Diffuse radio emission in MACS J0025.4−-1222: the effect of a major merger on bulk separation of ICM components

Mergers of galaxy clusters are among the most energetic events in the Universe. These events have significant impact on the intra-cluster medium, depositing vast amounts of energy - often in the form of shocks - as well as heavily influencing the properties of the constituent galaxy population. Many clusters have been shown to host large-scale diffuse radio emission, known variously as radio haloes and relics. These sources arise as a result of electron (re-)acceleration in cluster-scale magnetic fields, although the processes by which this occurs are still poorly understood. We present new, deep radio observations of the high-redshift galaxy cluster MACS J0025.4$-$1222, taken with the GMRT at 325 MHz, as well as new analysis of all archival $Chandra$ X-ray observations. We aim to investigate the potential of diffuse radio emission and categorise the radio population of this cluster, which has only been covered previously by shallow radio surveys. We produce low-resolution maps of MACS J0025.4$-$1222 through a combination of uv-tapering and subtracting the compact source population. Radial surface brightness and mass profiles are derived from the $Chandra$ data. We also derive a 2D map of the ICM temperature. For the first time, two sources of diffuse radio emission are detected in MACS J0025.4$-$1222, on linear scales of several hundred kpc. Given the redshift of the cluster and the assumed cosmology, these sources appear to be consistent with established trends in power scaling relations for radio relics. The X-ray temperature map presents evidence of an asymmetric temperature profile and tentative identification of a temperature jump associated with one relic. We classify the pair of diffuse radio sources in this cluster as a pair of radio relics, given their consistency with scaling relations, location toward the cluster outskirts, and the available X-ray data.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Early Science with the Karoo Array Telescope: a Mini-Halo Candidate in Galaxy Cluster Abell 3667

Abell 3667 is among the most well-studied galaxy clusters in the Southern Hemisphere. It is known to host two giant radio relics and a head-tail radio galaxy as the brightest cluster galaxy. Recent work has suggested the additional presence of a bridge of diffuse synchrotron emission connecting the North-Western radio relic with the cluster centre. In this work, we present full-polarization observations of Abell 3667 conducted with the Karoo Array Telescope at 1.33 and 1.82 GHz. Our results show both radio relics as well as the brightest cluster galaxy. We use ancillary higher-resolution data to subtract the emission from this galaxy, revealing a localised excess, which we tentatively identify as a radio mini-halo. This mini-halo candidate has an integrated flux density of $67.2\pm4.9$ mJy beam$^{-1}$ at 1.37 GHz, corresponding to a radio power of P$_{\rm{1.4\,GHz}}=4.28\pm0.31\times10^{23}$ W Hz$^{-1}$, consistent with established trends in mini-halo power scaling.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted MNRA

Deep observations of the Super-CLASS super-cluster at 325 MHz with the GMRT: the low-frequency source catalogue

We present the results of 325 MHz GMRT observations of a super-cluster field, known to contain five Abell clusters at redshift $z \sim 0.2$. We achieve a nominal sensitivity of $34\,\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$ toward the phase centre. We compile a catalogue of 3257 sources with flux densities in the range $183\,\mu\rm{Jy}\,-\,1.5\,\rm{Jy}$ within the entire $\sim 6.5$ square degree field of view. Subsequently, we use available survey data at other frequencies to derive the spectral index distribution for a sub-sample of these sources, recovering two distinct populations -- a dominant population which exhibit spectral index trends typical of steep-spectrum synchrotron emission, and a smaller population of sources with typically flat or rising spectra. We identify a number of sources with ultra-steep spectra or rising spectra for further analysis, finding two candidate high-redshift radio galaxies and three gigahertz-peaked-spectrum radio sources. Finally, we derive the Euclidean-normalised differential source counts using the catalogue compiled in this work, for sources with flux densities in excess of $223 \, \mu$Jy. Our differential source counts are consistent with both previous observations at this frequency and models of the low-frequency source population. These represent the deepest source counts yet derived at 325 MHz. Our source counts exhibit the well-known flattening at mJy flux densities, consistent with an emerging population of star-forming galaxies; we also find marginal evidence of a downturn at flux densities below $308 \, \mu$Jy, a feature so far only seen at 1.4 GHz.Comment: 25 pages, 18 figures, 10 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

