Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes

E. Orru; S. Van Velzen; R. F. Pizzo; S. Yatawatta; R. Paladino; M. Iacobelli; M. Murgia; H. Falcke; R. Morganti; A. G. De Bruyn; C. Ferrari; J. Anderson; A. Bonafede; D. Mulcahy; A. Asgekar; I. M. Avruch; R. Beck; M. E. Bell; I. Van Bemmel; M. J. Bentum; G. Bernardi; P. Best; F. Breitling; J. W. Broderick; M. Bruggen; H. R. Butcher; B. Ciardi; J. E. Conway; A. Corstanje; E. De Geus; A. Deller; S. Duscha; J. Eisloffel; D. Engels; W. Frieswijk; M. A. Garrett; J. Grießmeier; A. W. Gunst; J. P. Hamaker; G. Heald; M. Hoeft; A. J. Van Der Horst; H. Intema; E. Juette; J. Kohler; V. I. Kondratiev; M. Kuniyoshi; G. Kuper; M. Loose; P. Maat; G. Mann; S. Markoff; R. McFadden; D. McKay-BGBRowski; G. Miley; J. Moldon; G. Molenaar; H. Munk; A. Nelles; H. Paas; M. Pandey-Pommier; V. N. Pandey; G. Pietka; A. G. Polatidis; W. Reich; H. Rottgering; A. Rowlinson; A. Scaife; A. Schoenmakers; D. Schwarz; M. Serylak; A. Shulevski; O. Smirnov; M. Steinmetz; A. Stewart; J. Swinbank; M. Tagger; C. Tasse; S. Thoudam; M. C. Toribio; R. Vermeulen; C. Vocks; R. J. Van Weeren; R. A.M.J. Wijers; M. W. Wise; O. Wucknitz

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes

E. Orru
, S. Van Velzen
, R. F. Pizzo
, S. Yatawatta
, R. Paladino
, M. Iacobelli
, M. Murgia
, H. Falcke
, R. Morganti
, A. G. De Bruyn
, C. Ferrari
, J. Anderson
, A. Bonafede
, D. Mulcahy
, A. Asgekar
, I. M. Avruch
, R. Beck
, M. E. Bell
, I. Van Bemmel
, M. J. Bentum

G. Bernardi, P. Best, F. Breitling, J. W. Broderick, M. Bruggen, H. R. Butcher, B. Ciardi, J. E. Conway, A. Corstanje, E. De Geus, A. Deller, S. Duscha, J. Eisloffel, D. Engels, W. Frieswijk, M. A. Garrett, J. Grießmeier, A. W. Gunst, J. P. Hamaker, G. Heald, M. Hoeft, A. J. Van Der Horst, H. Intema, E. Juette, J. Kohler, V. I. Kondratiev, M. Kuniyoshi, G. Kuper, M. Loose, P. Maat, G. Mann, S. Markoff, R. McFadden, D. McKay-BGBRowski, G. Miley, J. Moldon, G. Molenaar, H. Munk, A. Nelles, H. Paas, M. Pandey-Pommier, V. N. Pandey, G. Pietka, A. G. Polatidis, W. Reich, H. Rottgering, A. Rowlinson, A. Scaife, A. Schoenmakers, D. Schwarz, M. Serylak, A. Shulevski, O. Smirnov, M. Steinmetz, A. Stewart, J. Swinbank, M. Tagger, C. Tasse, S. Thoudam, M. C. Toribio, R. Vermeulen, C. Vocks, R. J. Van Weeren, R. A.M.J. Wijers, M. W. Wise, O. Wucknitz

