Somewhere in between: Tracing the Radio Emission from Galaxy Groups (or Why Does the Future of Observing Galaxy Groups with Radio Telescopes Look Promising?)

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in understanding radio emissions and magnetic fields in galaxy groups, emphasizing the potential of low-frequency radio interferometers for future observations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge, recent advances, and future challenges in studying magnetism and radio emission in galaxy groups using new radio telescope data.

Findings

Radio observations of galaxy groups reveal complex magnetic field structures.

Low-frequency radio interferometers have significantly advanced the detection of diffuse radio emission.

Future observations are crucial to address unresolved questions about group magnetism.

Abstract

Galaxy groups constitute the most common class of galaxy systems in the known Universe, unique in terms of environmental properties. However, despite recent advances in optical and infrared observations as well as in theoretical research, little is known about magnetic fields and the associated continuum radio emission. Studies on this issue have only been conducted in recent years, and many questions have yet to be resolved. This article aims to put the study of group magnetism in a broader context, to present recent advances in the field (mainly achieved with low-frequency radio interferometers), and to list the issues that need to be addressed in future observations. To make it easier for the Readers to get acquainted with the concepts presented in the manuscript, radio observations of two sample groups of galaxies are also presented.