Illuminating the Diffuse Radio Emission in Low-Mass Cluster: Abell 13

TL;DR

This paper presents a detailed multi-frequency radio analysis of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 13, revealing complex diffuse emission consistent with a radio phoenix caused by re-energized fossil plasma, and highlights the cluster's ongoing dynamical activity.

Contribution

It provides the first high-resolution, multi-frequency characterization of diffuse radio emission in Abell 13, supporting its classification as a radio phoenix and linking it to cluster merger activity.

Findings

Detected complex filamentary diffuse emission extending 521 kpc.

Spectral index of the emission is steep at -1.85, with significant curvature.

Morphology and spectral properties support re-energization of fossil plasma as a radio phoenix.

Abstract

Recent advances in high-sensitivity radio observations have uncovered a population of faint, ultra-steep-spectrum sources in galaxy clusters, commonly known as radio phoenixes. However, their observational classification remains poorly constrained due to the limited number of confirmed detections. This study presents a detailed multi-frequency, high-sensitivity, and high-resolution analysis of diffuse radio emission in the merging galaxy cluster Abell 13. Using GMRT (147.5 MHz), uGMRT (400 MHz), ASKAP-low (887.5 MHz), and MGCLS (1284 MHz) images, we detect complex, filamentary diffuse emission with a largest linear extent of 521 kpc. This emission originates from the cluster center and extends westward, confined within the X-ray-emitting intra-cluster medium (ICM). Chandra X-ray data confirm that Abell 13 is undergoing a merger, and the radio morphology reflects signatures of this ongoing dynamical activity. We observed filamentary structures extending towards east-northeast and southwest directions. The spectral index across the emission appears irregular and lacks a coherent spatial gradient. The integrated spectrum reveals a steep spectral index of -1.85 +/- 0.05 and a spectral curvature of -0.93 +/- 0.21. These spectral properties, along with the observed morphology and brightness distribution, are consistent with a re-energization of a fossil radio plasma driven by adiabatic compression, supporting the classification of the emission as a radio phoenix.