Cluster magnetic fields from galactic outflows

We performed cosmological, magnetohydrodynamical simulations to follow the evolution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters, exploring the possibility that the origin of the magnetic seed fields is galactic outflows during the starburst phase of galactic evolution. To do this, we coupled a semi-analytical model for magnetized galactic winds as suggested by Bertone, Vogt & Enßlin to our cosmological simulation. We find that the strength and structure of magnetic fields observed in galaxy clusters are well reproduced for a wide range of model parameters for the magnetized, galactic winds and do only weakly depend on the exact magnetic structure within the assumed galactic outflows. Although the evolution of a primordial magnetic seed field shows no significant differences to that of galaxy cluster fields from previous studies, we find that the magnetic field pollution in the diffuse medium within filaments is below the level predicted by scenarios with pure primordial magnetic seed field. We therefore conclude that magnetized galactic outflows and their subsequent evolution within the intracluster medium can fully account for the observed magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. Our findings also suggest that measuring cosmological magnetic fields in low-density environments such as filaments is much more useful than observing cluster magnetic fields to infer their possible origin.     

Exploring the magnetized cosmic web through low-frequency radio emission

Recent improvements in the capabilities of low-frequency radio telescopes provide a unique opportunity to study thermal and non-thermal properties of the cosmic web. We argue that the diffuse, polarized emission from giant radio relics traces structure formation shock waves and illuminates the large-scale magnetic field. To show this, we model the population of shock-accelerated relativistic electrons in high-resolution cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters and calculate the resulting radio synchrotron emission. We find that individual shock waves correspond to localized peaks in the radio surface brightness map which enables us to measure Mach numbers for these shocks. We show that the luminosities and number counts of the relics strongly depend on the magnetic field properties, the cluster mass and dynamical state. By suitably combining different cluster data, including Faraday rotation measures, we are able to constrain some macroscopic parameters of the plasma at the structure formation shocks, such as models of turbulence. We also predict upper limits for the properties of the warm-hot intergalactic medium, such as its temperature and density. We predict that the current generation of radio telescopes [Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), Giant Meter Radio Telescope (GMRT), the Murchison Wide-field Array (MWA) and Long Wavelength Array (LWA)] have the potential to discover a substantially larger sample of radio relics, with multiple relics expected for each violently merging cluster. Future experiments [(Square Kilometre Array (SKA)] should enable us to further probe the macroscopic parameters of plasma physics in clusters.     

Lofar

H01 A first glance at LOFAR: Experience with the Initial Test Station H02 The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) – Status and Prospects H03 LOFAR calibration: confrontation with real WSRT data H04 Simulations of magnetic fields in the cosmos H05 RM structure in the polarized synchrotron emission from our Galaxy and the Perseus cluster of Galaxies H06 Mapping the Reionization Era through the 21 cm Emission Line H07 Spiral galaxies seen with LOFAR H08 Software Infrastructure for Distributed Data Processing H09 The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) – Status and Prospects H10 Coincident cosmic ray measurements with LOPES and KASCADE‐Grande H11 Radio relics in a cosmological cluster merger simulation H12 Detection of radio pulses from cosmic ray air showers with LOPES H13 Geosynchrotron radio emission from extensive air showers H14 Imaging capabilities of future radio telescopes H15 Digital signal processing system of Multi‐Beam Meter Wavelengths Array. H16 The Multi‐Beam Meter Wavelengths Array H17 Monitoring of the Solar Activity by LOFAR H18 Calibration of LOPES30 H19 An Outreach Project for LOFAR and Cosmic Ray Detection H20 Galactic tomography based on observations with LOFAR and Effelsberg H21 150 MHz observations with the Westerbork and GMRT radio telescopes of Abell 2256 and the Bootes field: Ultra‐steep spectrum radio sources as probes of cluster and galaxy evolution H22 Experience of simultaneous observations with two independent multi‐beams of the Large Phased Array H23 GRID Computing at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe suitable for LOFAR     

Can simulations reproduce the observed temperature–mass relation for clusters of galaxies?

It has become increasingly apparent that traditional hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters are unable to reproduce the observed properties of galaxy clusters, in particular overpredicting the mass corresponding to a given cluster temperature. Such overestimation may lead to systematic errors in results using galaxy clusters as cosmological probes, such as constraints on the density perturbation normalization σ ₈. In this paper we demonstrate that inclusion of additional gas physics, namely radiative cooling and a possible pre-heating of gas prior to cluster formation, is able to bring the temperature–mass relation in the innermost parts of clusters into good agreement with recent determinations by Allen, Schmidt & Fabian using Chandra data.     

