K. T. Chyży

Magnetic fields in merging spirals - the Antennae

We present an extensive study of magnetic fields in a system of merging galaxies. We obtained for NGC 4038/39 (the Antennae) radio total intensity and polarization maps at 8.44 GHz, 4.86 GHz and 1.49 GHz using the VLA in the C and D configurations. The galaxy pair possesses bright, extended radio emission filling the body of the whole system, with no dominant nuclear sources. The radio thermal fraction of NGC 4038/39 was found to be about 50% at 10.45 GHz, higher than in normal spirals. Most of the thermal emission is associated with star-forming regions, but only a part of these are weakly visible in the optical domain because of strong obscuration. The mean total magnetic fields in both galaxies are about two times stronger (≃ 20µG) than in normal spirals. However, the degree of field regularity is rather low, implying tangling of the regular component in regions with interaction-enhanced star formation. Our data combined with those in H i, H�, X-rays and in far infrared allow us to study local interrelations between different gas phases and magnetic fields. We distinguish several radio- emitting regions with different physical properties and at various evolutionarystages: the rudimentary magnetic spiral, the northern cool part of the dark cloud complex extending between the galaxies, its warm southern region, its southernmost star-forming region deficient in radio emission, and the highly polarized northeastern ridge associated with the base of an unfolding tidal tail. The whole region of the dark cloud complex shows a coherent magnetic field structure, probably tracing the line of collision between the arms of merging spirals while the total radio emission reveals hidden star formation nests. The southern region is a particularly intense merger-triggered starburst. Highly tangled magnetic fields reach there strengths of ≃ 30µG, even larger than in both individual galaxies, possibly due to compression of the original fields pulled out from the parent disks. In the northeastern ridge, away from star-forming regions, the magnetic field is highly coherent with a strong regular component of 10µG tracing gas shearing motions along the tidal tail. We find no signs of field compression by infalling gas there. The radio spectrum is much steeper in this region indicating aging of the CR electron population as they move away from their sources in star-forming regions. Modelling Faraday rotation data show that we deal with a three-dimensionally curved structure of magnetic fields, becoming almost parallel to the sky plane in the southeastern part of the ridge.

Magnetic fields in Local Group dwarf irregulars

Aims. We wish to clarify whether strong magnetic fields can be effectively generated in typically low-mass dwarf galaxies and to assess the role of dwarf galaxies in the magnetization of the Universe. Methods. We performed a search for radio emission and magnetic fields in an unbiased sample of 12 Local Group (LG) irregular and dwarf irregular galaxies with the 100-m Effelsberg telescope at 2.64 GHz. Three galaxies were detected. A higher frequency (4.85 GHz) was used to search for polarized emission in five dwarfs that are the most luminous ones in the infrared domain, of which three were detected. Results. Magnetic fields in LG dwarfs are weak, with a mean value of the total field strength of 6 μG) are observed only in dwarfs of extreme characteristics (e.g. NGC 4449, NGC 1569, and the LG dwarf IC 10). They are all starbursts and more evolved objects of statistically much higher metallicity and global star-formation rate than the majority of the LG dwarf population. Typical LG dwarfs are unsuitable objects for the efficient supply of magnetic fields to the intergalactic medium.

