M82 - A radio continuum and polarisation study II. Polarisation and rotation measures

The composition and morphology of the interstellar medium in starburst galaxies has been well investigated, but the magnetic field properties are still uncertain. The nearby starburst galaxy M82 provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms leading to the amplification and reduction of turbulent and regular magnetic fields. Possible scenarios of the contribution of the magnetic field to the star-formation rate are evaluated. Archival data from the VLA and WSRT were combined and re-reduced to cover the wavelength regime between 3cm and 22cm. All observations revealed polarised emission in the inner part of the galaxy, while extended polarised emission up to a distance of 2kpc from the disk was only detected at 18cm and 22cm. The observations hint at a magnetised bar in the inner part of the galaxy. We calculate the mass inflow rate due to magnetic stress of the bar to 7.1 solar masses per year, which can be a significant contribution to the star-formation rate of M82 of approximately 13 solar masses per year. The halo shows polarised emission, which might be the remnant of a regular disk field. Indications for a helical field in the inner part of the outflow cone are provided. The coherence length of the magnetic field in the centre is similar to the size of giant molecular clouds. Using polarisation spectra more evidence for a close coupling of the ionised gas and the magnetic field as well as a two-phase magnetic field topology were found. Electron densities in the halo are similar to the ones found in the Milky Way. The magnetic field morphology is similar to the one in other nearby starburst galaxies with possible large-scale magnetic loops in the halo and a helical magnetic field inside the outflow cones. The special combination of a magnetic bar and a circumnuclear ring are able to significantly raise the star-formation rate in this galaxy by magnetic braking

M82 - A radio continuum and polarisation study I. Data reduction and cosmic ray propagation

The potential role of magnetic fields and cosmic ray propagation for feedback processes in the early Universe can be probed by studies of local starburst counterparts with an equivalent star-formation rate. Archival data from the WSRT was reduced and a new calibration technique introduced to reach the high dynamic ranges needed for the complex source morphology of M82. This data was combined with archival VLA data, yielding total power maps at 3cm, 6cm, 22cm and 92cm. The data shows a confinement of the emission at wavelengths of 3/6cm to the core region and a largely extended halo reaching up to 4kpc away from the galaxy midplane at wavelengths of 22/92cm up to a sensitivity limit of 90muJy and 1.8mJy respectively. The results are used to calculate the magnetic field strength in the core region to 98muG and to 24muG in the halo regions. From the observation of free-free losses the filling factor of the ionised medium could be estimated to 2%. We find that the radio emission from the core region is dominated by very dense HII-regions and supernova remnants, while the surrounding medium is filled with hot X-ray and neutral gas. Cosmic rays radiating at frequencies higher than 1.4 GHz are suffering from high synchrotron and inverse Compton losses in the core region and are not able to reach the halo. Even the cosmic rays radiating at longer wavelengths are only able to build up the observed kpc sized halo, when several starbursting periods are assumed where the photon field density varies by an order of magnitude. These findings together with the strong correlation between Halpha, PAH+, and our radio continuum data suggests a magnetic field which is frozen into the ionised medium and driven out of the galaxy kinematically.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures, to be published in A&

Low-Frequency Spectral Turn-Overs in Millisecond Pulsars Studied from Imaging Observations

Measurements of pulsar flux densities are of great importance for understanding the pulsar emission mechanism and for predictions of pulsar survey yields and the pulsar population at large. Typically these flux densities are determined from phase-averaged "pulse profiles", but this method has limited applicability at low frequencies because the observed pulses can easily be spread out by interstellar effects like scattering or dispersion, leading to a non-pulsed continuum component that is necessarily ignored in this type of analysis. In particular for the class of the millisecond pulsars (MSPs) at frequencies below 200MHz, such interstellar effects can seriously compromise de- tectability and measured flux densities. In this paper we investigate MSP spectra based on a complementary approach, namely through investigation of archival con- tinuum imaging data. Even though these images lose sensitivity to pulsars since the on-pulse emission is averaged with off-pulse noise, they are insensitive to effects from scattering and provide a reliable way to determine the flux density and spectral indices of MSPs based on both pulsed and unpulsed components. Using the 74MHz VLSSr as well as the 325MHz WENSS and 1.4GHz NVSS catalogues, we investigate the imaging flux densities of MSPs and evaluate the likelihood of spectral turn-overs in this population. We determine three new MSP spectral indices and identify six new MSPs with likely spectral turn-overs.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Radio haloes in nearby galaxies modelled with 1D cosmic-ray transport using SPINNAKER

