Revealing the intricacies of radio galaxies and filaments in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 2255. I. Insights from deep LOFAR-VLBI sub-arcsecond resolution images

TL;DR

This study uses deep LOFAR-VLBI observations at 144 MHz to reveal detailed structures of radio filaments in galaxy cluster Abell 2255, providing insights into their morphology, origin, and interaction with the intracluster medium.

Contribution

First high-resolution, deep LOFAR-VLBI imaging of Abell 2255 revealing detailed filamentary structures and their potential origins in a galaxy cluster environment.

Findings

Revealed unprecedented filament details in Abell 2255

Discovered multiple filaments in the tail of the Original Tailed Radio Galaxy

Demonstrated the effectiveness of deep, high-resolution low-frequency radio observations

Abstract

High sensitivity of modern interferometers is revealing a plethora of filaments surrounding radio galaxies, especially in galaxy cluster environments. The morphology and spectral characteristics of these thin structures require the combination of high-resolution and low frequency observations, which is best obtained using the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) international stations. In this paper, we aim to detect and characterize non-thermal filaments observed close or as part of the radio galaxies in Abell 2255 using deep, LOFAR-VLBI observations at 144 MHz. These structures can be used to disentangle possible scenarios for the origin of the non-thermal filaments and connection to the motion of the host galaxy within the dense and turbulent intracluster medium (ICM), and consequent interaction between the ICM and radio jets. Combining multiple observations, we produced the deepest images ever obtained with LOFAR-VLBI targeting a galaxy cluster, using 56 hours of observations, reaching $0.3-0.5"$ resolution. We detailed throughout the paper the calibration and imaging strategy for the different targets, as well as the multitude of morphological features discovered. Thanks to the high-sensitivity of LOFAR-VLBI, we revealed unprecedented details for the main cluster radio galaxies, recovering in most cases also their more extended structure observed only at such low frequencies. In particular, we focused on the Original Tailed Radio Galaxy (Original TRG) where we distinguished many filaments constituting its tail with varying lengths ($80-110$ kpc) and widths ($3-10$ kpc). The final radio images showcase the potential of deep, high-resolution observations for galaxy clusters. With such approach, we enabled the study of these thin, elongated radio filaments: after being discovered, these filaments now require spectral studies to determine their formation mechanisms.