Physics

Netherlands Institute of Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)
Radboud University Nijmegen
Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
University of Groningen
University of Bologna
INAF Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica, Bologna
Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Universität Hamburg
University of Manchester
Shell Technology Center
SRON Netherlands Insitute for Space Research
CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility
Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe
University of Twente
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
University of Edinburgh, Institute for Astronomy
Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)
University of Southampton
Australian National University
Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
Onsala Space Observatory
SmarterVision BV
Thüringer Landessternwarte
Leiden University
LPC2E - Univ. d'Orléans/cnrs
The George Washington University
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
University of Bochum
P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
University of Amsterdam
Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
University Groningen
Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon
University of Oxford
Universität Bielefeld
Rhodes University
SKA South Africa
Observatoire de Paris

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The existence of double-double radio galaxies (DDRGs) is evidence for recurrent jet activity in active galactic nuclei (AGN), as expected from standard accretion models. A detailed study of these rare sources provides new perspectives for investigating the AGN duty cycle, AGN-galaxy feedback, and accretion mechanisms. Large catalogues of radio sources, on the other hand, provide statistical information about the evolution of the radio-loud AGN population out to high redshifts. Aims. Using wide-field imaging with the LOFAR telescope, we study both a well-known DDRG as well as a large number of radio sources in the field of view. Methods. We present a high resolution image of the DDRG B1834+620 obtained at 144 MHz using LOFAR commissioning data. Our image covers about 100 square degrees and contains over 1000 sources. Results. The four components of the DDRG B1834+620 have been resolved for the first time at 144 MHz. Inner lobes were found to point towards the direction of the outer lobes, unlike standard FR II sources. Polarized emission was detected at +60 rad m^-2 in the northern outer lobe. The high spatial resolution allows the identification of a large number of small double-lobed radio sources; roughly 10% of all sources in the field are doubles with a separation smaller than 1′. Conclusions. The spectral fit of the four components is consistent with a scenario in which the outer lobes are still active or the jets recently switched off, while emission of the inner lobes is the result of a mix-up of new and old jet activity. From the presence of the newly extended features in the inner lobes of the DDRG, we can infer that the mechanism responsible for their formation is the bow shock that is driven by the newly launched jet. We find that the density of the small doubles exceeds the density of FR II sources with similar properties at 1.4 GHz, but this difference becomes smaller for low flux densities. Finally, we show that the significant challenges of wide-field imaging (e.g., time and frequency variation of the beam, directional dependent calibration errors) can be solved using LOFAR commissioning data, thus demonstrating the potential of the full LOFAR telescope to discover millions of powerful AGN at redshift z ∼ 1.

Original language	British English
Article number	A112
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	584
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526501
State	Published - 1 Dec 2015

Keywords

Astroparticle physics
Galaxies: active
Instrumentation: interferometers
Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
Radio continuum: galaxies
Techniques: interferometric

Access to Document

10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

Orru, E., Van Velzen, S., Pizzo, R. F., Yatawatta, S., Paladino, R., Iacobelli, M., Murgia, M., Falcke, H., Morganti, R., De Bruyn, A. G., Ferrari, C., Anderson, J., Bonafede, A., Mulcahy, D., Asgekar, A., Avruch, I. M., Beck, R., Bell, M. E., Van Bemmel, I., ... Wucknitz, O. (2015). Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 584, Article A112. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

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title = "Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes",

