Analysing spectral properties of the FR-II radio galaxy 3C330 using sub-arcsecond LOFAR-VLBI data

Lafontaine, Arno (2023) Analysing spectral properties of the FR-II radio galaxy 3C330 using sub-arcsecond LOFAR-VLBI data. Master's Thesis / Essay, Astronomy.

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Abstract

High-resolution observations are required to accurately study radio galaxy jets, hotspots and lobes in addition to the evolution and interaction of these components with the surrounding environment. Current models of radio galaxy physics have been primarily based on high frequencies (≥ 1 GHz) observations, with a lack of information in the low-frequency regime (≤ 300 MHz). The International LOw-Frequency ARray Telescope (LOFAR; ILT) offers a solution with its large bandwidth (121–166 MHz) sub-arcsecond angular resolution capabilities. In this thesis we present new 0.3′′ resolution images at 144 MHz of the powerful Fanaroff-Riley Type II radio galaxy 3C330. The data was taken from the second public data release (DR2) of the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) and was calibrated using a combination of the newly de- veloped pipeline for LOFAR Very Long Baseline Interferometry (LOFAR-VLBI) and a manual sub- band self-calibration strategy. By calibrating and using archival VLA data, we also present the first high-resolution spectral index map of the 3C330 lobes between 144 and 8500 MHz. We observe the presence of multiple secondary hotspots that exhibit spectral flattening and by analysis of their spectral index values we find that both the ’dentist-drill’ and the precessing jet termination model best fit the spectral evolution of 3C330. Additionally, our results show evidence of a change in precession angle of about 2°, which is smaller than the inferred 6° from other 3C sources.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay)
Supervisor name:	McKean, J.P.
Degree programme:	Astronomy
Thesis type:	Master's Thesis / Essay
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2023 13:33
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2023 13:33
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/31485

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