halo-like emission is detected from the center of the cluster at both frequencies. At 330 MHz the resolution of 90'' distinguishes this extended emission from previously known point sources. In addition to the halo and at a much lower level, outlying steep-spectrum emission regions straddle the cluster center and are seen only at 74 MHz. The location, morphology and spectrum of this emission are all highly suggestive of at least one, and possibly two cluster radio relics. Easily obtained higher resolution, higher sensitivity VLA observations at both frequencies are required to confirm the extended nature of the halo-like emission and the 74 MHz relic detections. However, since there is prior evidence that this cluster is or has recently been in the process of a major merger event, the possible discovery of relics in this system is of great interest in light of recent observational and theoretical evidence in favor of a merger-relic connection. We discuss the possible role the merger shock waves, which are seen in the X-ray emission, may have played in the formation of the halo and radio relics in A754.

Reviving fossil radio plasma in clusters of galaxies by adiabatic compression in environmental shock waves

We give for a plasma with a history of several expansion and contraction phases an analytical model of the evolution of a contained relativistic electron population under synchrotron, inverse Compton and adiabatic energy losses or gains. This is applied to different scenarios for evolution of radio plasma inside the cocoons of radio galaxies, after the activity of the central engine has ceased. It is demonstrated that fossil radio plasma with an age of even up to 2 Gyr can be revived by compression in a shock wave of large-scale structure formation, caused during the merging events of galaxy clusters, or by the accretion onto galaxy clusters. We argue, that this is a highly plausible explanation for the observed cluster radio relics, which are the regions of diffuse radio emission found in clusters of galaxies, without any likely parent radio galaxy seen nearby. An implication of this model is the existence of a population of diffuse, ultra-steep spectrum, very low frequency radio sources located inside and possibly outside of clusters of galaxies, tracing the revival of aged fossil radio plasma by the shock waves associated with large-scale structure formation.