A radio study of the double-double radio galaxy 3C293

Abstract

We present radio continuum observations at frequencies ranging from ∼150 to 5000MHz of the misaligned double-double radio galaxy (DDRG) 3C 293 (J1352+3126) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Very Large Array (VLA). The spectra of the outer lobes and the central source are consistent with being straight, indicating spectral ages of ≲17-23Myr for the outer lobes and ≲0.1Myr for the central source. The north-western lobe has a prominent hotspot suggesting that the interruption of jet activity is ≲0.1Myr, consistent with the age of the inner double. The time-scale of interruption of jet activity appears significantly smaller than observed in most other DDRGs which are often associated with giant radio sources. These observations suggest that there is a wide range of time-scales of interruption of jet activity in active galaxies. © 2011 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2011 RAS.