Diffuse radio source candidate in CIZA J1358.9-4750

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of a candidate diffuse radio source in a merging galaxy cluster, consistent with shock acceleration models, and discusses its potential origin from AGN activity and cluster dynamics.

Contribution

First detection of a diffuse radio source candidate in CIZA J1358.9-4750 using upgraded GMRT observations, supporting shock acceleration and AGN seed cosmic-ray models.

Findings

Diffuse radio emission candidate detected at 400 MHz

Radio power consistent with typical cluster diffuse sources

Spectral index aligns with diffusive shock acceleration expectations

Abstract

We report on results of our upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) observations for an early-stage merging galaxy cluster, CIZA J1358.9-4750 (CIZA1359), in Band-3 (300--500 MHz). We achieved the image dynamic range of $\sim 38,000$ using the direction dependent calibration and found a candidate of diffuse radio emission at 4~$\sigma_{rms}$ significance. The flux density of the candidate at 400~MHz, $24.04 \pm 2.48$~mJy, is significantly positive compared to noise, where its radio power, $2.40 \times 10^{24}$~W~Hz$^{-1}$, is consistent with those of typical diffuse radio sources of galaxy clusters. The candidate is associated with a part of the X-ray shock front at which the Mach number reaches its maximum value of $\mathcal{M}\sim 1.7$. The spectral index ($F_\nu \propto \nu^{\alpha}$) of the candidate, $\alpha = - 1.22 \pm 0.33$, is in agreement with an expected value derived from the standard diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) model. But such a low Mach number with a short acceleration time would require seed cosmic-rays supplied from active galactic nucleus (AGN) activities of member galaxies, as suggested in some other clusters. Indeed, we found seven AGN candidates inside the diffuse source candidate. Assuming the energy equipartition between magnetic fields and cosmic-rays, the magnetic field strength of the candidate was estimated to be $2.1~\mu$G. We also find head-tail galaxies and radio phoenixes or fossils near the CIZA1359.