Princeton University Astroplasmas Seminar

Radio lobes from active galactic nuclei (AGN) are a source of fossil cosmic-ray (CR) electrons within the intracluster medium (ICM), which may be re-accelerated and emit in the radio band. The re-acceleration of this fossil material is often linked to shocks, which may explain certain observed radio relics, and to turbulence, which may account for radio halos. In my talk, I will discuss magnetohydrodynamic simulations of binary galaxy cluster mergers, which include the injection of CR by jets from a central AGN. I will discuss our findings on the diverse morphologies produced by the CR as the merger evolves and the lobes are disrupted. I will also focus the discussion on the potential for this fossil material to be re-accelerated by shocks and turbulence, highlighting its significance in the diffuse radio emission observed in radio relics and radio halos.