Relativistic plasma and ICM/radio source interaction

TL;DR

This paper discusses the detection and significance of diffuse radio sources in galaxy clusters, highlighting their connection to magnetic fields, relativistic electrons, and the evolution of large-scale cosmic structures.

Contribution

It reviews observational evidence linking radio sources to turbulence, shocks, and feedback processes in galaxy clusters, emphasizing their role in cosmic evolution.

Findings

Radio sources indicate large-scale magnetic fields and relativistic electrons.

Interactions influence cluster evolution and galaxy formation.

Feedback from AGN is crucial in cooling core clusters.

Abstract

The first detection of a diffuse radio source in a cluster of galaxies, dates back to the 1959 (Coma Cluster, Large et al. 1959). Since then, synchrotron radiating radio sources have been found in several clusters, and represent an important cluster component which is linked to the thermal gas. Such sources indicate the existence of large scale magnetic fields and of a population of relativistic electrons in the cluster volume. The observational results provide evidence that these phenomena are related to turbulence and shock-structures in the intergalactic medium, thus playing a major role in the evolution of the large scale structure in the Universe. The interaction between radio sources and cluster gas is well established in particular at the center of cooling core clusters, where feedback from AGN is a necessary ingredient to adequately describe the formation and evolution of galaxies and host clusters.