Speaker
Description
Abell 168 is among the lowest mass galaxy clusters known to host multiple-component diffuse radio emission in its outskirts. Previous observations with GLEAM and GMRT revealed two extended radio sources with elongated and circular morphologies, which were classified as radio relics (Dwarakanath et al. 2018). In this study, we present a comprehensive multi-wavelength analysis of Abell 168 using new and archival data from LOFAR, GMRT, MeerKAT, XMM-Newton, and Chandra. Our analysis aims to investigate the origin, morphology, and spectral properties of the diffuse emission. We explore the dynamical state of the cluster and its environment through X-ray imaging and radio spectral mapping. The combined data allow us to test the relic classification and assess alternative scenarios, such as shock-induced emission or revived fossil plasma. This work provides new insights into the nature of diffuse radio sources in low-mass clusters and contributes to our understanding of particle acceleration mechanisms in less energetic environments.
