24–28 Nov 2025
Bologna, Area della Ricerca del CNR
Europe/Rome timezone

Revealing the Magnetic Landscape of Galaxy Clusters with SKA

26 Nov 2025, 17:00
15m
Centro Congressi (Bologna, Area della Ricerca del CNR )

Centro Congressi

Bologna, Area della Ricerca del CNR

Via P. Gobetti 101

Speaker

Francesca Loi (INAF-OAC)

Description

Recent observations of diffuse radio sources in galaxy clusters, along with the detection of polarized emission from the tails of a jellyfish galaxy, underscore the pivotal role of intracluster magnetic fields in governing the physical conditions of these environments and influencing the evolution of cluster galaxies. Understanding the properties of these fields is crucial for comprehending the physical processes occurring in galaxy groups and clusters, as well as the evolution of the embedded sources. The upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescopes promise to transform this field through their unprecedented sensitivity, high angular resolution, and broad frequency coverage. These capabilities will enable detailed analysis of the Rotation Measure (RM) grid, providing a deeper understanding of intracluster magnetic fields.
In this talk, starting with the unprecedented results of the MeerKAT Fornax Survey in polarization (~80 polarized sources/deg²), I will discuss the impact of the SKA-mid telescope in enhancing our understanding of cluster physics and galaxy evolution, critically examining both the strengths and limitations of the proposed survey design.

Topics Galaxy Clusters & LSS (relativistic particles and magnetic fields)

Author

Francesca Loi (INAF-OAC)

Presentation materials