CHANG-ES XII: A LOFAR and VLA view of the edge-on star-forming galaxy NGC 3556
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2019

Context. Low-frequency radio continuum studies of star-forming edge-on galaxies can help to further understand how cosmic-ray electrons (CRe) propagate through the interstellar medium into the halo and how this is affected by energy losses and magnetic fields. Aims. Observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) from Continuum Haloes in Nearby Galaxies - an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) are combined with those with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) to identify the prevailing mode of cosmic-ray transport in the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 3556. Methods. We mapped the radio spectral index, magnetic field strength, and orientation using VLA 1.5 and 6 GHz and LOFAR 144 MHz data, and we fit 1D cosmic-ray propagation models to these maps using SPINNAKER (Spectral Index Numerical Analysis of K(c)osmic-ray electron radio emission) and its interactive wrapper SPINTERACTIVE. Results. We find that the spectral index in the galactic midplane is, as expected for young CRe, α -0.7 and steepens towards the halo of the galaxy as a consequence of spectral ageing. The intensity scale heights are about 1.4 and 1.9 kpc for the thin disc, and 3.3 and 5.9 kpc for the thick disc at 1.5 GHz and 144 MHz, respectively. While pure diffusion cannot explain our data, advection can, particularly if we assume a linearly accelerating wind. Our best-fitting model has an initial speed of 123 km s -1 in the galactic midplane and reaches the escape velocity at heights between 5 kpc and 15 kpc above the disc, depending on the assumed dark matter halo of the galaxy. This galactic wind scenario is corroborated by the existence of vertical filaments seen both in the radio continuum and in H α in the disc-halo interface and of a large-scale reservoir of hot, X-ray emitting gas in the halo. Conclusions. Radio haloes show the existence of galactic winds, possibly driven by cosmic rays, in typical star-forming spiral galaxies.

Galaxies: halos

Cosmic rays

Polarization

Galaxies: magnetic fields

Radio continuum: galaxies

ISM: jets and outflows

Författare

A. Miskolczi

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

V. Heesen

Universität Hamburg

Cathy Horellou

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Astronomi och plasmafysik

D. Bomans

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

R. Beck

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft

G. Heald

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

R. -J. Dettmar

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

S. Blex

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

B. Nikiel-Wroczyński

Uniwersytet Jagiellonski w Krakowie

K. T. Chy

Uniwersytet Jagiellonski w Krakowie

Y. Stein

Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg

J. A. Irwin

Queen's University

T. W. Shimwell

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Q. D. Wang

University of Massachusetts

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 622 201833931

Ämneskategorier

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

Annan fysik

Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201833931

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2023-10-10