Speaker
Description
Low-frequency radio observations are revealing an increasing number of radio galaxies with unusual morphologies that reflect strong interactions between the jets and their surrounding medium. In this work, we present the first detailed study of the peculiar bent-tail radio galaxy MKAT J131855.02–184708.00, only the second known source to exhibit a pronounced “omega-shaped’’ structure. Our analysis is based on deep MeerKAT L-band observations calibrated using the oxKAT and CARACal pipelines.
The exceptional sensitivity of MeerKAT allows us to trace the complex curvature of the jets and the formation of the characteristic omega structure. We investigate the physical mechanisms responsible for shaping this morphology and find that it is most likely produced by the dynamical interaction between the jet and the surrounding environment, together with the influence of an oblique shock acting on the southern jet.
We further examine the origin of particle acceleration within the jets and hotspots. The northern hotspot displays clear signatures of shock-front compression and turbulence-driven re-acceleration, while the southern jet shows evidence consistent with re-acceleration triggered by an oblique shock. To quantify the spectral evolution of the relativistic electrons, we perform spatially resolved spectral modelling using the CI, JP, and KP models. Among these, the CI model provides the most reliable description of the electron ages across the source.
Our results demonstrate that both shocks and turbulence play a key role in re-energising the plasma and producing the unique morphology of MKAT J131855.02–184708.00, offering new insights into the interaction between radio jets and the surrounding medium.
| Stream | Science or Engineering |
|---|