On the absence of radio halos in clusters with double relics

Pairs of radio relics are believed to form during cluster mergers, and are best observed when the merger occurs in the plane of the sky. Mergers can also produce radio halos, through complex processes likely linked to turbulent re-acceleration of cosmic-ray electrons. However, only some clusters with double relics also show a radio halo. Here, we present a novel method to derive upper limits on the radio halo emission, and analyse archival X-ray Chandra data, as well as galaxy velocity dispersions and lensing data, in order to understand the key parameter that switches on radio halo emission. We place upper limits on the halo power below the $P_{\rm 1.4 \, GHz}\, M_{500}$ correlation for some clusters, confirming that clusters with double relics have different radio properties. Computing X-ray morphological indicators, we find that clusters with double relics are associated with the most disturbed clusters. We also investigate the role of different mass-ratios and time-since-merger. Data do not indicate that the merger mass ratio has an impact on the presence or absence of radio halos (the null hypothesis that the clusters belong to the same group cannot be rejected). However, the data suggests that the absence of radio halos could be associated with early and late mergers, but the sample is too small to perform a statistical test. Our study is limited by the small number of clusters with double relics. Future surveys with LOFAR, ASKAP, MeerKat and SKA will provide larger samples to better address this issue.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS accepte

AMI-LA Observations of the SuperCLASS Super-cluster

We present a deep survey of the SuperCLASS super-cluster - a region of sky known to contain five Abell clusters at redshift $z\sim0.2$ - performed using the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI) Large Array (LA) at 15.5$~$GHz. Our survey covers an area of approximately 0.9 square degrees. We achieve a nominal sensitivity of $32.0~\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$ toward the field centre, finding 80 sources above a $5\sigma$ threshold. We derive the radio colour-colour distribution for sources common to three surveys that cover the field and identify three sources with strongly curved spectra - a high-frequency-peaked source and two GHz-peaked-spectrum sources. The differential source count (i) agrees well with previous deep radio source count, (ii) exhibits no evidence of an emerging population of star-forming galaxies, down to a limit of 0.24$~$mJy, and (iii) disagrees with some models of the 15$~$GHz source population. However, our source count is in agreement with recent work that provides an analytical correction to the source count from the SKADS Simulated Sky, supporting the suggestion that this discrepancy is caused by an abundance of flat-spectrum galaxy cores as-yet not included in source population models.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Cold gas outflows from the Small Magellanic Cloud traced with ASKAP

Feedback from massive stars plays a critical role in the evolution of the Universe by driving powerful outflows from galaxies that enrich the intergalactic medium and regulate star formation. An important source of outflows may be the most numerous galaxies in the Universe: dwarf galaxies. With small gravitational potential wells, these galaxies easily lose their star-forming material in the presence of intense stellar feedback. Here, we show that the nearby dwarf galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), has atomic hydrogen outflows extending at least 2 kiloparsecs (kpc) from the star-forming bar of the galaxy. The outflows are cold, $T<400~{\rm K}$, and may have formed during a period of active star formation $25 - 60$ million years (Myr) ago. The total mass of atomic gas in the outflow is $\sim 10^7$ solar masses, ${\rm M_{\odot}}$, or $\sim 3$% of the total atomic gas of the galaxy. The inferred mass flux in atomic gas alone, $\dot{M}_{HI}\sim 0.2 - 1.0~{\rm M_{\odot}~yr^{-1}}$, is up to an order of magnitude greater than the star formation rate. We suggest that most of the observed outflow will be stripped from the SMC through its interaction with its companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and the Milky Way, feeding the Magellanic Stream of hydrogen encircling the Milky Way.Comment: Published in Nature Astronomy, 29 October 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0608-

A 600 kpc complex radio source at the center of Abell 3718 discovered by the EMU and POSSUM surveys

Multifrequency studies of galaxy clusters are crucial for inferring their dynamical states and physics. Moreover, these studies allow us to investigate cluster-embedded sources, whose evolution is affected by the physical and dynamical condition of the cluster itself. So far, these kinds of studies have been preferentially conducted on clusters visible from the northern hemisphere due to the high-fidelity imaging capabilities of ground-based radio interferometers located there. In this paper, we conducted a multifrequency study of the poorly known galaxy cluster Abell 3718. We investigated the unknown origin of an extended radio source with a length of $\sim$612 kpc at 943 MHz detected in images from the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) and POlarisation Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM) surveys. We analyzed optical and X-ray data to infer the dynamical state of the cluster and, in particular, the merger activity. We conducted a radio spectral index study from 943 MHz up to 9 GHz. We also evaluated the polarization properties of the brightest cluster-embedded sources to understand if they are related to the radio emission observed on larger scales. [Abstract truncated due to arxiv limit! Please see the pdf version]Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures; accepted for publication by A&

