A radio ridge connecting two galaxy clusters in a filament of the cosmic web
Journal article, 2019

Galaxy clusters are the most massive gravitationally bound structures in the Universe. They grow by accreting smaller structures in a merging process that produces shocks and turbulence in the intracluster gas. We observed a ridge of radio emission connecting the merging galaxy clusters Abell 0399 and Abell 0401 with the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope network at 140 megahertz. This emission requires a population of relativistic electrons and a magnetic field located in a filament between the two galaxy clusters. We performed simulations to show that a volume-filling distribution of weak shocks may reaccelerate a preexisting population of relativistic particles, producing emission at radio wavelengths that illuminates the magnetic ridge.

magnetic field

extraterrestrial matter

Diffuse radio

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Published in

Science

00368075 (ISSN) 10959203 (eISSN)

Vol. 364 Issue 6444 p. 981-984

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Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Identifiers

DOI

10.1126/science.aat7500

PubMed

31171695

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1/13/2023