A giant radio halo in the cool core cluster CL1821+643

Abstract

Giant radio haloes are Mpc-size sources found in some merging galaxy clusters. The synchrotron emitting electrons are thought to be (re)accelerated by plasma turbulence induced by the merging of two massive clusters. Cool core galaxy clusters have a low-temperature core, likely an indication that a major merger has not recently occurred. CL1821+643 is one of the strongest cool core clusters known so far. Surprisingly, we detect a giant radio halo with a largest linear size of ~1.1 Mpc. We discuss the radio and X-ray properties of the cluster in the framework of the proposed models for giant radio haloes. If a merger is causing the radio emission, despite the presence of a cool core, we suggest that it should be off-axis, or in an early phase, or a minor one.