Open AccessJ06587−5558: a very unusual polarized radio source
Author(s) -
Liang H.,
Ekers R.D.,
Hunstead R.W.,
Falco E.E.,
Shaver P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.05045.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , polarization (electrochemistry) , radio galaxy , spectral line , galaxy , astronomy , active galactic nucleus , chemistry
We have found a peculiar radio source, J06587−5558, in the field of one of the hottest known clusters of galaxies, 1E 0657−56. It is slightly extended and highly polarized (54 per cent at 8.8 GHz), and has a very steep spectrum, with at 1.3 GHz, steepening to ∼ at 8.8 GHz . No extragalactic sources are known with such high integrated polarization, and sources with spectra as steep as this are rare. In this Letter, we report the unusual properties of the source J06587−5558 and speculate on its origin and optical identification.