2008/12/10 by V. Safouris, R. Subrahmanyan, G. V. Bicknell +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Elliptical galaxy #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy merger #Interacting galaxy #Intergalactic travel #Lenticular galaxy #Quasar #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Radio galaxy #X-shaped radio galaxy #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14181.x
27 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2008/12/10 · openalex publication_date 2009/01/09 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present an investigation of the relationships between the radio properties of a giant radio galaxy MRC B0319−454 and the surrounding galaxy distribution with the aim of examining the influence of intergalactic gas and gravity associated with the large-scale structure on the evolution in the radio morphology. Our new radio continuum observations of the radio source, with high surface brightness sensitivity, images the asymmetries in the megaparsec-scale radio structure in total intensity and polarization. We compare these with the three-dimensional galaxy distribution derived from galaxy redshift surveys. Galaxy density gradients are observed along and perpendicular to the radio axis: the large-scale structure is consistent with a model wherein the galaxies trace the ambient intergalactic gas and the evolution of the radio structures are ram-pressure limited by this associated gas. Additionally, we have modelled the off-axis evolution of the south-west radio lobe as deflection of a buoyant jet backflow by a transverse gravitational field: the model is plausible if entrainment is small. The case study presented here is a demonstration that giant radio galaxies may be useful probes of the warm-hot intergalactic medium believed to be associated with moderately over dense galaxy distributions.