Collimated synchrotron threads linking the radio lobes of ESO 137-006
M. Ramatsoku, M. Murgia, V. Vacca, P. Serra, Sphesihle Makhathini, F. Govoni, O. Smirnov, Lexy A. L. Andati, W. J. G. de Blok, G. I. G. Józsa, P. Kamphuis, D. Kleiner, F. M. Maccagni, D. Cs. Molnár, A. J. T. Ramaila, Kshitij Thorat, S. V. White
Abstract
We present MeerKAT 1000 MHz and 1400 MHz observations of a bright radio galaxy in the southern hemisphere, ESO 137-006. The galaxy lies at the centre of the massive and merging Norma galaxy cluster. The MeerKAT continuum images (rms ∼0.02 mJy beam−1 at ∼10″ resolution) reveal new features that have never been seen in a radio galaxy before: collimated synchrotron threads of yet unknown origin, which link the extended and bent radio lobes of ESO 137-006. The most prominent of these threads stretches in projection for about 80 kpc and is about 1 kpc in width. The radio spectrum of the threads is steep, with a spectral index of up to α ≃ 2 between 1000 and 1400 MHz.