Complex particle acceleration processes in the hotspots of 3C105 and 3C445

TL;DR

This study examines the multi-band emission and complex structures of the hotspots in 3C105 and 3C445, revealing detailed morphological features and suggesting ongoing particle re-acceleration mechanisms such as turbulence.

Contribution

It provides high-resolution multi-wavelength observations and models of hotspot structures, highlighting the role of stochastic processes in particle re-acceleration.

Findings

Hotspot spectra are well fitted by a steep synchrotron model with high break frequencies.

3C105 South shows a primary and secondary component, indicating jet impact and deflection.

Diffuse optical emission suggests continuous re-acceleration of particles in hotspots.

Abstract

We investigate the nature of the broad-band emission associated with the low-power radio hotspots 3C105 South and 3C445 South. Both hotspot regions are resolved in multiple radio/optical components. High-sensitivity radio VLA, NIR/optical VLT and HST, and X-ray Chandra data have been used to construct the multi-band spectra of individual hotspot components. The radio-to-optical spectra of both hotspot regions are well fitted by a synchrotron model with steep spectral indices ~0.8 and break frequencies 10^12-10^14 Hz. 3C105 South is resolved in two optical components: a primary one, aligned with the jet direction and possibly marking the first jet impact with the surrounding medium, and a secondary, further out from the jet and extended in a direction perpendicular to it. This secondary region is interpreted as a splatter-spot formed by the deflection of relativistic plasma from the primary hotspot. Radio and optical images of 3C445 South show a spectacular 10-kpc arc-shape structure characterized by two main components, and perpendicular to the jet direction. HST images in I and B bands further resolve the brightest components into thin elongated features. In both 3C105 South and 3C445 South the main hotspot components are enshrouded by diffuse optical emission on scale of several kpcs, indicating that very high energy particles, possibly injected at strong shocks, are continuously re-accelerated in situ by additional acceleration mechanisms. We suggest that stochastic processes, linked to turbulence and instabilities, could provide the required additional re-acceleration.