Radio observations of galaxy groups and clusters

We are involved in various international projects to use the array to study the evolution of galaxy groups and clusters, particularly the role of central AGN in the feedback process that transports mass and energy from the galaxies to the intergalactic medium, using a combination of low frequency radio and X-ray observations. The radio facilities we use are the Giant Metrewave radio telescope (GMRT) in west-central India, and the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, USA. Our X-ray observations come from the space-borne Chandra and XMM-Newton observatories.

Multifrequency radio observations provide important insights into the dynamics and energetics of interacting galaxies, and the interaction between galaxies, and are vital in understanding the nature of interaction between galaxies and their associated inter-galactic medium. We have been observing various interesting systems, for which we have X-ray observations of the inter-galactic medium with Chandra or XMM-Newton, the radio continuum at wavelngths of 1400, 610, 325 and/or 150 MHz. This will enable us to make spectral index maps of the region of overlap between the radio lobes and the hot IGM as seen in the Chandra or XMM-Newton observation, and help us map the plasma by age, and explore the link between the bending radio jets and the dynamics of the interaction between two galaxies and their evolution. The student involved in this research will be involved in the reduction and interpretation of both X-ray and radio data, as well as data acquisition at the GMRT.

This project is part of the Astrophysics and Space Research Group: http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/phd/index.php