Giant radio galaxies as probes of the ambient WHIM in the era of the SKA

TL;DR

This paper proposes using the SKA1 telescope to identify and study giant radio galaxies as a means to probe the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM), potentially locating the universe's missing baryons.

Contribution

It introduces a large-scale survey plan with SKA1 to systematically detect giant radio galaxies and investigate their connection to the WHIM.

Findings

Over 6,000 giant radio sources expected to be discovered in 250 hours

Enhanced sensitivity and resolution will improve detection of dying radio sources

The survey will provide new insights into the distribution of the WHIM

Abstract

The missing baryons are usually thought to reside in galaxy filaments as warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). From previous studies, giant radio galaxies are usually associated with galaxy groups, which normally trace the WHIM. We propose observations with the powerful SKA1 to make a census of giant radio galaxies in the southern hemisphere, which will probe the ambient WHIM. The radio galaxies discovered will also be investigated to search for dying radio sources. With the highly improved sensitivity and resolution of SKA1, more than 6,000 giant radio sources will be discovered within 250 hours.