Discovery of X-shaped Morphology of the Giant Radio Galaxy GRG 0503-286

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of an X-shaped morphology in the giant radio galaxy GRG 0503-286, likely caused by a gaseous layer in the cosmic web, revealing new insights into its structure and environment.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of an X-shaped morphology in a giant radio galaxy and suggests a gaseous layer as the cause of its unique bending pattern.

Findings

Revealed an X-shaped structure in GRG 0503-286

Identified a ~200 kpc emission gap as a gaseous layer

Confirmed symmetry of lobes about the emission gap

Abstract

The high surface-brightness sensitivity of the GLEAM survey image of the giant radio galaxy GRG 0503-28 at 70-230 MHz has revealed an inversion-symmetric bending of its two lobes, while maintaining between their bent portions a ~200 kpc wide strip-like radio emission gap. This lends the source the appearance of a mega-sized X-shaped radio galaxy. Identifying the emission gap with the presence of a gaseous layer, probably a WHIM-filled sheet in the cosmic web, we suggest that the layer is the most likely cause of the inversion-symmetric bending of the two radio lobes. Multiple observational manifestations of such gaseous layers are noted. The two lobes of this GRG, known to extend very asymmetrically from the host galaxy, are remarkably symmetric about the emission gap, confirming a curious trend noted earlier for double radio sources of normal dimensions. The anomalous radio spectral gradient reported for the northern lobe of this GRG is not substantiated.