Detection of a radio bridge in Abell 3667

E. Carretti; S. Brown; L. Staveley-Smith; M. Malarecki; G. Bernardi; B. M. Gaensler; M. Haverkorn; M. J. Kesteven; S. Poppi

doi:10.1093/mnras/stt002

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Detection of a radio bridge in Abell 3667

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Detection of a radio bridge in Abell 3667

E. Carretti, S. Brown, L. Staveley-Smith, M. Malarecki, G. Bernardi, B. M. Gaensler, M. Haverkorn, M. J. Kesteven and S. Poppi

Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.430(2), pp.1414-1422

04/01/2013

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stt002

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https://admin.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/ca409a2c-2d3b-4cf3-a826-c1ed00e7067bView

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Abstract

We have detected a radio bridge of unpolarized synchrotron emission connecting the NW relic of the galaxy cluster Abell 3667 to its central regions. We used data at 2.3 GHz from the S-band Polarization All Sky Survey and at 3.3 GHz from a follow-up observation, both conducted with the Parkes radio telescope. This emission is further aligned with a diffuse X-ray tail, and represents the most compelling evidence for an association between intracluster medium turbulence and diffuse synchrotron emission. This is the first clear detection of a bridge associated both with an outlying cluster relic and X-ray diffuse emission. All the indicators point towards the synchrotron bridge being related to the post-shock turbulent wake trailing the shock front generated by a major merger in a massive cluster. Although predicted by simulations, this is the first time such emission is detected with high significance and clearly associated with the path of a confirmed shock. Although the origin of the relativistic electrons is still unknown, the turbulent re-acceleration model provides a natural explanation for the large-scale emission. The equipartition magnetic field intensity of the bridge is B-eq = 2.2 +/- 0.3 mu G. We further detect diffuse emission coincident with the central regions of the cluster for the first time.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Detection of a radio bridge in Abell 3667
Creators: E. Carretti - CSIRO Astron & Space Sci, Parkes, NSW 2870, Australia
S. Brown - CSIRO Astron & Space Sci, Epping, NSW 1710, Australia
L. Staveley-Smith - The University of Western Australia
M. Malarecki - The University of Western Australia
G. Bernardi - Harvard Smithsonian Ctr Astrophys, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
B. M. Gaensler - The University of Sydney
M. Haverkorn - Radboud University Nijmegen
M. J. Kesteven - CSIRO Astron & Space Sci, Epping, NSW 1710, Australia
S. Poppi - INAF D Osservatorio Astron Cagliari, I-09012 Capoterra, CA, Italy
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.430(2), pp.1414-1422
DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stt002
ISSN: 0035-8711
eISSN: 1365-2966
Publisher: Oxford Univ Press
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO); Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) Commonwealth of Australia; Australian Government FL100100114 / Australian Laureate Fellowship from the Australian Research Council; Australian Research Council National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
Language: English
Date published: 04/01/2013
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428778702771

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