Stability of magnetic equilibria in radio bubbles

Current-carrying flows, in the laboratory and in astrophysical jets, can form remarkably stable magnetic structures. Decades of experience show that such flows often build equilibria that reverse field directions, evolving to a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Taylor state, which has remarkable stability properties. We model jets and the magnetic bubbles they build as reversed-field pinch equilibria by assuming the driver current to be stiff in the MHD sense. Taking the jet current as rigid and a fixed function of position, we prove a theorem: that the same, simple MHD stability conditions guarantee stability, even after the jet turns off. This means that magnetic structures harbouring a massive inventory of magnetic energy can persist long after the building jet current has died away. These may be the relic radio 'fossils', 'ghost bubbles' or 'magnetic balloons' found in clusters. These equilibria, which are under magnetic tension, will evolve, retaining the stability properties from that state. The remaining fossil is not a disordered ball of magnetic fields, but a stable structure under tension, able to respond to the slings and arrows of outside forces. Typically their Alfvén speeds greatly exceed the cluster sound speed, and so they can keep out hot cluster plasma, leading to X-ray ghosts. Passing shocks cannot easily destroy them, but can energize and light them up anew at radio frequencies. Bubbles can rise in the hot cluster plasma, perhaps detaching from the parent radio galaxy but stable against Rayleigh–Taylor and other modes.     

Radio signature of cosmological structure formation shocks

In the course of the formation of cosmological structures, large shock waves are generated in the intracluster medium (ICM). In analogy to processes in supernova remnants, these shock waves may generate a significant population of relativistic electrons which, in turn, produce observable synchrotron emission. The extended radio relics found at the periphery of several clusters and possibly also a fraction of radio halo emission may have this origin. Here, we derive an analytic expression for (i) the total radio power in the downstream region of a cosmological shock wave, and (ii) the width of the radio-emitting region. These expressions predict a spectral slope close to −1 for strong shocks. Moderate shocks, such as those produced in mergers between clusters of galaxies, lead to a somewhat steeper spectrum. Moreover, we predict an upper limit for the radio power of cosmological shocks. Comparing our results to the radio relics in Abell 115, 2256 and 3667, we conclude that the magnetic field in these relics is typically at a level of 0.1 μG. Magnetic fields in the ICM are presumably generated by the shocks themselves; this allows us to calculate the radio emission as a function of the cluster temperature. The resulting emissions agree very well with the radio power–temperature relation found for cluster haloes. Finally, we show that cosmic accretion shocks generate less radio emission than merger shock waves. The latter may, however, be detected with upcoming radio telescopes.     

Interactions of radio galaxies and the intracluster medium in Abell 160 and Abell 2462

We present Chandra and Very Large Array observations of two galaxy clusters, Abell 160 and Abell 2462, whose brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) host wide angle tailed radio galaxies (WATs). We search for evidence of interactions between the radio emission and the hot, X-ray emitting gas, and we test various jet termination models. We find that both clusters have cool BCGs at the cluster centre, and that the scale of these cores (∼30–40 kpc for both sources) is of approximately the same scale as the length of the radio jets. For both sources, the jet flaring point is coincident with a steepening in the host cluster's temperature gradient, and similar results are found for 3C 465 and Hydra A. However, none of the published models of WAT formation offers a satisfactory explanation as to why this may be the case. Therefore, it is unclear what causes the sudden transition between the jet and the plume. Without accurate modelling, we cannot ascertain whether the steepening of the temperature gradient is the main cause of the transition, or merely a tracer of an underlying process.     

Clustering of galaxies around radio quasars at 0.5≤z≤0.8

We have observed the galaxy environments around a sample of 21 radio-loud, steep-spectrum quasars at 0.5≤ z ≤0.82, spanning several orders of magnitude in radio luminosity. The observations also include background control fields used to obtain the excess number of galaxies in each quasar field. The galaxy excess was quantified using the spatial galaxy–quasar correlation amplitude, B _gq, and an Abell-type measurement, N _0.5. A few quasars are found in relatively rich clusters, but on average, they seem to prefer galaxy groups or clusters of approximately Abell class 0. We have combined our sample with literature samples extending down to z ≈0.2 and covering the same range in radio luminosity. By using the Spearman statistic to disentangle redshift and luminosity dependences, we detect a weak, but significant, positive correlation between the richness of the quasar environment and the radio luminosity of the quasar. However, we do not find any epoch dependence in B _gq, as has previously been reported for radio quasars and galaxies. We discuss the radio luminosity–cluster richness link and possible explanations for the weak correlation that is seen.     

