arXiv subjects

Daniele Dallacasa

Publications and source records attributed to Daniele Dallacasa.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

An unlikely radio halo in the low X-ray luminosity galaxy cluster RXC J1514.9-1523

We report the discovery of a giant radio halo in the galaxy cluster RXC J1514.9-1523 at z=0.22 with a relatively low X-ray luminosity, $L_{X \, [0.1-2.4 \rm \, kev]} \sim 7 \times 10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$. This faint, diffuse radio source is detected with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 327 MHz. The source is barely detected at 1.4 GHz in a NVSS pointing that we have reanalyzed. The integrated radio spectrum of the halo is quite steep, with a slope α= 1.6 between 327 MHz and 1.4 GHz. While giant radio halos are common in more X-ray luminous cluster mergers, there is a less than 10% probability to detect a halo in systems with $L_X \ltsim 8 \times 10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The detection of a new giant halo in this borderline luminosity regime can be particularly useful for discriminating between the competing theories for the origin of ultrarelativistic electrons in clusters. Furthermore, if our steep radio spectral index is confirmed by future deeper radio observations, this cluster would provide another example of the recently discovered population of ultra-steep spectrum radio halos, predicted by the model in which the cluster cosmic ray electrons are produced by turbulent reacceleration.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The very steep spectrum radio halo in Abell 697

In this paper we present a detailed study of the giant radio halo in the galaxy cluster Abell 697, with the aim to constrain its origin and connection with the cluster dynamics. We performed high sensitivity GMRT observations at 325 MHz, which showed that the radio halo is much brighter and larger at this frequency, compared to previous 610 MHz observations. In order to derive the integrated spectrum in the frequency range 325 MHz--1.4 GHz, we re--analysed archival VLA data at 1.4 GHz and made use of proprietary GMRT data at 610 MHz. {Our multifrequency analysis shows that the total radio spectrum of the giant radio halo in A\,697 is very steep, with $α_{\rm~325 MHz}^{\rm~1.4 GHz} \approx 1.7-1.8$. %\pm0.1$. Due to energy arguments, a hadronic origin of the halo is disfavoured by such steep spectrum. Very steep spectrum halos in merging clusters are predicted in the case that the emitting electrons are accelerated by turbulence, observations with the upcoming low frequency arrays will be able to test these expectations.}

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arXiv2009

Transverse motions in CSOs?

The measurement of proper motions in CSOs is a powerful tool to determine the dynamical evolution of the newly born extragalactic radio sources. We observed 3 CSOs with the VLBA in 2004 and in 2006 to monitor changes in their structure and measure the separation velocity of the hot spots. It is important to increase the size of the samples of CSOs with measured expansion velocity to test the existance of frustrated objects, and put stringent constraints on the current models. We found for all the three objects observed a transverse motion of the hotspots, and we suggest as the more likey explanation a precession in the jet axis. This behaviour likely inhibits or at least slows down the radio source growth because the head of the hotspot continuously hits new regions of the ISM. Therefore these radio sources may represent an old population of GPS/CSOs.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

High Frequency Peakers: The Faint Sample

We present a sample of sources with convex radio spectra peaking at frequencies above a few GHz, known as "High Frequency Peakers" (HFPs). A "bright" sample with a flux density limit of 300 mJy at 5 GHz has been presented by Dallacasa et al. (2000). Here we present the "faint" sample with flux density between 50 and 300 mJy at 5GHz, restricted to the area around the North Galactic Cap, where the FIRST catalogue is available. The candidates have been observed with the VLA at several frequencies ranging from 1.4 to 22 GHz, in order to derive a simultaneous radio spectrum. The final list of confirmed HFP sources consists of 61 objects.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2006

European VLBI Network observations of fourteen GHz-Peaked-Spectrum radio sources at 5 GHz

We present the results of EVN polarization observations of fourteen GHz-Peaked-Spectrum (GPS) radio sources at 5 GHz. These sources were selected from bright GPS source samples and we aimed at finding Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs). We have obtained full polarization 5 GHz VLBI observations of 14 sources providing information on their source structure and spectral indices. The results show that two core-jet sources 1433$-$040 and DA193, out of 14 GPS sources, exhibit integrated fractional polarizations of 3.6% and 1.0% respectively. The other 12 sources have no clear detection of pc-scale polarization. The results confirm that the GPS sources generally have very low polarization at 5 GHz. The sources 1133+432, 1824+271 and 2121$-$014 are confirmed as CSOs. Three new CSOs 0914+114, 1518+046 and 2322$-$040 (tentative) have been classified on the basis of 5 GHz images and spectral indices. The sources 1333+589, 1751+278 and 2323+790 can be classified either as compact doubles, and then they are likely CSO candidates or core-jet sources; further observations are needed for an appropriate classification; 0554$-$026, 1433$-$040 and 1509+054 are core-jet sources. In addition, we estimate that a component in the jet of quasar DA193 has superluminal motion of $3.3\pm0.6 h^{-1}c$ in 5.5 years.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Resolving the Shocks in Radio Galaxy Nebulae: HST and Radio Imaging of 3C 171, 3C277.3 and PKS2250-41