M 87 at metre wavelengths: the LOFAR picture

Context. M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy located in the centre of the Virgo cluster, which harbours a supermassive black hole of mass 6.4×109 M, whose activity is responsible for the extended (80 kpc) radio lobes that surround the galaxy. The energy generated by matter falling onto the central black hole is ejected and transferred to the intra-cluster medium via a relativistic jet and morphologically complex systems of buoyant bubbles, which rise towards the edges of the extended halo. Aims. To place constraints on past activity cycles of the active nucleus, images of M 87 were produced at low radio frequencies never explored before at these high spatial resolution and dynamic range. To disentangle different synchrotron models and place constraints on source magnetic field, age and energetics, we also performed a detailed spectral analysis of M 87 extended radio-halo. Methods. We present the first observations made with the new Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) of M 87 at frequencies down to 20 MHz. Three observations were conducted, at 15−30 MHz, 30−77 MHz and 116−162 MHz. We used these observations together with archival data to produce a low-frequency spectral index map and to perform a spectral analysis in the wide frequency range 30 MHz–10 GHz. Results. We do not find any sign of new extended emissions; on the contrary the source appears well confined by the high pressure of the intracluster medium. A continuous injection of relativistic electrons is the model that best fits our data, and provides a scenario in which the lobes are still supplied by fresh relativistic particles from the active galactic nuclei. We suggest that the discrepancy between the low-frequency radiospectral slope in the core and in the halo implies a strong adiabatic expansion of the plasma as soon as it leaves the core area. The extended halo has an equipartition magnetic field strength of 10 μG, which increases to 13 μG in the zones where the particle flows are more active. The continuous injection model for synchrotron ageing provides an age for the halo of 40 Myr, which in turn provides a jet kinetic power of 6−10 × 1044 erg s−1.

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey description and preliminary data release

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120-168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 h, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5? resolution images with a sensitivity of ~100 ?Jy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey, which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Owing to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-Area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44 000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25?, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45°00?00? to 57°00?00?).

LOFAR Facet Calibration

LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array, is a powerful new radio telescope operating between 10 and 240 MHz. LOFAR allows detailed sensitive high-resolution studies of the low-frequency radio sky. At the same time LOFAR also provides excellent short baseline coverage to map diffuse extended emission. However, producing highquality deep images is challenging due to the presence of direction-dependent calibration errors, caused by imperfect knowledge of the station beam shapes and the ionosphere. Furthermore, the large data volume and presence of station clock errors present additional difficulties. In this paper we present a new calibration scheme, which we name facet calibration, to obtain deep high-resolution LOFAR High Band Antenna images using the Dutch part of the array. This scheme solves and corrects the direction-dependent errors in a number of facets that cover the observed field of view. Facet calibration provides close to thermal noise limited images for a typical 8 hr observing run at similar to 5. resolution, meeting the specifications of the LOFAR Tier-1 northern survey.

LOFAR and APERTIF Surveys of the Radio Sky: Probing Shocks and Magnetic Fields in Galaxy Clusters

At very low frequencies, the new pan-European radio telescope LOFAR is opening the last unexplored window of the electromagnetic spectrum for astrophysical studies. The revolutionary APERTIF- phased arrays that are about to be installed on the Westerbork radio telescope (WSRT) will dramatically increase the survey speed for the WSRT. Combined surveys with these two facilities will deeply chart the northern sky over almost two decades in radio frequency from ∼15 up to 1400 MHz. Here we briefly describe some of the capabilities of these new facilities and what radio surveys are planned to study fun-damental issues related to the formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies. In the second part we briefly review some recent observational results directly showing that diffuse radio emission in clusters traces shocks due to cluster mergers. As these diffuse radio sources are relatively bright at low frequencies, LOFAR should be able to detect thousands of such sources up to the epoch of cluster formation. This will allow addressing many question about the origin and evolution of shocks and magnetic fields in clusters. At the end we briefly review some of the first and very preliminary LOFAR results on clusters.

The characteristic polarized radio continuum distribution of cluster spiral galaxies

Deep observations are presented of the 6 cm polarized radio continuum emission of 8 Virgo spiral galaxies. All galaxies show strongly asymmetric distributions of polarized intensity with elongated ridges located in the outer galactic disk. These features are not found in existing observations of polarized radio continuum emission of field spiral galaxies, where the distribution of 6 cm polarized intensity is generally relatively symmetric and strongest in the interarm regions. We therefore conclude that most Virgo spiral galaxies and, most probably, the majority of cluster spiral galaxies show asymmetric distributions of polarized radio continuum emission due to their interaction with the cluster environment. The polarized continuum emission is sensitive to compression and shear motions in the plane of the sky and thus contains important information about the velocity distortions caused by these interactions.

