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R. J. van Weeren

Publications and source records attributed to R. J. van Weeren.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Probing the origin of diffuse radio emission in the cool-core of the Phoenix galaxy cluster

Cool core galaxy clusters are considered to be dynamically relaxed clusters with regular morphology and highly X-ray luminous central region. However, cool core clusters can also be sites for merging events that exhibit cold fronts in X-ray and mini-halos in radio. We present recent radio/X-ray observations of the Phoenix Cluster or SPT-CL J2344-4243 at the redshift of $z=0.596$. Using archival {\it Chandra} X-ray observations, we detect spiraling cool gas around the cluster core as well as discover two cold fronts near the core. It is perhaps the most distant galaxy cluster to date known to host cold fronts. Also, we present JVLA\footnote{Jansky Very Large Array\\ \url{https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/vla}} 1.52 GHz observations of the minihalo, previously discovered at 610 MHz with GMRT\footnote{Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope\\ \url{http://www.gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in}} observations in the center of the Phoenix galaxy cluster. The minihalo flux density at 1.52 GHz is $9.65 \pm 0.97$ mJy with the spectral index between 610 MHz and 1.52 GHz being $-0.98 \pm 0.16$\footnote{$S_ν = ν^α$ where $S_ν$}. A possible origin of these radio sources is turbulence induced by sloshing of the gas in the cluster core.

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Revived Fossil Plasma Sources in Galaxy Clusters

It is well established that particle acceleration by shocks and turbulence in the intra-cluster medium can produce cluster-scale synchrotron emitting sources. However, the detailed physics of these particle acceleration processes is still not well understood. One of the main open questions is the role of fossil relativistic electrons that have been deposited in the intra-cluster medium by radio galaxies. These synchrotron-emitting electrons are very difficult to study, as their radiative life time is only tens of Myrs at GHz frequencies, and are therefore a relatively unexplored population. Despite the typical steep radio spectrum due to synchrotron losses, these fossil electrons are barely visible even at radio frequencies well below a GHz. However, when a pocket of fossil radio plasma is compressed, it boosts the visibility at sub-GHz frequencies, creating so-called radio phoenices. This compression can be the result of bulk motion and shocks in the ICM due to merger activity. In this paper, we demonstrate the discovery potential of low frequency radio sky surveys to find and study revived fossil plasma sources in galaxy clusters. We used the 150~MHz TGSS and 1.4 GHz NVSS sky surveys to identify candidate radio phoenices. A subset of three candidates were studied in detail using deep multi-band radio observations (LOFAR and GMRT), X-ray (\textit{Chandra} or \textit{XMM-Newton}) and archival optical observations. Two of the three sources are new discoveries. Using these observations, we identified common observational properties (radio morphology, ultra-steep spectrum, X-ray luminosity, dynamical state) that will enable us to identify this class of sources more easily, and help to understand the physical origin of these sources.

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A probabilistic approach to direction-dependent ionospheric calibration

Calibrating for direction-dependent ionospheric distortions in visibility data is one of the main technical challenges that must be overcome to advance low-frequency radio astronomy. In this paper, we propose a novel probabilistic, tomographic approach that utilises Gaussian processes to calibrate direction-dependent ionospheric phase distortions in low-frequency interferometric data. We suggest that the ionospheric free electron density can be modelled to good approximation by a Gaussian process restricted to a thick single layer, and show that under this assumption the differential total electron content must also be a Gaussian process. We perform a comparison with a number of other widely successful Gaussian processes on simulated differential total electron contents over a wide range of experimental conditions, and find that, in all experimental conditions, our model is better able to represent observed data and generalise to unseen data. The mean equivalent source shift imposed by our predictive errors are half as large as the best competitor model's. We find that it is possible to partially constrain the ionosphere's hyperparameters from sparse-and-noisy observed data. Our model provides an alternative explanation for observed phase structure functions deviating from Kolmogorov's 5/3 turbulence, turnover at high baselines, and diffractive scale anisotropy. We show that our model implicitly cheaply performs tomography of the free electron density. Moreover, we find that even a fast, low-resolution approximation to our model yields better results than the best alternative Gaussian process, implying that the geometric coupling between directions and antennae is a powerful prior that should not be ignored.

