Low-frequency study of two giant radio galaxies: 3C35 and 3C223

TL;DR

This study uses low-frequency radio observations to analyze the spectral aging of two giant radio galaxies, estimating their ages and revealing spectral curvature consistent with synchrotron aging.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectral analysis at low frequencies for 3C35 and 3C223, improving age estimates and understanding of electron energy distribution in giant radio galaxies.

Findings

3C35 is approximately 143 million years old.

3C223 is approximately 72 million years old.

Spectral curvature indicates synchrotron aging effects.

Abstract

Radio galaxies with a projected linear size > 1 Mpc are classified as giant radio sources. According to the current interpretation these are old sources which have evolved in a low-density ambient medium. Since radiative losses are negligible at low frequency, extending spectral ageing studies in this frequency range will allow to determine the zero-age electron spectrum injected and then to improve the estimate of the synchrotron age of the source. We present Very Large Array images at 74 MHz and 327 MHz of two giant radio sources: 3C35 and 3C223. We performed a spectral study using 74, 327, 608 and 1400 GHz images. The spectral shape is estimated in different positions along the source. The radio spectrum follows a power-law in the hot-spots, while in the inner region of the lobe the shape of the spectrum shows a curvature at high frequencies. This steepening is in agreement with synchrotron aging of the emitting relativistic electrons. In order to estimate the synchrotron age of the sources, the spectra have been fitted with a synchrotron model of emission. Using the models, we find that 3C35 is an old source of about 143 Myr, while 3C223 is a younger source of 72 Myr.