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01-04-2021
Colloquium: Astrophysical Sciences with African Instruments: Bent Jets and Double-scythe Structures Seen by MeerKAT
| Submitter: | James O. Chibueze |
| Description: | MeerKAT is currently churning out impressive science results. One of the new results is the discovery of an interaction between jets of a radio galaxy and the magnetic layer of the host galaxy cluster. Galaxy clusters are known to harbour magnetic field. Intra-cluster magnetic field can be observed at the density contact discontinuity formed by cool and dense plasma running into hot ambient plasma, and the discontinuity exists in the central region of a merging galaxy cluster Abell3376. In this colloquium, I will show an unambiguous evidence of an interaction between relativistic electrons and intra-cluster magnetic fields from MeerKAT observations of a radio galaxy MRC 0600-399 possessing bent jets. Contrary to typical bent jets, the jet shows a 90-degree bend at the contact discontinuity and the collimated jet further extends over 100 kpc from the bend point. The spectral index flattens downstream of the bend point, indicating cosmic-ray re-acceleration. High-resolution numerical simulations reveal that the ordered magnetic field along the discontinuity, at which the intra-cluster magnetic field can be compressed and amplified, plays a significant role in the change in the direction of the jet propagation. The overall morphology of the bent jet bears remarkable similarities with the simulations, which greatly strengthens our understanding of the interaction between relativistic electrons and intra-cluster magnetic field. I will also talk about a school (Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers) that is aimed at growing the critical mass of African astronomers who will become users of astronomical facilities popping out in the continent. |
| Copyright: | Image submitted by the speaker as part of their work. |
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