We present the results of HST/WFPC2 medium and narrow band imaging and VLA and MERLIN2 radio imaging of three powerful radio galaxies: 3C 171, 3C 277.3, and PKS 2250-41. We obtained images of the rest frame [OIII]$λ$5007 and [OII]$λ$3727 line emission using the Linear Ramp Filters on WFPC2. The correlations between the emission line morphology and the [OIII]/[OII] line ratios with the radio emission seen in ground based observations are clarified by the HST imaging. We confirm that the radio lobes and hot-spots are preferentially associated with lower ionization gas. 3C 171 exhibits high surface brightness emission line gas mainly along the radio source axis. The lowest ionization gas is seen at the Eastern hot spot. In 3C 277.3 there is bright high ionization gas (and continuum) offset just to the east of the radio knot K1. Our observations are consistent with previous work suggesting that this emission is produced by precursor gas ionized by the shock being driven into the cloud by the deflected radio jet. In PKS 2250-41 we resolve the emission line arc which wraps around the outer rim of the western lobe. The lower ionization [OII] emission is nested just interior to the higher ionization [OIII] emission suggesting that we have resolved the cooling region behind the bow shock. We also detect possible continuum emission from the secondary hot-spot. Thus, our observations support the hypothesis that in these sources, the interaction between the expanding radio source and the ambient gas strongly influences the morphology, kinematics, and ionization of the gas.

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arXiv2004

A2255: the First Detection of Filamentary Polarized Emission in a Radio Halo

A deep radio observation of the A2255 cluster of galaxies has been carried out at 1.4 GHz with the Very Large Array synthesis telescope. Thanks to the excellent (u,v) coverage and sensitivity achieved by our observation, the low brightness diffuse extended sources in the cluster (radio halo and relic) have been imaged with unprecedented resolution and dynamic range. We find that the radio halo has filamentary structures that are strongly polarized. The fractional linear polarization reaches levels of $\simeq$ 20$-$40% and the magnetic fields appear ordered on scales of $\sim$400 kpc. This is the first successful attempt to detect polarized emission from a radio halo and provides strong evidence that in this cluster the magnetic field is ordered on large scales.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

High Frequency Peakers

There is quite a clear anticorrelation between the intrinsic peak frequency and the overall radio source size in Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) and GHz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) radio sources as shown by O'Dea (1998). This feature is interpreted in terms of synchrotron self-absorption (although free-free absorption may play a role as well) of the radiation emitted by a small radio source which is growing within the inner region of the host galaxy. This leads to the hypothesis that these objects are young and that the radio source is still developing/expanding within the host galaxy itself. Very young radio sources must have the peak in their radio spectra occurring above a few tens of GHz, and for this reason they are termed High Frequency Peakers (HFPs). These newly born radio sources must be very rare given that they spend very little time in this stage.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

EVN observations of candidate Compact Symmetric Objects

We present pc-scale images of ten Compact Symmetric Objects (CSO) candidates observed with the European VLBI network (EVN). Five radio sources have been observed at 1.6 GHz, and five more at 2.3/8.4 GHz, the latter subsample with the inclusion in the VLBI array of 3 antennae normally used for geodesy. These objects were selected from existing samples of GHz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) radio sources with the purpose to find and/or confirm the CSO classification. These new VLBI observations allow us to confirm the classification of two CSO candidates, and to find a few new ones. The association of GPS radio galaxies with a CSO morphology is strengthened by our findings, and this result suggests an efficient way to increase the number of known CSOs by means of VLBI observations of compact radio galaxies showing a convex radio spectrum.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

High frequency peakers. I. The bright sample

Here we present a sample of sources with convex radio spectra peaking at frequencies above a few GHz. We call these radio sources High Frequency Peakers (HFPs). This sample extends to higher turnover frequencies than the samples of Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) and GHz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) radio sources. HFPs are rare due to the strong bias against them caused by their turnover occurring at frequencies about one order of magnitude higher than in CSS-GPS samples. The sample has been selected by a comparison between the Green Bank survey (87GB) at 4.9 GHz and the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) at 1.4 GHz. Then the candidates have been observed with the VLA at 1.365, 1.665, 4.535, 4.985, 8.085, 8.485, 14.96 and 22.46 GHz in order to derive a simultaneous radio spectrum, and remove variable sources from the sample. The final list of genuine HFP sources consists of 55 objects with flux density exceeding 300 mJy at 4.9 GHz at the time of the 87GB observation. Optical identifications are available for 29 of them; 24 are high redshift quasars, 3 are galaxies (one of them has indeed broad lines in the optical spectrum) and 2 are BL Lac objects. The remaining sources are mostly empty fields (17) on the digitised POSS or have uncertain classification (9).

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