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Growth and disruption in the Lyra complex

Nearby clusters of galaxies, z<0.1, are cosmic structures still under formation. Understanding the thermodynamic properties of merging clusters can provide crucial information on how they grow in the local universe. A detailed study of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) properties of un-relaxed systems is essential to understand the fate of in-falling structures and, more generally, the virialization process. We analyzed a mosaic of XMM-Newton observations (240 ks) of the Lyra system (z=0.067) that shows a complex dynamical state. We find the main cluster RXC J1825.3+3026 to be in a late merger phase, whereas its companion CIZA J1824.1+3029 is a relaxed cool-core cluster. We estimate a mass ratio of ~1:2 for the pair. No diffuse X-ray emission is found in the region between them, indicating that these clusters are in a pre-merger phase. We found evidence of a galaxy group infalling on RXC J1825.3+3026 in an advanced state of disruption. The Southern Galaxy, one of the brightest galaxies in the Lyra complex, was very likely at the center of the infalling group. This galaxy has a gaseous corona indicating that it was able to retain some of its gas after the ram-pressure stripping of the intra-group medium. In this scenario the diffuse emission excess observed southwest of RXC J1825.3+3026 could be due to gas once belonging to the group and/or to cluster ICM dislocated by the passage of the group. Finally, we identified three high-velocity galaxies aligned between RXC J1825.3+3026 and the SG, two of these showing evidence of gas stripped from them during infall. We estimate them to be currently falling onto the main cluster at an infall velocity of ~ 3000 km/s. Our study of the Lyra complex provides important clues about the processes presiding over the virialization of massive clusters in the local Universe.

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Particle re-acceleration and Faraday-complex structures in the RXC J1314.4-2515 galaxy cluster

Radio relics are sites of electron (re)acceleration in merging galaxy clusters but the mechanism of acceleration and the topology of the magnetic field in and near relics are yet to be understood. We are carrying out an observational campaign on double relic galaxy clusters starting with RXC J1314.4-2515. With $Jansky Very Large Array$ multi-configuration observations in the frequency range 1-4 GHz, we perform both spectral and polarization analyses, using the Rotation Measure synthesis technique. We use archival $XMM-Newton$ observations to constrain the properties of the shocked region. We discover a possible connection between the activity of a radio galaxy and the emission of the eastern radio relic. In the northern elongated arc of the western radio relic, we detect polarized emission with an average polarization fraction of $31 \ \%$ at 3 GHz and we derive the Mach number of the underlying X-ray shock. Our observations reveal low levels of fractional polarization and Faraday-complex structures in the southern region of the relic, which point to the presence of thermal gas and filamentary magnetic field morphology inside the radio emitting volume. We measured largely different Rotation Measure dispersion from the two relics. Finally, we use cosmological magneto-hydrodynamical simulations to constrain the magnetic field, viewing angle, and to derive the acceleration efficiency of the shock. We find that the polarization properties of RXC J1314.4-2515 are consistent with a radio relic observed at $70^{\circ}$ with respect to the line of sight and that efficient re-acceleration of fossil electrons has taken place.

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Particle acceleration in a nearby galaxy cluster pair: the role of cluster dynamics

