Leiden University Student Repository

Goesaert, Wout (2022)

Faraday rotation of radio sources in Abell 85 using the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey

Bachelor thesis | Natuurkunde (BSc)

Using new data from the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS), a Faraday rotation study is presented of the Abell 85 magnetic field structure. A rotation measure (RM) grid of 58 deg−2 was constructed using linearly polarized background and intracluster sources. Radial RM and depolarization profiles were then constructed that are close to discerning between magnetic field models within a single cluster. In the south east of Abell 85, a region of high (σRM > 20 rad m−2) depolarization was found that coincides with a stream of subclusters falling into the center of Abell 85. The MGCLS was found to be highly capable for performing Faraday rotation analysis with a more than tenfold increase in RM grid density and a twofold increase in fit parameter precision compared to the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). The constraints and quality of the MGCLS data for Faraday rotation studies were investigated through basic source simulations and a comparison with results from the VLA. A limit...Show moreUsing new data from the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS), a Faraday rotation study is presented of the Abell 85 magnetic field structure. A rotation measure (RM) grid of 58 deg−2 was constructed using linearly polarized background and intracluster sources. Radial RM and depolarization profiles were then constructed that are close to discerning between magnetic field models within a single cluster. In the south east of Abell 85, a region of high (σRM > 20 rad m−2) depolarization was found that coincides with a stream of subclusters falling into the center of Abell 85. The MGCLS was found to be highly capable for performing Faraday rotation analysis with a more than tenfold increase in RM grid density and a twofold increase in fit parameter precision compared to the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). The constraints and quality of the MGCLS data for Faraday rotation studies were investigated through basic source simulations and a comparison with results from the VLA. A limit was identified in its depolarization range of (σRM ∼ 35 rad m−2), in addition to systematiShow less

astronomy

galaxy cluster

magnetic fields

Faraday rotation

Faraday

polarization

MeerKAT

radio astronomy

Author

Goesaert, Wout

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Supervisors

Dr. R.J. van Weeren

ECTS Credits

24

Language

en