English

XGAP with uGMRT I: Old AGN plasma in merging galaxy groups

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2026-02-06 v1

Abstract

Galaxy groups are affected by outflows from central Active Galactic Nuclei due to the shallower gravitational potential compared to galaxy clusters. The group binding energy is comparable to the energy output from AGN, making it an important factor in mutual evolution. We present a multi-wavelength analysis of three dynamically active groups: SDSSTG8102, SDSSTG16393, and SDSSTG28674, which are part of the XMM-Newton Group AGN Project X-GAP sample, a statistically complete sample of 49 galaxy groups. We combine uGMRT 400 MHz observations with 144 MHz LOFAR and XMM-Newton observations to study the radio sources associated with the Brightest Group Galaxies (BGGs). The BGGs in SDSSTG8102 and SDSSTG16393 have extended radio emission with asymmetric distortions in their morphologies. SDSSTG28674 has a compact flat-spectrum radio source associated with the BGG and an extended lobe on one side, connected by a faint bridge detected with LOFAR. Integrated spectral indices of the three BGGs are 0.96±0.09-0.96\pm0.09 (SDSSTG8102), 1.35±0.09-1.35\pm0.09 (SDSSTG16393), and 1.6±0.02-1.6\pm0.02 (SDSSTG28674). X-ray images reveal elongated morphologies in all three groups, with SDSSTG28674 showing evidence of a binary merger, while thermodynamical maps highlight temperature variations. In SDSSTG8102, lobes are bent and displaced by IGrM flows, while SDSSTG16393 hosts steep-spectrum relic-like plasma coinciding with X-ray emission. SDSSTG28674, with its ultra-steep spectrum lobe and disturbed morphology, likely traces merger-driven activity, consistent with a remnant or revived radio phoenix. The spectral diversity across the systems reflects different stages of AGN fading governed by duty cycle, source age, and confinement by the hot IGrM.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2602.05609,
  title  = {XGAP with uGMRT I: Old AGN plasma in merging galaxy groups},
  author = {R. Santra and R. Kale and K. Kolokythas and M. Brienza and E. O'Sullivan and D. Eckert and F. De. Gasperin and T. Pasini and F. Gastaldello and A. Finoguenov and M. Sun and G. Gozaliasl and M. Bourne},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.05609},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 15 pages (total), 22 figures, 4 tables, 2 appendix (4 figures). Abstract abridged for arXiv submission

R2 v1 2026-07-01T09:37:49.136Z