Diffuse radio emission associated with the intra-cluster medium (ICM) is observed in a number of merging galaxy clusters. It is currently believed that in mergers a fraction of the kinetic energy is channeled into non-thermal components, such as turbulence, cosmic rays and magnetic fields, that may lead to the formation of giant synchrotron sources in the ICM. Studying merging galaxy clusters in different evolutionary phases is fundamental to understanding the origin of radio emission in the ICM. We observed the nearby galaxy cluster pair RXC J1825.3+3026 ($z\sim0.065$) and CIZA J1824.1+3029 ($z\sim0.071$) at 120-168 MHz with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) and made use of a deep (240 ks) XMM-Newton dataset to study the non-thermal and thermal properties of the system. RXC J1825.3+3026 is in a complex dynamical state, with a primary on-going merger in the E-W direction and a secondary later stage merger with a group of galaxies in the SW, while CIZA J1824.1+3029 is dynamically relaxed. These two clusters are in a pre-merger phase. We report the discovery of a Mpc-scale radio halo with a low surface brightness extension in RXC J1825.3+3026 that follows the X-ray emission from the cluster center to the remnant of a galaxy group in the SW. This is among the least massive systems and the faintest giant radio halo known to date. Contrary to this, no diffuse radio emission is observed in CIZA J1824.1+3029 nor in the region between the pre-merger cluster pair. The power spectra of the X-ray surface brightness fluctuations of RXC J1825.3+3026 and CIZA J1824.1+3029 are in agreement with the findings for clusters exhibiting a radio halo and the ones where no radio emission has been detected, respectively. We provide quantitative support to the idea that cluster mergers play a crucial role in the generation of non-thermal components in the ICM.

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LOFAR discovery of a radio halo in the high-redshift galaxy cluster PSZ2 G099.86+58.45

In this Letter, we report the discovery of a radio halo in the high-redshift galaxy cluster PSZ2 G099.86+58.45 ($z=0.616$) with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) at 120-168 MHz. This is one of the most distant radio halos discovered so far. The diffuse emission extends over $\sim$ 1 Mpc and has a morphology similar to that of the X-ray emission as revealed by XMM-Newton data. The halo is very faint at higher frequencies and is barely detected by follow-up 1-2 GHz Karl G.~Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) observations, which enable us to constrain the radio spectral index to be $α\leq 1.5-1.6$, i.e.; with properties between canonical and ultra-steep spectrum radio halos. Radio halos are currently explained as synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons that are re-accelerated in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) by turbulence driven by energetic mergers. We show that in such a framework radio halos are expected to be relatively common at $\sim150$ MHz ($\sim30-60\%$) in clusters with mass and redshift similar to PSZ2 G099.86+58.45; however, at least 2/3 of these radio halos should have steep spectrum and thus be very faint above $\sim 1$ GHz frequencies. Furthermore, since the luminosity of radio halos at high redshift depends strongly on the magnetic field strength in the hosting clusters, future LOFAR observations will also provide vital information on the origin and amplification of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters.

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NGC 326: X-shaped no more

We present new 144-MHz LOFAR observations of the prototypical `X-shaped' radio galaxy NGC 326, which show that the formerly known wings of the radio lobes extend smoothly into a large-scale, complex radio structure. We argue that this structure is most likely the result of hydrodynamical effects in an ongoing group or cluster merger, for which pre-existing X-ray and optical data provide independent evidence. The large-scale radio structure is hard to explain purely in terms of jet reorientation due to the merger of binary black holes, a previously proposed explanation for the inner structure of NGC 326. For this reason, we suggest that the simplest model is one in which the merger-related hydrodynamical processes account for all the source structure, though we do not rule out the possibility that a black hole merger has occurred. Inference of the black hole-black hole merger rate from observations of X-shaped sources should be carried out with caution in the absence of deep, sensitive low-frequency observations. Some X-shaped sources may be signposts of cluster merger activity, and it would be useful to investigate the environments of these objects more generally.

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Signatures from a merging galaxy cluster and its AGN population: LOFAR observations of Abell 1682

We present LOFAR data from 110--180~MHz of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 1682, alongside archival optical, radio and X-ray data. Our 6 arc-second resolution images at low frequencies reveal new structures associated with numerous radio galaxies in the cluster. At 20 arc-second resolution we see diffuse emission throughout the cluster over hundreds of kpc, indicating particle acceleration mechanisms are in play as a result of the cluster merger event and powerful active galactic nuclei. We show that a significant part of the cluster emission is from an old radio galaxy with very steep spectrum emission (having a spectral index of $α< -2.5$). Furthermore we identify a new region of diffuse steep spectrum emission ($α< -1.1$) as a candidate for a radio halo which is co-spatial with the centre of the cluster merger. We suggest its origin as a population of old and mildly relativistic electrons left over from radio galaxies throughout the cluster which have been re-accelerated to higher energies by shocks and turbulence induced by the cluster merger event. We also note the discovery of six new giant radio galaxies in the vicinity of Abell 1682.