Radio haloes from simulations and hadronic models – I. The Coma cluster

We use the results from a constrained, cosmological magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the Local Universe to predict the radio halo and the γ-ray flux from the Coma cluster and compare it to current observations. The simulated magnetic field within the Coma cluster is the result of turbulent amplification of the magnetic field during the build-up of the cluster. The magnetic seed field originates from starburst driven, galactic outflows. The synchrotron emission is calculated assuming a hadronic model. We follow four approaches with different distributions for the cosmic ray proton population within galaxy clusters. The radial profile of the radio halo can only be reproduced with a radially increasing energy fraction within the cosmic ray proton population, reaching >100 per cent of the thermal-energy content at ≈1 Mpc, for example the edge of the radio-emitting region. Additionally, the spectral steepening of the observed radio halo in Coma cannot be reproduced, even when accounting for the negative flux from the thermal Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect at high frequencies. Therefore, the hadronic models are disfavoured from the present analysis. The emission of γ-rays expected from our simulated Coma is still below the current observational limits (by a factor of ∼6) but would be detectable by FERMI observations in the near future.     

The formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies in different cosmogonies

The formation of galaxy clusters in hierarchically clustering universes is investigated by means of high-resolution N -body simulations. The simulations are performed using a newly developed multimass scheme which combines a PM code with a high-resolution N -body code. Numerical effects resulting from time-stepping and gravitational softening are investigated, as well as the influence of the simulation box size and of the assumed boundary conditions. Special emphasis is laid on the formation process and the influence of various cosmological parameters. Cosmogonies with massive neutrinos are also considered. Differences between clusters in the same cosmological model seem to dominate over differences caused by differing background cosmogony. The cosmological model can alter the time evolution of cluster collapse, but the merging pattern remains fairly similar, e.g. the number of mergers and the mass ratio of mergers. The gross properties of a halo, such as its size and total angular momentum, also evolve in a similar manner for all cosmogonies, and can be described using analytical models. It is shown that the density distribution of a halo shows a characteristic radial dependence which follows a power law with a slope of =1 at small radii and =3 at large radii, independent of the background cosmogony or the considered redshift. The shape of the density profiles follows the generic form proposed by Navarro et al. for all hierarchically clustering scenarios, and retains very little information about the formation process or the cosmological model. Only the central matter concentration of a halo is correlated with the formation time and therefore the corresponding cosmogony. We emphasize the role of non-radial motions of the halo particles in the evolution of the density profile.     

The cluster environments of the z ∼ 1 3CR radio galaxies

An analysis of the environments around a sample of 28 3CR radio galaxies with redshifts 0.6< z <1.8 is presented, based primarily upon K -band images down to K ∼20 taken using the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). A net overdensity of K -band galaxies is found in the fields of the radio galaxies, with the mean excess counts being comparable to that expected for clusters of Abell Class 0 richness. A sharp peak is found in the angular cross-correlation amplitude centred on the radio galaxies that, for reasonable assumptions about the luminosity function of the galaxies, corresponds to a spatial cross-correlation amplitude between those determined for low-redshift Abell Class 0 and 1 clusters.
These data are complemented by J -band images also from UKIRT, and by optical images from the Hubble Space Telescope . The fields of the lower redshift ( z ≲0.9) radio galaxies in the sample generally show well-defined near-infrared colour–magnitude relations with little scatter, indicating a significant number of galaxies at the redshift of the radio galaxy; the relations involving colours at shorter wavelengths than the 4000 Å break show considerably greater scatter, suggesting that many of the cluster galaxies have low levels of recent or on-going star formation. At higher redshifts the colour–magnitude sequences are less prominent owing to the increased field galaxy contribution at faint magnitudes, but there is a statistical excess of galaxies with the very red infrared colours ( J − K ≳1.75) expected of old cluster galaxies at these redshifts.
Although these results are appropriate for the mean of all of the radio galaxy fields, there exist large field-to-field variations in the richness of the environments. Many, but certainly not all, powerful z ∼1 radio galaxies lie in (proto)cluster environments.     