abstract = "The existence of double-double radio galaxies (DDRGs) is evidence for recurrent jet activity in active galactic nuclei (AGN), as expected from standard accretion models. A detailed study of these rare sources provides new perspectives for investigating the AGN duty cycle, AGN-galaxy feedback, and accretion mechanisms. Large catalogues of radio sources, on the other hand, provide statistical information about the evolution of the radio-loud AGN population out to high redshifts. Aims. Using wide-field imaging with the LOFAR telescope, we study both a well-known DDRG as well as a large number of radio sources in the field of view. Methods. We present a high resolution image of the DDRG B1834+620 obtained at 144 MHz using LOFAR commissioning data. Our image covers about 100 square degrees and contains over 1000 sources. Results. The four components of the DDRG B1834+620 have been resolved for the first time at 144 MHz. Inner lobes were found to point towards the direction of the outer lobes, unlike standard FR II sources. Polarized emission was detected at +60 rad m-2 in the northern outer lobe. The high spatial resolution allows the identification of a large number of small double-lobed radio sources; roughly 10\% of all sources in the field are doubles with a separation smaller than 1′. Conclusions. The spectral fit of the four components is consistent with a scenario in which the outer lobes are still active or the jets recently switched off, while emission of the inner lobes is the result of a mix-up of new and old jet activity. From the presence of the newly extended features in the inner lobes of the DDRG, we can infer that the mechanism responsible for their formation is the bow shock that is driven by the newly launched jet. We find that the density of the small doubles exceeds the density of FR II sources with similar properties at 1.4 GHz, but this difference becomes smaller for low flux densities. Finally, we show that the significant challenges of wide-field imaging (e.g., time and frequency variation of the beam, directional dependent calibration errors) can be solved using LOFAR commissioning data, thus demonstrating the potential of the full LOFAR telescope to discover millions of powerful AGN at redshift z ∼ 1.",

keywords = "Astroparticle physics, Galaxies: active, Instrumentation: interferometers, Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal, Radio continuum: galaxies, Techniques: interferometric",

author = "E. Orru and \{Van Velzen\}, S. and Pizzo, \{R. F.\} and S. Yatawatta and R. Paladino and M. Iacobelli and M. Murgia and H. Falcke and R. Morganti and \{De Bruyn\}, \{A. G.\} and C. Ferrari and J. Anderson and A. Bonafede and D. Mulcahy and A. Asgekar and Avruch, \{I. M.\} and R. Beck and Bell, \{M. E.\} and \{Van Bemmel\}, I. and Bentum, \{M. J.\} and G. Bernardi and P. Best and F. Breitling and Broderick, \{J. W.\} and M. Bruggen and Butcher, \{H. R.\} and B. Ciardi and Conway, \{J. E.\} and A. Corstanje and \{De Geus\}, E. and A. Deller and S. Duscha and J. Eisloffel and D. Engels and W. Frieswijk and Garrett, \{M. A.\} and J. Grie{\ss}meier and Gunst, \{A. W.\} and Hamaker, \{J. P.\} and G. Heald and M. Hoeft and \{Van Der Horst\}, \{A. J.\} and H. Intema and E. Juette and J. Kohler and Kondratiev, \{V. I.\} and M. Kuniyoshi and G. Kuper and M. Loose and P. Maat and G. Mann and S. Markoff and R. McFadden and D. McKay-BGBRowski and G. Miley and J. Moldon and G. Molenaar and H. Munk and A. Nelles and H. Paas and M. Pandey-Pommier and Pandey, \{V. N.\} and G. Pietka and Polatidis, \{A. G.\} and W. Reich and H. Rottgering and A. Rowlinson and A. Scaife and A. Schoenmakers and D. Schwarz and M. Serylak and A. Shulevski and O. Smirnov and M. Steinmetz and A. Stewart and J. Swinbank and M. Tagger and C. Tasse and S. Thoudam and Toribio, \{M. C.\} and R. Vermeulen and C. Vocks and \{Van Weeren\}, \{R. J.\} and Wijers, \{R. A.M.J.\} and Wise, \{M. W.\} and O. Wucknitz",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 ESO.",

