Radio relics in merging clusters of galaxies

  • Roh, Soonyoung (Department of Physics, School of Natural Sciences UNIST) ;
  • Ryu, Dongsu (Department of Physics, School of Natural Sciences UNIST)
  • 발행 : 2019.04.10

초록

Clusters of galaxies shape up through a series of hierarchical mergers. It is believed that major mergers lead to cluster-wide shock waves, which are manifested as radio relics. The 1RXS J0603.0+4213 and CIZA J2242.8+5301 clusters, for instance, contain Mpc-size giant radio relics in the outskirts. Synchrotron emission from these radio relics reveals the presence of relativistic electrons and the magnetic fields of a few ${\mu}G$ strength. The presence of such magnetic fields in the ICM has been explained by the so-called small-scale turbulent dynamo. To get quantitative measures for magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies, we investigate the development of turbulence and the follow-up amplification of magnetic fields through three-dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations. The turbulence is induced in highly stratified cluster media, and driven sporadically by major mergers. We here present the results, aiming to answer whether the turbulence dynamo scenario can explain the observed strength and scale of magnetic fields in clusters. Also, we discuss whether the observed properties of giant radio relics can be reproduced in our simulations.

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