Low-frequency observations of the giant radio galaxy NGC 6251:
- Authors: Cantwell, T M , Bray, J D , Croston, J H , Scaife, A M M , Mulcahy, D D , Best, P N , Brüggen, M , Brunetti, G , Callingham, J R , Clarke, A O , Hardcastle, M J , Harwood, J J , Heald, G , Heesen, V , Iacobelli, M , Jamrozy, M , Morganti, R , Orru, E , O’Sullivan, S P , Riseley, C J , Röttgering, H J A , Shulevski, A , Sridhar, S S , Tasse, C , Van Eck, C L
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149931 , vital:38913 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/mnras/staa1160
- Description: We present LOFAR observations at 150 MHz of the borderline FRI/FRII giant radio galaxy NGC 6251. This paper presents the most sensitive and highest resolution images of NGC 6251 at these frequencies to date, revealing for the first time a low-surface-brightness extension to the northern lobe, and a possible backflow associated with the southern lobe. The integrated spectra of components of NGC 6251 are consistent with previous measurements at higher frequencies, similar to results from other LOFAR studies of nearby radio galaxies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
M 87 at metre wavelengths: the LOFAR picture
- Authors: Smirnov, Oleg M , De Gasperin, F , Orrú, E , Murgia, M , Merloni, A , Falcke, H , Beck, R , Beswick, R , Bîrzan, L , Bonafede, A , Brüggen, M
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: radiation mechanisms: non-thermal, galaxies: active, galaxies: individual: M 87, galaxies: clusters: individual: Virgo, galaxies: jets, radio continuum: galaxies
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6821 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004434
- Description: Context.M 87 is a giant elliptical galaxy located in the centre of the Virgo cluster, which harbours a supermassive black hole of mass 6.4 × 109 M⊙, whose activity is responsible for the extended (80 kpc) radio lobes that surround the galaxy. The energy generated by matter falling onto the central black hole is ejected and transferred to the intra-cluster medium via a relativistic jet and morphologically complex systems of buoyant bubbles, which rise towards the edges of the extended halo. Aims. To place constraints on past activity cycles of the active nucleus, images of M 87 were produced at low radio frequencies never explored before at these high spatial resolution and dynamic range. To disentangle different synchrotron models and place constraints on source magnetic field, age and energetics, we also performed a detailed spectral analysis of M 87 extended radio-halo. Methods. We present the first observations made with the new Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) of M 87 at frequencies down to 20 MHz. Three observations were conducted, at 15−30 MHz, 30−77 MHz and 116−162 MHz. We used these observations together with archival data to produce a low-frequency spectral index map and to perform a spectral analysis in the wide frequency range 30 MHz–10 GHz. Results. We do not find any sign of new extended emissions; on the contrary the source appears well confined by the high pressure of the intra-cluster medium. A continuous injection of relativistic electrons is the model that best fits our data, and provides a scenario in which the lobes are still supplied by fresh relativistic particles from the active galactic nuclei. We suggest that the discrepancy between the low-frequency radio-spectral slope in the core and in the halo implies a strong adiabatic expansion of the plasma as soon as it leaves the core area. The extended halo has an equipartition magnetic field strength of ≃10 μG, which increases to ≃13 μG in the zones where the particle flows are more active. The continuous injection model for synchrotron ageing provides an age for the halo of ≃40 Myr, which in turn provides a jet kinetic power of 6−10 × 1044 erg s-1.
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- Date Issued: 2012