We present radio continuum maps of 12 nearby ($D\leq 27~\rm Mpc$), edge-on ($i\geq 76^{\circ}$), late-type spiral galaxies mostly at $1.4$ and 5 GHz, observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, Very Large Array, Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, Effelsberg 100-m and Parkes 64-m telescopes. All galaxies show clear evidence of radio haloes, including the first detection in the Magellanic-type galaxy NGC 55. In 11 galaxies, we find a thin and a thick disc that can be better fitted by exponential rather than Gaussian functions. We fit our SPINNAKER (SPectral INdex Numerical Analysis of K(c)osmic-ray Electron Radio-emission) 1D cosmic-ray transport models to the vertical model profiles of the non-thermal intensity and to the non-thermal radio spectral index in the halo. We simultaneously fit for the advection speed (or diffusion coefficient) and magnetic field scale height. In the thick disc, the magnetic field scale heights range from 2 to 8 kpc with an average across the sample of $3.0\pm 1.7~\rm kpc$; they show no correlation with either star-formation rate (SFR), SFR surface density ($\Sigma_{\rm SFR}$) or rotation speed ($V_{\rm rot}$). The advection speeds range from 100 to $700~\rm km\,s^{-1}$ and display correlations of $V\propto \rm SFR^{0.36\pm 0.06}$ and $V\propto \Sigma_{\rm SFR}^{0.39\pm 0.09}$; they agree remarkably well with the escape velocities ($0.5\leq V/V_{\rm esc}\leq 2$), which can be explained by cosmic-ray driven winds. Radio haloes show the presence of disc winds in galaxies with $\Sigma_{\rm SFR} > 10^{-3}~\rm M_{\odot}\,yr^{-1}\,kpc^{-2}$ that extend over several kpc and are driven by processes related to the distributed star formation in the disc.Comment: 39 pages, 20 colour figures, 10 tables. Accepted by MNRA

Faint polarised sources in the Lockman Hole field at 1.4 GHz

We aim to study the nature of the faint, polarised radio source population whose source composition and redshift dependence contain information about the strength, morphology, and evolution of magnetic fields over cosmic timescales. We use a 15 pointing radio continuum L-band mosaic of the Lockman Hole, observed in full polarisation, generated from archival data of the WSRT. The data were analysed using the RM-Synthesis technique. We achieved a noise of 7 {\mu}Jy/beam in polarised intensity, with a resolution of 15''. Using infrared and optical images and source catalogues, we were able to cross-identify and determine redshifts for one third of our detected polarised sources. We detected 150 polarised sources, most of which are weakly polarised with a mean fractional polarisation of 5.4 %. With a total area of 6.5 deg^2 and a detection threshold of 6.25 {\sigma} we find 23 polarised sources per deg^2. Based on our multi wavelength analysis, we find that our sample consists of AGN only. We find a discrepancy between archival number counts and those present in our data, which we attribute to sample variance. Considering the absolute radio luminosty, to distinguish weak and strong sources, we find a general trend of increased probability to detect weak sources at low redshift and strong sources at high redshift. Further, we find an anti-correlation between fractional polarisation and redshift for our strong sources sample at z{\geq}0.6. A decrease in the fractional polarisation of strong sources with increasing redshift cannot be explained by a constant magnetic field and electron density over cosmic scales, however the changing properties of cluster environments over the cosmic timemay play an important role. Disentangling these two effects requires deeper and wider polarisation observations, and better models of the morphology and strength of cosmic magnetic fields.Comment: 17 pages, 16 figures, to be published in A&

Radio continuum observations of the Leo Triplet at 2.64 GHz

Aims. The magnetic fields of the member galaxies NGC 3628 and NGC 3627 show morphological peculiarities, suggesting that interactions within the group may be caused by stripping of the magnetic field. This process could supply the intergalactic space with magnetised material, a scenario considered as a possible source of intergalactic magnetic fields (as seen eg. in the Taffy pairs of galaxies). Additionally, the plumes are likely to be the tidal dwarf galaxy candidates. Methods. We performed radio continuum mapping observations at 2.64 GHz using the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope. We obtained total power and polarised intensity maps of the Triplet. These maps were analysed together with the archive data, and the magnetic field strength (as well as the magnetic energy density) was estimated. Results. Extended emission was not detected either in the total power or the polarised intensity maps. We obtained upper limits of the magnetic field strength and the energy density of the magnetic field in the Triplet. We detected emission from the easternmost clump and determined the strength of its magnetic field. In addition, we measured integrated fluxes of the member galaxies at 2.64 GHz and estimated their total magnetic field strengths. Conclusions. We found that the tidal tail hosts a tidal dwarf galaxy candidate that possesses a detectable magnetic field with a non-zero ordered component. Extended radio continuum emission, if present, is weaker than the reached confusion limit. The total magnetic field strength does not exceed 2.8 {\mu}G and the ordered component is lower than 1.6 {\mu}G.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy&Astrophysic

The nature of the low-frequency emission of M51: First observations of a nearby galaxy with LOFAR