Discovery of a Strong Spiral Magnetic Field Crossing the Inner Pseudoring of NGC 4736

We report the discovery of a coherent magnetic spiral structure within the nearby ringed Sab galaxy NGC 4736. High-sensitivity radio polarimetric data obtained with the VLA at 8.46 and 4.86 GHz show a distinct ring of total radio emission precisely corresponding to the bright inner pseudoring visible in other wavelengths. However, unlike the total radio emission, the polarized radio emission reveals a clear pattern of ordered magnetic field of spiral shape, emerging from the galactic center. The magnetic vectors do not follow the tightly wrapped spiral arms that characterize the inner pseudoring, but instead cross the ring with a constant and large pitch angle of about . The ordered field is thus not locally adjusted to the pattern of star formation activity, unlike what 35 is usually observed in grand-design spirals. The observed asymmetric distribution of Faraday rotation suggests the possible action of a large-scale MHD dynamo. The strong magnetic total and regular field within the ring (up to 30 and 13 mG, respectively) indicates that a highly efficient process of magnetic field amplification is under way, probably related to secular evolutionary processes in the galaxy. Subject headings: galaxies: evolution — galaxies: individual (NGC 4736) — galaxies: ISM — galaxies: magnetic fields — MHD — radio continuum: galaxies

Magnetic fields and ionized gas in nearby late type galaxies

Aims. In order to analyze the importance of the star formation rate in generating and amplifying magnetic fields in the interstellar medium we perform a deep continuum polarization study of three angularly large, late type spiral galaxies. Methods. We obtained deep total power and polarization maps at 4.85 GHz of NGC 4236, NGC 4656 and IC 2574 using the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope. This was accompanied by imaging in the Hline. We also observed these objects at 1.4GHz to obtain their integrated fluxes at this frequency and to determine their radio spectra. Results. All galaxies were found to possess weak but detectable total power emission at 4.85GHz, coincident with regions of recent star formation as traced by bright Hregions. The surface brightness of the radio-strongest object of our sample (NGC 4656) is comparable to the radio-weakest objects in a sample of more than 50 normally star-forming spiral galaxies for which measurements at 4.8GHz with the Effelsberg radio telescope are available. The surface brightness of the two other objects is even three times smaller. The fractional polarization of the 2 galaxies of our sample is less than 2%, significantly lower than for spiral galaxies of intermediate types, suggesting that the magnetic fields are not only weaker, but also less ordered than in spiral galaxies. The radio spectra of galaxies in our small sample are indicative of a substantial fraction of thermal emission, with a higher thermal fraction than in spirals with high star formation rates (SFR), while the nonthermal emission in our sample is relatively weak compared to spiral galaxies. We propose an equipartition model where the nonthermal emission increases / SFR ≈1.4 and the ratio of nonthermal to thermal emission increases / SFR ≈0.4 . The objects of our sample still follow the radio-FIR correlation of surface brightness of the total emission, extending it towards the lowest values measured so far.

Large-scale magnetized outflows from the Virgo Cluster spiral NGC 4569. A galactic wind in a ram pressure wind

Using the Effelsberg radio telescope at 4.85 GHz and 8.35 GHz we discovered large symmetric lobes of polarized radio emission around the strongly Hi deficient Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4569. These lobes extend up to 24 kpc from the galactic disk. Our observations were complemented by 1.4 GHz continuum emission from existing Hi observations. This is the first time that such huge radio continuum lobes are observed in a cluster spiral galaxy. The eastern lobe seems detached and has a flat spectrum typical of in-situ cosmic ray electron acceleration. The western lobe is diffuse and possesses vertical magnetic fields over its whole volume. The lobes are not powered by an AGN, but probably by a nuclear starburst that occurred ∼30 Myr ago, producing ≥10 5 supernovae. Since the radio lobes are symmetric, they resist ram pressure due to the galaxys rapid motion within the intracluster medium.