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A radio ridge connecting two galaxy clusters in a filament of the cosmic web

Galaxy clusters are the most massive gravitationally bound structures in the Universe. They grow by accreting smaller structures in a merging process that produces shocks and turbulence in the intra-cluster gas. We observed a ridge of radio emission connecting the merging galaxy clusters Abell 0399 and Abell 0401 with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) at 140 MHz. This emission requires a population of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field located in a filament between the two galaxy clusters. We performed simulations to show that a volume-filling distribution of weak shocks may re-accelerate a pre-existing population of relativistic particles, producing emission at radio wavelengths that illuminates the magnetic ridge.

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Inquiring into the nature of the Abell 2667 Brightest Cluster Galaxy: physical properties from MUSE

Based on HST and MUSE data, we probe the stellar and gas properties (i.e. kinematics, stellar mass, star formation rate) of the radio-loud brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) located at the centre of the X-ray luminous cool core cluster Abell 2667 (z = 0.2343). The bi-dimensional modelling of the BCG surface brightness profile reveals the presence of a complex system of substructures extending all around the galaxy. Clumps of different size and shape plunged into a more diffuse component constitute these substructures, whose intense 'blue' optical colour hints to the presence of a young stellar population. Our results depict the BCG as a massive (M_star ~ 1.38 x 10^11 M_sun) dispersion-supported spheroid (v_star < 150 km/s, sigma_0 ~ 216 km/s) hosting an active supermassive black hole (M_SMBH ~ 3.8 x 10^9 M_sun) whose optical features are typical of low ionisation nuclear emission line regions. Although the velocity pattern of the stars in the BCG is irregular, the stellar kinematics in the regions of the clumps show a positive velocity of ~ 100 km/s, similarly to the gas component. An analysis of the mechanism giving rise to the observed lines in the clumps through empirical diagnostic diagrams points out that the emission is composite, suggesting the contribution from both star formation and AGN. We conclude our analysis describing how scenarios of both chaotic cold accretion and merging with a gas-rich disc galaxy can efficaciously explain the phenomena the BCG is undergoing.

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A Massive Cluster at z = 0.288 Caught in the Process of Formation: The Case of Abell 959

The largest galaxy clusters are observed still to be forming through major cluster-cluster mergers, often showing observational signatures such as radio relics and giant radio haloes. Using LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey data, we present new detections of both a radio halo (with a spectral index of $α_{143}^{1400}=1.48^{+0.06}_{-0.23}$) and a likely radio relic in Abell 959, a massive cluster at a redshift of z=0.288. Using a sample of clusters with giant radio haloes from the literature (80 in total), we show that the radio halo in A959 lies reasonably well on the scaling relations between the thermal and non-thermal power of the system. Additionally, we find evidence that steep-spectrum haloes tend to reside in clusters with high X-ray luminosities relative to those expected from cluster LM scaling relations, indicating that such systems may preferentially lie at an earlier stage of the merger, consistent with the theory that some steep-spectrum haloes result from low-turbulence mergers. Lastly, we find that halo systems containing radio relics tend to lie at lower X-ray luminosities, relative to those expected from cluster LM scaling relations, for a given halo radio power than those without relics, suggesting that the presence of relics indicates a later stage of the merger, in line with simulations.

