MOSS I: Double radio relics in the Saraswati supercluster

TL;DR

This study uses MeerKAT radio telescope observations to analyze double radio relics and diffuse radio sources in the Saraswati supercluster, providing insights into magnetic fields and relativistic particles in large-scale cosmic structures.

Contribution

First detailed radio imaging and spectral analysis of double relics and diffuse sources in the Saraswati supercluster using MeerKAT data.

Findings

Imaged double radio relics in ZwCl2341.1+0000 with high resolution.

Detected a puzzling diffuse radio source between relics.

Derived spectra of relics combining MeerKAT and GMRT data.

Abstract

Superclusters are the largest objects in the Universe, and they provide a unique opportunity to study how galaxy clusters are born at the junction of the cosmic web as well as the distribution of magnetic fields and relativistic particles beyond cluster volume. The field of radio astronomy is going through an exciting and important era of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). We now have the most sensitive functional radio telescopes, such as the MeerKAT, which offers high angular resolution and sensitivity towards diffuse and faint radio sources. To study the radio environments around supercluster, we observed the (core part of) {\it Saraswati} supercluster with the MeerKAT. From our MeerKAT Observation of the {\it Saraswati} Supercluster (MOSS) project, the initial results of the pilot observations of two massive galaxy clusters, A2631 and ZwCl2341.1+0000, which are located around the dense central part of the {\it Saraswati} supercluster, were discussed. In this paper, we describe the observations and data analysis details, including direction-dependent calibration. In particular, we focus on the ZwCl2341.1+0000 galaxy cluster, which hosts double radio relics and puzzling diffuse radio source in the filamentary network. We have imaged these double radio relics in our high resolution and sensitive L-band MeerKAT observation and a puzzling radio source, located between relics, in the low-resolution image. We also derived the spectra of double radio relics using MeerKAT and archival GMRT observations. A following papers will focus on the formation of radio relics and halo, as well as radio galaxy properties in a supercluster core environment.