Spatial clustering of Ultra Steep Spectrum sources and galaxies

We present measurements of the clustering properties of galaxies in the field of redshift range 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 1.5 Ultra Steep Spectrum radio sources selected from the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey and the National Radio Astronomy Observatories Very Large Array Sky Survey. Galaxies in these USS fields were identified in deep near-infrared observations, complete down to   K _s= 20  , using the IRIS2 instrument at the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We used the redshift distribution of   K _s < 20  galaxies taken from Cimatti et al. (2002) to constrain the correlation length r ₀. We find a strong correlation signal of galaxies with   K _s < 20  around our USS sample. A comoving correlation length   r ₀= 14.0 ± 2.8  h ⁻¹ Mpc  and γ= 1.98 ± 0.15 are derived in a flat cosmological model universe.
We compare our findings with those obtained in a cosmological N -body simulation populated with galform semi-analytic galaxies. We find that clusters of galaxies with masses in the range   M = 10^13.4–14.2  h ⁻¹ M_⊙  have a cluster–galaxy cross-correlation amplitude comparable to those found between the USS hosts and galaxies. These results suggest that distant radio galaxies are excellent tracers of galaxy overdensities and pinpoint the progenitors of present day rich clusters of galaxies.     

A diffuse bubble-like radio-halo source MRC 0116+111: imprint of AGN feedback in a low-mass cluster of galaxies

We present detailed observations of MRC 0116+111, revealing a luminous, miniradio halo of ∼240-kpc diameter located at the centre of a cluster of galaxies at redshift   z = 0.131  . Our optical and multiwavelength Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and Very Large Array radio observations reveal a highly unusual radio source: showing a pair of giant (∼100-kpc diameter) bubble-like diffuse structures, that are about three times larger than the analogous extended radio emission observed in M87 – the dominant central radio galaxy in the Virgo cluster. However, in MRC 0116+111 we do not detect any ongoing active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, such as a compact core or active radio jets feeding the plasma bubbles. The radio emitting relativistic particles and magnetic fields were probably seeded in the past by a pair of radio jets originating in the AGN of the central cD galaxy. The extremely steep high-frequency radio spectrum of the north-western bubble, located ∼100 kpc from cluster centre, indicates radiation losses, possibly because having detached, it is rising buoyantly and moving away into the putative hot intracluster medium. The other bubble, closer to the cluster centre, shows signs of ongoing particle re-acceleration. We estimate that the radio jets which inflated these two bubbles might have also fed enough energy into the intracluster medium to create an enormous system of cavities and shock fronts, and to drive a massive outflow from the AGN, which could counter-balance and even quench a cooling flow. Therefore, this source presents an excellent opportunity to understand the energetics and the dynamical evolution of radio jet inflated plasma bubbles in the hot cluster atmosphere.     

Radio properties of the Shapley Concentration – III. Merging clusters in the A3558 complex

We present the results of a 22-cm radio survey carried out with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) covering the A3558 complex, a chain formed by the merging ACO clusters A3556–A3558–A3562 and the two groups SC 1327−312 and SC 1323−313, located in the central region of the Shapley Concentration. The purpose of our survey is to study the effects of cluster mergers on the statistical properties of radio galaxies and to investigate the connection between mergers and the presence of radio haloes and relic sources.
We found that the radio source counts in the A3558 complex are consistent with the background source counts. The much higher optical density compared with the background is not reflected as a higher density of radio sources. Furthermore, we found that no correlation exists between the local density and the radio source power, and that steep-spectrum radio galaxies are not segregated in denser optical regions.
The radio luminosity function for elliptical and S0 galaxies is significantly lower than for cluster early-type galaxies and for those not selected to be in clusters at radio powers log  P _1.4≳22.5, implying that the probability of a galaxy becoming a radio source above this power limit is lower in the Shapley Concentration compared with any other environment. Possible explanations will be presented.
The detection of a head–tail source in the centre of A3562, coupled with careful inspection of the 20-cm NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) and of 36-cm MOST observations, allowed us to spot two extended sources in the region between A3562 and SC 1329−313, i.e. a candidate radio halo at the centre of A3562 and low brightness extended emission around a 14.96-mag Shapley galaxy. The relation between these two extended galaxies and the ongoing group merger in this region of the Shapley Concentration are discussed.     

