Interaction between galaxy clusters and jets from cluster member galaxies

Abstract

This dissertation presents an observational study of five galaxy clusters: Abell 133, Abell 3266, Abell 3376, Abell 3391, and Abell 3395, using radio observations from MeerKAT and X-ray observations from XMM-Newton. Through detailed imaging and spectral analysis, this study investigates the interactions between radio galaxies and the intracluster medium. In Abell 133, the lobe of a radio galaxy with an ultrasteep spectrum (α ∼ 2.67) undergoes re-acceleration in the cluster core. Abell 3266 hosts several bent-tailed radio galaxies, whose jet morphologies suggest strong ram pressure driven by the complex merging state of the cluster. The jets of MRC 0600−399 in Abell 3376 brighten and exhibit spectral flattening along the jets after bending approximately 90◦ in the same direction, with the northern bent jet tracing a cold front edge in the X-ray emission. In the Abell 3391–Abell 3395 system, both clusters have central radio galaxies with twisting and bending jets, indicative of interactions with the disturbed intracluster medium in this merging system. High-resolution MeerKAT images reveal filamentary structures associated with radio galaxies across all five clusters.