SuperCLASS - II. Photometric redshifts and characteristics of spatially resolved mu Jy radio sources

We present optical and near-infrared imaging covering a ∼1.53 deg2 region in the Super-Cluster Assisted Shear Survey (SuperCLASS) field, which aims to make the first robust weak lensing measurement at radio wavelengths. We derive photometric redshifts for ≈176 000 sources down to i′AB∼24 and present photometric redshifts for 1.4 GHz expanded Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) and Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) detected radio sources found in the central 0.26 deg2. We compile an initial catalogue of 149 radio sources brighter than S1.4 > 75 μJy and find their photometric redshifts span 0 7σ in the density map and we confirm the photometric redshifts are consistent with previously measured spectra from a few galaxies at the cluster centres

The POlarised GLEAM Survey (POGS) II: Results from an All-Sky Rotation Measure Synthesis Survey at Long Wavelengths

The low-frequency linearly-polarised radio source population is largely unexplored. However, a renaissance in low-frequency polarimetry has been enabled by pathfinder and precursor instruments for the Square Kilometre Array. In this second paper from the POlarised GaLactic and Extragalactic All-Sky Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) Survey -- the POlarised GLEAM Survey, or POGS -- we present the results from our all-sky MWA Phase I Faraday Rotation Measure survey. Our survey covers nearly the entire Southern sky in the Declination range $-82^{\circ}$ to $+30^{\circ}$ at a resolution between around three and seven arcminutes (depending on Declination) using data in the frequency range 169$-$231 MHz. We have performed two targeted searches: the first covering 25,489 square degrees of sky, searching for extragalactic polarised sources; the second covering the entire sky South of Declination $+30^{\circ}$, searching for known pulsars. We detect a total of 517 sources with 200 MHz linearly-polarised flux densities between 9.9 mJy and 1.7 Jy, of which 33 are known radio pulsars. All sources in our catalogues have Faraday rotation measures in the range $-328.07$ rad m$^{-2}$ to $+279.62$ rad m$^{-2}$. The Faraday rotation measures are broadly consistent with results from higher-frequency surveys, but with typically more than an order of magnitude improvement in the precision, highlighting the power of low-frequency polarisation surveys to accurately study Galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. We discuss the properties of our extragalactic and known-pulsar source population, how the sky distribution relates to Galactic features, and identify a handful of new pulsar candidates among our nominally extragalactic source population.Comment: Replacement of previous version. Only change is minor updates to catalogues (see ancillary files) which now contain bib code of finalised manuscript (published in PASA). Manuscript has 31 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables. Four Appendices are included in the ancillary material, showing further Figures, continuum spectra for a handful of selected sources, and RM spectra for all 517 source

Spectral analysis of spatially resolved 3C295 (sub-arcsecond resolution) with the International LOFAR Telescope

3C295 is a bright, compact steep spectrum source with a well-studied integrated radio spectral energy distribution (SED) from 132 MHz to 15 GHz. However, spatially resolved spectral studies have been limited due to a lack of high resolution images at low radio frequencies. These frequencies are crucial for measuring absorption processes, and anchoring the overall spectral modelling of the radio SED. In this paper, we use International LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR) Telescope (ILT) observations of 3C295 to study its spatially resolved spectral properties with sub-arcsecond resolution at 132 MHz. Combining our new 132 MHz observation with archival data at 1.6, 4.8, and 15 GHz, we are able to carry out a resolved radio spectral analysis. The spectral properties of the hotspots provides evidence for low frequency flattening. In contrast, the spectral shape across the lobes is consistent with a Jaffe-Perola spectral ageing model. Using the integrated spectral information for each component, we then fitted low-frequency absorption models to the hotspots, finding that both free-free absorption and synchrotron self-absorption models provide a better fit to the data than a standard power law. Although we can say there is low-frequency absorption present in the hotspots of 3C295, future observations with the Low Band Antenna of the ILT at 55 MHz may allow us to distinguish the type of absorption