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Probing the Merger in ACT-CL J0256.5+006: Understanding Low-Power Radio Halos111 views
Author
Sullivan, Colin, Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia
Advisors
Sarazin, Craig, AS-Astronomy, University of Virginia
Abstract
ACT-CL J0256.5+0006 (J0256) is a moderate redshift (z=0.363) merging cluster. Around it, one of the weakest known cluster giant radio halos has been observed. Based on our ACT SZ detection and a very short XMM observation, J0256 has the weakest SZ and possibly the lowest mass ever observed for a radio halo as well. Our Chandra observation gives J0256’s dynamical merger state: it is an early-stage merger, which challenges the theory that radio halos are produced by turbulent re-acceleration after the passage of merger shocks. It is also possible that this merger is a late-stage merger, and the observed structures are simply due to projection effects caused by the merger’s orientation with respect to our line of sight. This possibility will also be investigated.
Degree
BS (Bachelor of Science)
Keywords
Galaxy Cluster; Merger; Radio Halo; Chandra; X-ray
Sullivan, Colin. Probing the Merger in ACT-CL J0256.5+006: Understanding Low-Power Radio Halos. University of Virginia, Department of Astronomy, BS (Bachelor of Science), 2019-05-10, https://doi.org/10.18130/v3-7xxq-pe57.