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Anatomy of a Cooling Flow: The Feedback Response to Pure Cooling in the Core of the Phoenix Cluster

We present new, deep observations of the Phoenix cluster from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Karl Jansky Very Large Array. These data provide an order of magnitude improvement in depth and/or angular resolution at X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths, yielding an unprecedented view of the core of the Phoenix cluster. We find that the one-dimensional temperature and entropy profiles are consistent with expectations for pure-cooling hydrodynamic simulations and analytic descriptions of homogeneous, steady-state cooling flow models. In the inner ~10 kpc, the cooling time is shorter by an order of magnitude than any other known cluster, while the ratio of the cooling time to freefall time approaches unity, signaling that the ICM is unable to resist multiphase condensation on kpc scales. When we consider the thermodynamic profiles in two dimensions, we find that the cooling is highly asymmetric. The bulk of the cooling in the inner ~20 kpc is confined to a low-entropy filament extending northward from the central galaxy. We detect a substantial reservoir of cool (10^4 K) gas (as traced by the [OII] doublet), which is coincident with the low-entropy filament. The bulk of this cool gas is draped around and behind a pair of X-ray cavities, presumably bubbles that have been inflated by radio jets, which are detected for the first time on kpc scales. These data support a picture in which AGN feedback is promoting the formation of a multiphase medium via a combination of ordered buoyant uplift and locally enhanced turbulence. These processes ought to counteract the tendency for buoyancy to suppress condensation, leading to rapid cooling along the jet axis. The recent mechanical outburst has sufficient energy to offset cooling, and appears to be coupling to the ICM via a cocoon shock, raising the entropy in the direction orthogonal to the radio jets.

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Multi-wavelength Analysis of the Merging Galaxy Cluster A115

A115 is a merging galaxy cluster at $z\sim0.2$ with a number of remarkable features including a giant ($\sim2.5$ Mpc) radio relic, two asymmetric X-ray peaks with trailing tails, and a peculiar line-of-sight velocity structure. We present a multi-wavelength study of A115 using optical imaging data from Subaru, X-ray data from $Chandra$, and spectroscopic data from the Keck/DEIMOS and MMT/Hectospec instruments. Our weak-lensing analysis shows that the cluster is comprised of two subclusters whose mass centroids are in excellent agreement with the two BCG positions ($\lesssim10$"). By modeling A115 with a superposition of two Navarro-Frenk-White halos, we determine the masses of the northern and southern subclusters to be $M_{200}=1.58_{-0.49}^{+0.56}\times 10^{14} \text{M}_{\odot}$ and $3.15_{-0.71}^{+0.79}\times 10^{14} \text{M}_{\odot}$, respectively. Combining the two halos, we estimate the total cluster mass to be $M_{200}=6.41_{-1.04}^{+1.08}\times10^{14} \text{M}_{\odot}$ at $R_{200}=1.67_{-0.09}^{+0.10}$ Mpc. These weak-lensing masses are significantly (a factor of 3-10) lower than what is implied by the X-ray and optical spectroscopic data. We attribute the difference to the gravitational and hydrodynamic disruption caused by the collision between the two subclusters.

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Evidence for a merger induced shock wave in ZwCl\,0008.8+5215 with {\it Chandra} and {\it Suzaku}

We present the results from new deep {\it Chandra} ($\sim410$~ks) and {\it Suzaku} ($\sim180$ ks) observations of the merging galaxy cluster ZwCl\,0008.8+5215 ($z=0.104$). Previous radio observations revealed the presence of a double radio relic located diametrically west and east of the cluster center. Using our new {\it Chandra} data, we find evidence for the presence of a shock at the location of the western relic, RW, with a Mach number $\mathcal{M}_{S_X}=1.48^{+0.50}_{-0.32}$ from the density jump. We also measure $\mathcal{M}_{T_X}=2.35^{+0.74}_{-0.55}$ and $\mathcal{M}_{T_X}=2.02^{+0.74}_{-0.47}$ from the temperature jump, with {\it Chandra} and {\it Suzaku} respectively. These values are consistent with the Mach number estimate from a previous study of the radio spectral index, under the assumption of diffusive shock acceleration ($\mathcal{M}_{\rm RW}=2.4^{+0.4}_{-0.2}$). Interestingly, the western radio relic does not entirely trace the X-ray shock. A possible explanation is that the relic traces fossil plasma from nearby radio galaxies which is re-accelerated at the shock. For the eastern relic we do not detect an X-ray surface brightness discontinuity, despite the fact that radio observations suggest a shock with $\mathcal{M}_{\rm RE}=2.2^{+0.2}_{-0.1}$. The low surface brightness and reduced integration time for this region might have prevented the detection. {\it Chandra} surface brightness profile suggests $\mathcal{M}\lesssim1.5$, while {\it Suzaku} temperature measurements found $\mathcal{M}_{T_X}=1.54^{+0.65}_{-0.47}$. Finally, we also detect a merger induced cold front on the western side of the cluster, behind the shock that traces the western relic.