year = "2015",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201526501",

language = "British English",

volume = "584",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Orru, E, Van Velzen, S, Pizzo, RF, Yatawatta, S, Paladino, R, Iacobelli, M, Murgia, M, Falcke, H, Morganti, R, De Bruyn, AG, Ferrari, C, Anderson, J, Bonafede, A, Mulcahy, D, Asgekar, A, Avruch, IM, Beck, R, Bell, ME, Van Bemmel, I, Bentum, MJ, Bernardi, G, Best, P, Breitling, F, Broderick, JW, Bruggen, M, Butcher, HR, Ciardi, B, Conway, JE, Corstanje, A, De Geus, E, Deller, A, Duscha, S, Eisloffel, J, Engels, D, Frieswijk, W, Garrett, MA, Grießmeier, J, Gunst, AW, Hamaker, JP, Heald, G, Hoeft, M, Van Der Horst, AJ, Intema, H, Juette, E, Kohler, J, Kondratiev, VI, Kuniyoshi, M, Kuper, G, Loose, M, Maat, P, Mann, G, Markoff, S, McFadden, R, McKay-BGBRowski, D, Miley, G, Moldon, J, Molenaar, G, Munk, H, Nelles, A, Paas, H, Pandey-Pommier, M, Pandey, VN, Pietka, G, Polatidis, AG, Reich, W, Rottgering, H, Rowlinson, A, Scaife, A, Schoenmakers, A, Schwarz, D, Serylak, M, Shulevski, A, Smirnov, O, Steinmetz, M, Stewart, A, Swinbank, J, Tagger, M, Tasse, C, Thoudam, S, Toribio, MC, Vermeulen, R, Vocks, C, Van Weeren, RJ, Wijers, RAMJ, Wise, MW & Wucknitz, O 2015, 'Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 584, A112. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620

T2 - A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes

AU - Orru, E.

AU - Van Velzen, S.

AU - Pizzo, R. F.

AU - Yatawatta, S.

AU - Paladino, R.

AU - Iacobelli, M.

AU - Murgia, M.

AU - Falcke, H.

AU - Morganti, R.

AU - De Bruyn, A. G.

AU - Ferrari, C.

AU - Anderson, J.

AU - Bonafede, A.

AU - Mulcahy, D.

AU - Asgekar, A.

AU - Avruch, I. M.

AU - Beck, R.

AU - Bell, M. E.

AU - Van Bemmel, I.

AU - Bentum, M. J.

AU - Bernardi, G.

AU - Best, P.

AU - Breitling, F.

AU - Broderick, J. W.

AU - Bruggen, M.

AU - Butcher, H. R.

AU - Ciardi, B.

AU - Conway, J. E.

AU - Corstanje, A.

AU - De Geus, E.

AU - Deller, A.

AU - Duscha, S.

AU - Eisloffel, J.

AU - Engels, D.

AU - Frieswijk, W.

AU - Garrett, M. A.

AU - Grießmeier, J.

AU - Gunst, A. W.

AU - Hamaker, J. P.

AU - Heald, G.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Van Der Horst, A. J.

AU - Intema, H.

AU - Juette, E.

AU - Kohler, J.

AU - Kondratiev, V. I.

AU - Kuniyoshi, M.

AU - Kuper, G.

AU - Loose, M.

AU - Maat, P.

AU - Mann, G.

AU - Markoff, S.

AU - McFadden, R.

AU - McKay-BGBRowski, D.

AU - Miley, G.

AU - Moldon, J.

AU - Molenaar, G.

AU - Munk, H.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Paas, H.

AU - Pandey-Pommier, M.

AU - Pandey, V. N.

AU - Pietka, G.

AU - Polatidis, A. G.

AU - Reich, W.

AU - Rottgering, H.

AU - Rowlinson, A.

AU - Scaife, A.

AU - Schoenmakers, A.

AU - Schwarz, D.

AU - Serylak, M.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Smirnov, O.

AU - Steinmetz, M.

AU - Stewart, A.

AU - Swinbank, J.

AU - Tagger, M.

AU - Tasse, C.

AU - Thoudam, S.

AU - Toribio, M. C.

AU - Vermeulen, R.

AU - Vocks, C.

AU - Van Weeren, R. J.

AU - Wijers, R. A.M.J.

AU - Wise, M. W.

AU - Wucknitz, O.