The grand-design spiral galaxy M51 was observed with the LOFAR High Frequency Antennas (HBA) and imaged in total intensity and polarisation. This observation covered the frequencies between 115 MHz and 175 MHz. We produced an image of total emission of M51 at the mean frequency of 151 MHz with 20 arcsec resolution and 0.3 mJy rms noise, which is the most sensitive image of a galaxy at frequencies below 300 MHz so far. The integrated spectrum of total radio emission is described well by a power law, while flat spectral indices in the central region indicate thermal absorption. We observe that the disk extends out to 16 kpc and see a break in the radial profile near the optical radius of the disk. Our main results, the scale lengths of the inner and outer disks at 151 MHz and 1.4 GHz, arm--interarm contrast, and the break scales of the radio--far-infrared correlations, can be explained consistently by CRE diffusion, leading to a longer propagation length of CRE of lower energy. The distribution of CRE sources drops sharply at about 10 kpc radius, where the star formation rate also decreases sharply. We find evidence that thermal absorption is primarily caused by HII regions. The non-detection of polarisation from M51 at 151 MHz is consistent with the estimates of Faraday depolarisation. Future searches for polarised emission in this frequency range should concentrate on regions with low star formation rates.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in A&

LOFAR MSSS: Flattening low-frequency radio continuum spectra of nearby galaxies

Accepted for publication in Astronomy and AstrophysicsAims. The shape of low-frequency radio continuum spectra of normal galaxies is not well understood, the key question being the role of physical processes such as thermal absorption in shaping them. In this work we take advantage of the LOFAR Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS) to investigate such spectra for a large sample of nearby star-forming galaxies. Methods. Using the measured 150 MHz flux densities from the LOFAR MSSS survey and literature flux densities at various frequencies we have obtained integrated radio spectra for 106 galaxies characterised by different morphology and star formation rate. The spectra are explained through the use of a three-dimensional model of galaxy radio emission, and radiation transfer dependent on the galaxy viewing angle and absorption processes. Results. Our galaxies' spectra are generally flatter at lower compared to higher frequencies: the median spectral index α low measured between ≈ 50 MHz and 1.5 GHz is -0.57 ± 0.01 while the high-frequency one α high, calculated between 1.3 GHz and 5 GHz, is -0.77 ± 0.03. As there is no tendency for the highly inclined galaxies to have more flattened low-frequency spectra, we argue that the observed flattening is not due to thermal absorption, contradicting the suggestion of Israel & Mahoney (1990, ApJ, 352, 30). According to our modelled radio maps for M 51-like galaxies, the free-free absorption effects can be seen only below 30 MHz and in the global spectra just below 20 MHz, while in the spectra of starburst galaxies, like M 82, the flattening due to absorption is instead visible up to higher frequencies of about 150 MHz. Starbursts are however scarce in the local Universe, in accordance with the weak spectral curvature seen in the galaxies of our sample. Locally, within galactic disks, the absorption effects are distinctly visible in M 51-like galaxies as spectral flattening around 100-200 MHz in the face-on objects, and as turnovers in the edge-on ones, while in M 82-like galaxies there are strong turnovers at frequencies above 700 MHz, regardless of viewing angle. Conclusions. Our modelling of galaxy spectra suggests that the weak spectral flattening observed in the nearby galaxies studied here results principally from synchrotron spectral curvature due to cosmic ray energy losses and propagation effects. We predict much stronger effects of thermal absorption in more distant galaxies with high star formation rates. Some influence exerted by the Milky Way's foreground on the spectra of all external galaxies is also expected at very low frequencies.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Lockman Hole Polarised Sources at 1.4GHz (Berger+, 2021)

This study is based on the WSRT observations of the Lockman Hole field at 1.4GHz (Prandoni et al., 2018MNRAS.481.4548P). The data consist of 16 individual pointings, each observed for a full synthesis of 12-hrs between December 2006 and January 2007. The centre of the mosaic was chosen to be at RA=10:53:16.6; DE=+58:01:15 (J2000). We present a new deep-field analysis of polarised sources in the Lockman Hole at 1.4GHz, using a bespoke polarised mosaic with a central RMS of 7uJy/beam. We find 150 polarised sources in an area of 6.5deg2 out of 1708 total-intensity sources in this field (8.8%). This equates to a polarised source density of 23deg-2. (3 data files)

Two striking head-Tail galaxies in the galaxy cluster IIZW108: Insights into transition to turbulence, magnetic fields, and particle re-Acceleration

We present deep Jansky Very Large Array observations at 1.4 and 2.7 GHz (full polarization), as well as optical OmegaWINGS/WINGS and X-ray observations of two extended radio galaxies in the IIZW108 galaxy cluster at z = 0.04889. They show a bent tail morphology in agreement with a radio lobed galaxy falling into the cluster potential. Both galaxies are found to possess properties comparable with narrow-Angle tail galaxies in the literature even though they are part of a low mass cluster. We find a spectral index steepening and an increase in fractional polarization through the galaxy jets and an ordered magnetic field component mostly aligned with the jet direction. This is likely caused by either shear due to the velocity difference of the intracluster medium and the jet fluid and/or magnetic draping of the intracluster medium across the galaxy jets. We find clear evidence that one source is showing two active galactic nuclei (AGN) outbursts from which we expect the AGN has never turned off completely. We show that pure standard electron cooling cannot explain the jet length. We demonstrate therefore that these galaxies can be used as a laboratory to study gentle re-Acceleration of relativistic electrons in galaxy jets via transition from laminar to turbulent motion