The ultra-steep diffuse radio emission observed in the cool-core cluster RX J1720.1+2638 with LOFAR at 54 MHz

TL;DR

This study presents LOFAR observations of diffuse radio emission in the cool-core cluster RX J1720.1+2638, revealing an ultra-steep spectrum and distinct properties of core and outer emissions, suggesting different origins.

Contribution

First detailed low-frequency analysis of diffuse radio emission in a cool-core cluster combining multi-frequency data, revealing ultra-steep spectrum and different origins for core and extended emissions.

Findings

Large-scale emission has an ultra-steep spectrum with α ≈ 3.2.

Outer diffuse emission differs in spectral index and surface brightness correlation from the core.

Outer emission likely results from particle re-acceleration after a minor merger.

Abstract

Diffuse radio emission at the centre of galaxy clusters has been observed both in merging clusters on scales of Mpc, called giant radio haloes, and in relaxed systems with a cool-core on smaller scales, named mini haloes. Giant radio haloes and mini haloes are thought to be distinct classes of sources. However, recent observations have revealed the presence of diffuse radio emission on Mpc scales in clusters that do not show strong dynamical activity. RX J1720.1+2638 is a cool-core cluster, presenting both a bright central mini halo and a fainter diffuse, steep-spectrum emission extending beyond the cluster core that resembles giant radio halo emission. In this paper, we present new observations performed with the LOFAR Low Band Antennas (LBA) at 54 MHz. These observations, combined with data at higher frequencies, allow us to constrain the spectral properties of the radio emission. The large-scale emission presents an ultra-steep spectrum with $\alpha_{54}^{144}\sim3.2$. The radio emission inside and outside the cluster core have strictly different properties, as there is a net change in spectral index and they follow different radio-X-ray surface brightness correlations. We argue that the large-scale diffuse emission is generated by particles re-acceleration after a minor merger. While for the central mini halo we suggest that it could be generated by secondary electrons and positrons from hadronic interactions of relativistic nuclei with the dense cool-core gas, as an alternative to re-acceleration models.