Magnetic fields and radio polarization of barred galaxies

In order to simulate evolution of a large-scale magnetic field in a barred galaxy possessing a gaseous halo we apply a three-dimensional (3D) MHD numerical model. We solve a induction equation using a time-dependent velocity field of molecular gas resulting from self-consistent 3D N-body simulations of a galactic disk. The gaseous halo rotates differentially co-rotating with the disk. In our model we introduce the dynamo process causing the amplification of the magnetic field as well as the formation of field structures high above the galactic disk. The simulated magnetic fields are used to construct the models of a high-frequency (Faraday rotation-free) polarized radio emission that accounts for effects of projection and limited resolution, and is thus suitable for direct comparison with observations. We found that the resultant magnetic field correctly reproduces the observed structures of polarization B-vectors, forming coherent patterns well aligned with spiral arms and with the bar. The process initializing a wave-like behavior of the magnetic field, which efficiently forms magnetic maxima between the spiral arms, is demonstrated. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evolutionary synthesis models for galaxy transformation in clusters

The galaxy population in rich local galaxy clusters shows a ratio of one quarter elliptical galaxies, two quarters S0 galaxies, and one quarter spiral galaxies. Observations of clusters at redshift 0.5 show a perspicuously different ratio, the dominant galaxy type are spiral galaxies with a fraction of two quarters while the number of S0 galaxies decreases to a fraction of one quarter (Dressler et al. 1997). This shows an evolution of the galaxy population in clusters since redshift 0.5 and it has been suspected that galaxy transformation processes during the infall into a cluster are responsible for this change. These could be merging, starburst or ram-pressure stripping. We use our evolutionary synthesis models to describe various possible effects of those interactions on the star formation of spiral galaxies infalling into clusters. We study the effects of starbursts of various strengths as well as of the truncation of star formation at various epochs on the color and luminosity evolution of model galaxies of various spectral types. As a first application we present the comparison of our models with observed properties of the local S0 galaxy population to constrain possible S0 formation mechanisms in clusters. Application to other types of galaxies is planned for the future. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An implementation of radiative transfer in the cosmological simulation code gadget

We present a novel numerical implementation of radiative transfer in the cosmological smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation code gadget . It is based on a fast, robust and photon-conserving integration scheme where the radiation transport problem is approximated in terms of moments of the transfer equation and by using a variable Eddington tensor as a closure relation, following the Optically Thin Variable Eddington Tensor suggestion of Gnedin & Abel. We derive a suitable anisotropic diffusion operator for use in the SPH discretization of the local photon transport, and we combine this with an implicit solver that guarantees robustness and photon conservation. This entails a matrix inversion problem of a huge, sparsely populated matrix that is distributed in memory in our parallel code. We solve this task iteratively with a conjugate gradient scheme. Finally, to model photon sink processes we consider ionization and recombination processes of hydrogen, which is represented with a chemical network that is evolved with an implicit time integration scheme. We present several tests of our implementation, including single and multiple sources in static uniform density fields with and without temperature evolution, shadowing by a dense clump and multiple sources in a static cosmological density field. All tests agree quite well with analytical computations or with predictions from other radiative transfer codes, except for shadowing. However, unlike most other radiative transfer codes presently in use for studying re-ionization, our new method can be used on-the-fly during dynamical cosmological simulation, allowing simultaneous treatments of galaxy formation and the re-ionization process of the Universe.     

Generating dark matter halo merger trees

We present a new Monte Carlo algorithm to generate merger trees describing the formation history of dark matter haloes. The algorithm is a modification of the algorithm of Cole et al. used in the galform semi-analytic galaxy formation model. As such, it is based on the Extended Press–Schechter theory and so should be applicable to hierarchical models with a wide range of power spectra and cosmological models. It is tuned to be in accurate agreement with the conditional mass functions found in the analysis of merger trees extracted from the Λ cold dark matter Millennium N -body simulation. We present a comparison of its predictions not only with these conditional mass functions, but also with additional statistics of the Millennium Simulation halo merger histories. In all cases, we find it to be in good agreement with the Millennium Simulation and thus it should prove to be a very useful tool for semi-analytic models of galaxy formation and for modelling hierarchical structure formation in general. We have made our merger tree generation code and code to navigate the trees available at http://star-www.dur.ac.uk/~cole/merger_trees .