arXiv subjects

G. di Gennaro

Publications and source records attributed to G. di Gennaro.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Investigating the radio emission in the Perseus cluster with LOFAR sub-80 MHz LBA

The Perseus cluster is a nearby cool-core galaxy cluster that hosts an archetypal radio mini-halo. Recent Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) High Band Antenna (HBA) observations at 120 - 168 MHz have revealed the presence of a giant radio halo within the cluster with a size of 1.1 Mpc enveloping the mini-halo. By exploring the spectral properties of the radio emission at low frequencies, we can gain deeper insights into the nature of this emission and improve our understanding of its origin. Here we present LOFAR Low Band Antenna (LBA) images of the cluster between 30.0 - 57.7 MHz, with a resolution of 19.2'' x 15.0'' and a r.m.s. noise of 3.7 mJy/beam . In our images, we detect both the mini-halo and giant radio halo. We measured the spectral indices between 44 and 144 MHz of the mini-halo and giant radio halo to be -1.34 +- 0.10, and -1.01 +- 0.11, respectively. An alternative and more direct measurement of the spectrum of the giant radio halo results in a spectral index of -1.28 +- 0.15. The discrepancy between both values is caused by the poor ionospheric conditions. In addition, we study two X-ray 'ghost cavities' in the cluster. These cavities are thought to have been produced by an older outburst from the central AGN 3C 84. We measure a spectral index between 44 and 144 MHz for the radio plasma in these cavities of -1.86 +- 0.12 and -1.90 +- 0.12 for the northwest and southern ghost cavities, respectively. Furthermore, by including VLA 352 MHz data, we find that the spectrum steepens at higher frequencies. These results are consistent with the ghost cavities being filled with old and aged radio plasma. We also detect the tailed radio galaxies NGC 1265 and IC 310. In our analysis, these sources show signs of spectral steepening along their tails.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Particle re-acceleration and diffuse radio sources in the galaxy cluster Abell 1550

We study diffuse radio emission in the galaxy cluster A1550, with the aim of constraining particle re-acceleration in the intra-cluster medium. We exploit observations at four different frequencies: 54, 144, 400 and 1400 MHz. To complement our analysis, we make use of archival Chandra X-ray data. At all frequencies we detect an ultra-steep spectrum radio halo ($S_ν\propto ν^{-1.6}$) with an extent of 1.2 Mpc at 54 MHz. Its morphology follows the distribution of the thermal intra-cluster medium inferred from the Chandra observation. West of the centrally located head-tail radio galaxy, we detect a radio relic with projected extent of 500 kpc. From the relic, a 600 kpc long bridge departs and connect it to the halo. Between the relic and the radio galaxy, we observe what is most likely a radio phoenix, given its curved spectrum. The phoenix is connected to the tail of the radio galaxy through two arms, which show a nearly constant spectral index for 300 kpc. The halo could be produced by turbulence induced by a major merger, with its axis lying in the NE-SW direction. This is supported by the position of the relic, whose origin could be attributed to a shock propagating along the merger axis. It is possible that the same shock has also produced the phoenix through adiabatic compression, while the bridge could be generated by electrons which were pre-accelerated by the shock, and then re-accelerated by turbulence. Finally, we detect hints of gentle re-energisation in the two arms which depart from the tail of the radio galaxy.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

The Coma cluster at LOFAR frequencies I: insights into particle acceleration mechanisms in the radio bridge

Radio synchrotron emission from the bridges of low-density gas connecting galaxy clusters and groups is a challenge for particle acceleration processes. In this work, we analyse the Coma radio bridge using new LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) observations at 144 MHz. LOFAR detects the bridge and its substructures with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. We find that the radio emission peaks on the NGC 4839 group. Towards the halo, in front of the NGC 4839 group, the radio brightness decreases and streams of radio emission connect the NGC 4839 group to the radio relic. Using X-ray observations, we find that thermal and non-thermal plasma are moderately correlated with a sub-linear scaling. We use archival radio data at 326 MHz to constrain the spectral index in the bridge, and quantify the distribution of particles and magnetic field at different frequencies. We find that the spectrum is steeper than $-1.4 \pm 0.2$, and that the emission could be clumpier at 326 MHz than at 144 MHz. Using cosmological simulations and a simplified approach to compute particle acceleration, we derive under which conditions turbulent acceleration of mildly relativistic electrons could generate the radio emission in the bridge. Assuming that the initial energy ratio of the seed electrons is $3 \cdot 10^{-4}$ with respect to the thermal gas, we are able to reproduce the observed luminosity. Our results suggest that the seed electrons released by radiogalaxies in the bridge and the turbulence generated by the motion of gas and galaxies are essential to produce the radio emission.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Diffuse Radio Emission from Galaxy Clusters in the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey Deep Fields

Low-frequency radio observations are revealing an increasing number of diffuse synchrotron sources from galaxy clusters, dominantly in the form of radio halos or radio relics. The existence of this diffuse synchrotron emission indicates the presence of relativistic particles and magnetic fields. It is still an open question what mechanisms exactly are responsible for the population of relativistic electrons driving this synchrotron emission. The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey Deep Fields offer a unique view of this problem. Reaching noise levels below 30 $μ$Jy/beam, these are the deepest images made at the low frequency of 144 MHz. This paper presents a search for diffuse emission in galaxy clusters in the first data release of the LOFAR Deep Fields. We detect a new high-redshift radio halo with a flux density of $8.9 \pm 1.0$ mJy and corresponding luminosity of $P_{144\mathrm{MHz}}=(3.6 \pm 0.6)\times10^{25}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ in an X-ray detected cluster at $z=0.77$ with a mass estimate of $M_{500} = 3.3_{-1.7}^{+1.1} \times 10^{14} M_\odot.$ Deep upper limits are placed on clusters with non-detections. We compare the results to the correlation between halo luminosity and cluster mass derived for radio halos found in the literature. This study is one of few to find diffuse emission in low mass ($M_{500} < 5\times10^{14} M_\odot$) systems and shows that deep low-frequency observations of galaxy clusters are fundamental for opening up a new part of parameter space in the study of non-thermal phenomena in galaxy clusters.

astro-ph.HE↗