An X-Ray and Radio Study of Steep-Spectrum Radio Sources. I. Four Fields from the Clark Lake Observatory 26 MHz Survey
Abstract
A multifrequency study of fields containing steep-spectrum radio sources is presented. We use new spectral and spatial data to determine the locations and optical identifications of steep-spectrum sources which previously had either poor positions or questionable correspondence to known sources. X-ray images from the Einstein Observatory provide estimates of the extent, temperature, density, and thermal pressure of hot gas associated with galaxies and clusters of galaxies. From the equations relating synchrotron emission to inverse Compton scattering of 3 K background photons, we derive lower limits to the average magnetic field strength in the source. For the resolved radio sources of known distance, we also calculate the minimum nonthermal pressure and the corresponding magnetic field strength. For the four fields discussed in this paper, we find that three out of five steep-spectrum sources are embedded in a cluster atmosphere and two are unidentified. Except for unresolved radio structures associated with cores of galaxies, the estimated thermal pressure is sufficient to confine the radio sources.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1086/166032
- Bibcode:
- 1988ApJ...325..610H
- Keywords:
-
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Radio Spectroscopy;
- X Ray Sources;
- X Ray Spectroscopy;
- Heao 2;
- Radio Spectra;
- Star Clusters;
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Astrophysics;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS;
- RADIO SOURCES: GALAXIES;
- RADIO SOURCES: IDENTIFICATIONS;
- RADIO SOURCES: SPECTRA;
- X-RAYS: SOURCES