A radio study of the double-double radio galaxy 3C293

TL;DR

This study uses radio observations to analyze the spectral ages and jet activity interruption timescales in the double-double radio galaxy 3C293, revealing a shorter interruption period than typical DDRGs, indicating diverse activity cycles.

Contribution

First detailed spectral age analysis of 3C293 across a broad frequency range, highlighting a shorter jet interruption timescale compared to other DDRGs.

Findings

Spectral ages of outer lobes are 17-23 Myr.

Central source has a spectral age of less than 0.1 Myr.

Jet activity interruption in 3C293 is less than 0.1 Myr.

Abstract

We present radio continuum observations at frequencies ranging from $\sim$150 to 5000 MHz of the misaligned double-double radio galaxy, DDRG, 3C293 (J1352+3126) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Very Large Array (VLA). The spectra of the outer lobes and the central source are consistent with being straight, indicating spectral ages of $\lapp17-$23 Myr for the outer lobes, and $\lapp$0.1 Myr for the central source. The north-western lobe has a prominent hotspot suggesting that the interruption of jet activity is $\lapp$0.1 Myr, consistent with the age of the inner double. The time scale of interruption of jet activity appears significantly smaller than observed in most other DDRGs which are often associated with giant radio sources. These observations suggest that there is a wide range of time scales of interruption of jet activity in active galaxies.