Speaker
Description
Bent-tail radio galaxies provide important insights into the interaction between radio jets and their surrounding environments. 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 exhibiting a pronounced omega-shaped jet morphology. Using the high sensitivity of MeerKAT observations, we resolve the complex structure of this FR I wide-angle tail galaxy, revealing a gently curved northwestern jet and a double-bending southeastern jet that together form the distinctive omega shape.
We investigate the physical mechanisms responsible for this unusual morphology and find that the structure is consistent with the combined effects of ram pressure and an oblique shock acting on the jets. Spectral index mapping reveals a flat-spectrum core and relatively flat hotspots, accompanied by enhanced surface brightness at the jet termination regions, suggesting ongoing particle acceleration or a young population of relativistic electrons.
Spatially resolved spectral modelling using CI, JP, and KP ageing models indicates that the CI model best describes the electron population, yielding a spectral age of ∼75 Myr. These results highlight the importance of deep, high-resolution radio observations in uncovering rare jet morphologies and probing the physical processes shaping bent-tail radio galaxies.
| Stream | Science or Engineering |
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