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - The existence of double-double radio galaxies (DDRGs) is evidence for recurrent jet activity in active galactic nuclei (AGN), as expected from standard accretion models. A detailed study of these rare sources provides new perspectives for investigating the AGN duty cycle, AGN-galaxy feedback, and accretion mechanisms. Large catalogues of radio sources, on the other hand, provide statistical information about the evolution of the radio-loud AGN population out to high redshifts. Aims. Using wide-field imaging with the LOFAR telescope, we study both a well-known DDRG as well as a large number of radio sources in the field of view. Methods. We present a high resolution image of the DDRG B1834+620 obtained at 144 MHz using LOFAR commissioning data. Our image covers about 100 square degrees and contains over 1000 sources. Results. The four components of the DDRG B1834+620 have been resolved for the first time at 144 MHz. Inner lobes were found to point towards the direction of the outer lobes, unlike standard FR II sources. Polarized emission was detected at +60 rad m-2 in the northern outer lobe. The high spatial resolution allows the identification of a large number of small double-lobed radio sources; roughly 10% of all sources in the field are doubles with a separation smaller than 1′. Conclusions. The spectral fit of the four components is consistent with a scenario in which the outer lobes are still active or the jets recently switched off, while emission of the inner lobes is the result of a mix-up of new and old jet activity. From the presence of the newly extended features in the inner lobes of the DDRG, we can infer that the mechanism responsible for their formation is the bow shock that is driven by the newly launched jet. We find that the density of the small doubles exceeds the density of FR II sources with similar properties at 1.4 GHz, but this difference becomes smaller for low flux densities. Finally, we show that the significant challenges of wide-field imaging (e.g., time and frequency variation of the beam, directional dependent calibration errors) can be solved using LOFAR commissioning data, thus demonstrating the potential of the full LOFAR telescope to discover millions of powerful AGN at redshift z ∼ 1.

AB - The existence of double-double radio galaxies (DDRGs) is evidence for recurrent jet activity in active galactic nuclei (AGN), as expected from standard accretion models. A detailed study of these rare sources provides new perspectives for investigating the AGN duty cycle, AGN-galaxy feedback, and accretion mechanisms. Large catalogues of radio sources, on the other hand, provide statistical information about the evolution of the radio-loud AGN population out to high redshifts. Aims. Using wide-field imaging with the LOFAR telescope, we study both a well-known DDRG as well as a large number of radio sources in the field of view. Methods. We present a high resolution image of the DDRG B1834+620 obtained at 144 MHz using LOFAR commissioning data. Our image covers about 100 square degrees and contains over 1000 sources. Results. The four components of the DDRG B1834+620 have been resolved for the first time at 144 MHz. Inner lobes were found to point towards the direction of the outer lobes, unlike standard FR II sources. Polarized emission was detected at +60 rad m-2 in the northern outer lobe. The high spatial resolution allows the identification of a large number of small double-lobed radio sources; roughly 10% of all sources in the field are doubles with a separation smaller than 1′. Conclusions. The spectral fit of the four components is consistent with a scenario in which the outer lobes are still active or the jets recently switched off, while emission of the inner lobes is the result of a mix-up of new and old jet activity. From the presence of the newly extended features in the inner lobes of the DDRG, we can infer that the mechanism responsible for their formation is the bow shock that is driven by the newly launched jet. We find that the density of the small doubles exceeds the density of FR II sources with similar properties at 1.4 GHz, but this difference becomes smaller for low flux densities. Finally, we show that the significant challenges of wide-field imaging (e.g., time and frequency variation of the beam, directional dependent calibration errors) can be solved using LOFAR commissioning data, thus demonstrating the potential of the full LOFAR telescope to discover millions of powerful AGN at redshift z ∼ 1.

KW - Astroparticle physics

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Instrumentation: interferometers

KW - Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal

KW - Radio continuum: galaxies

KW - Techniques: interferometric

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84948954608

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201526501

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84948954608

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 584

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A112

ER -

Wide-field LOFAR imaging of the field around the double-double radio galaxy B1834+620: A fresh view on a restarted AGN and doubeltjes

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Keywords

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