Giant Ringlike Radio Structures Around Galaxy Cluster Abell 3376

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 314; no. 5800; pp. 791 - 794
• Main Authors: Bagchi, Joydeep, Durret, Florence, Lima Neto, Gastão B, Paul, Surajit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 03.11.2006; The American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics; Cosmology; Earth, ocean, space; Electrons; Exact sciences and technology; Galactic radio waves; Galaxy clusters; Galaxy groups, clusters, and superclusters. Large-scale structure of the universe; Intergalactic medium; Magnetic fields; Particle acceleration; Physics; Radio astronomy; Radio structures; Radio telescopes; Shock waves; Stars & galaxies; Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe; Synchrotrons; Warm hot intergalactic medium; Supersonic flow; Energetics; Intergalactic matter; Radio galaxies; VLA observation; Large-scale structure; Cosmic radiation; Galaxy clusters; Shock waves; Cosmic particle; Dark matter; Galaxy structure; Filaments; Cold dark matter; Cosmic radio sources; Cosmology; Gravity waves
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1131189

In the current paradigm of cold dark matter cosmology, large-scale structures are assembling through hierarchical clustering of matter. In this process, an important role is played by megaparsec (Mpc)-scale cosmic shock waves, arising in gravity-driven supersonic flows of intergalactic matter onto dark matter-dominated collapsing structures such as pancakes, filaments, and clusters of galaxies. Here, we report Very Large Array telescope observations of giant (~2 Mpc by 1.6 Mpc), ring-shaped nonthermal radio-emitting structures, found at the outskirts of the rich cluster of galaxies Abell 3376. These structures may trace the elusive shock waves of cosmological large-scale matter flows, which are energetic enough to power them. These radio sources may also be the acceleration sites where magnetic shocks are possibly boosting cosmic-ray particles with energies of up to 10¹⁸ to 10¹⁹ electron volts.