MeerKAT 1.3 GHz observations of the wide-angle tail radio galaxy J1712-2435

Abstract

We present full polarization MeerKAT images of the wide-angle tail, giant radio galaxy J17122435 at 1.3 GHz with 7.\asec5 resolution and an RMS sensitivity of 8 Jy beam. Due to the angular proximity to the Galactic Center (l=359.6, b=+8.5) the immediate environment is not well understood but there are massive clusters nearby. Emission can be traced over an extent of 34.\amin6 which at the redshift of 0.024330 corresponds to a projected length of 1.02 Mpc. The inner jets are quite straight but then bend and completely decollimate into extended plumes nearly orthogonal to the initial jet directions at a projected distance of approximately 100 kpc. The nearly unity brightness ratio of the inner jets suggest that they are orientated within a few degrees of the plane of the sky. The 1400 MHz power is 3.9 W Hz, somewhat below the FRI/FRII divide. The total power emitted is estimated to be 5.6 erg sec over the range 10 MHz to 100 GHz. The source dynamics are modeled with magneto-hydrodynamics simulations; the result is a rough reproduction of the source's radio morphology / appearance. This study further highlights the merit of alternative scenarios, calling for future observational and numerical efforts.