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Diffuse Radio Emission from Galaxy Clusters

In a growing number of galaxy clusters diffuse extended radio sources have been found. These sources are not directly associated with individual cluster galaxies. The radio emission reveal the presence of cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the intracluster medium (ICM). We classify diffuse cluster radio sources into radio halos, cluster radio shocks (relics), and revived AGN fossil plasma sources. Radio halo sources can be further divided into giant halos, mini-halos, and possible `intermediate' sources. Halos are generally positioned at cluster center and their brightness approximately follows the distribution of the thermal ICM. Cluster radio shocks (relics) are polarized sources mostly found in the cluster's periphery. They trace merger induced shock waves. Revived fossil plasma sources are characterized by their radio steep-spectra and often irregular morphologies. In this review we give an overview of the properties of diffuse cluster radio sources, with an emphasis on recent observational results. We discuss the resulting implications for the underlying physical acceleration processes that operate in the ICM, the role of relativistic fossil plasma, and the properties of ICM shocks and magnetic fields. We also compile an updated list of diffuse cluster radio sources which will be available on-line http://galaxyclusters.com. We end this review with a discussion on the detection of diffuse radio emission from the cosmic web.

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Ultra-steep spectrum emission in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 1914

A number of radio observations have revealed the presence of large synchrotron-emitting sources associated with the intra-cluster medium. There is strong observational evidence that the emitting particles have been (re-)accelerated by shocks and turbulence generated during merger events. The particles that are accelerated are thought to have higher initial energies than those in the thermal pool but the origin of such mildly relativistic particles remains uncertain and needs to be further investigated. The galaxy cluster Abell 1914 is a massive galaxy cluster in which X-ray observations show clear evidence of merging activity. We carried out radio observations of this cluster with the LOw Frequency ARay (LOFAR) at 150 MHz and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 610 MHz. We also analysed Very Large Array (VLA) 1.4 GHz data, archival GMRT 325 MHz data, CFHT weak lensing data and Chandra observations. Our analysis shows that the ultra-steep spectrum source (4C38.39; $α\lesssim -2$), previously thought to be part of a radio halo, is a distinct source with properties that are consistent with revived fossil plasma sources. Finally, we detect some diffuse emission to the west of the source 4C38.39 that could belong to a radio halo.

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The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - II. First data release

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is an ongoing sensitive, high-resolution 120-168MHz survey of the entire northern sky for which observations are now 20% complete. We present our first full-quality public data release. For this data release 424 square degrees, or 2% of the eventual coverage, in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45$^\circ$00$'$00$''$ to 57$^\circ$00$'$00$''$) were mapped using a fully automated direction-dependent calibration and imaging pipeline that we developed. A total of 325,694 sources are detected with a signal of at least five times the noise, and the source density is a factor of $\sim 10$ higher than the most sensitive existing very wide-area radio-continuum surveys. The median sensitivity is S$_{\rm 144 MHz} = 71\,μ$Jy beam$^{-1}$ and the point-source completeness is 90% at an integrated flux density of 0.45mJy. The resolution of the images is 6$''$ and the positional accuracy is within 0.2$''$. This data release consists of a catalogue containing location, flux, and shape estimates together with 58 mosaic images that cover the catalogued area. In this paper we provide an overview of the data release with a focus on the processing of the LOFAR data and the characteristics of the resulting images. In two accompanying papers we provide the radio source associations and deblending and, where possible, the optical identifications of the radio sources together with the photometric redshifts and properties of the host galaxies. These data release papers are published together with a further $\sim$20 articles that highlight the scientific potential of LoTSS.

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