Radio Spectral Index Distribution in Galaxy Cluster Radio Halos

Abstract

Radio Halos are steep spectrum, diffuse, Mpc-sized objects associated with the intra-cluster medium of merging clusters of galaxies. Despite 50 years since their discovery, the energy source of synchrotron emitting electrons is still not known. It is believed that turbulence and shocks generated during cluster mergers powers radio halos. In this thesis we have tried to investigate the connection between cluster merger and radio halos by constructing spatially resolved spectral index images using low frequency data from the GMRT.