New radio halo discovered with MeerKAT

Phys.Org
Phys.Org 4M
Astronomers have discovered an ultra-steep spectrum radio halo in the galaxy cluster SPT-CLJ2337−5942 using the MeerKAT telescope, revealing insights into particle re-acceleration.
New radio halo discovered with MeerKAT
A What happened
An international team of astronomers has detected a new ultra-steep spectrum radio halo in the galaxy cluster SPT-CLJ2337−5942 using the MeerKAT radio telescope. This finding, published on September 9, highlights the halo's spectral index of 1.76 and a linear size of approximately 2.6 million light years. The radio halo's characteristics indicate ongoing particle re-acceleration, which is crucial for understanding the processes involved in cluster mergers. The study also found a significant spatial correlation between the radio halo and X-ray brightness, suggesting a link between thermal and non-thermal electrons within the intracluster medium. This discovery marks the highest redshift USSRH identified to date, potentially advancing models of radio halo formation. Future observations with the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) are anticipated to yield more high-redshift USSRH detections.

Why it matters

  • Ultra-Steep Spectrum Radio Halo: Newly discovered radio halo indicates ongoing particle re-acceleration.

  • Correlation with X-ray Emission: Findings suggest a link between thermal and non-thermal electrons.

  • Significance of Discovery: This is the highest redshift USSRH found, crucial for radio halo models.

Topics

Science & Research Space Research Physics

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