2019A&A...622A..25W

Massive, merging galaxy clusters often host giant, diffuse radio sources that arise from shocks and turbulence; hence, radio observations can be useful for determining the merger state of a cluster. In preparation for a larger study, we selected three clusters - Abell 1319, Abell 1314, and RXC J1501.3+4220 (Z7215) - making use of the new LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) at 120-168MHz, and together with archival data, show that these clusters appear to be in pre-merging, merging, and post-merging states, respectively. We argue that Abell 1319 is likely in its pre-merging phase, where three separate cluster components are about to merge. There are no radio haloes nor radio relics detected in this system. Abell 1314 is a highly disturbed, low-mass cluster that is likely in the process of merging. This low-mass system does not show a radio halo, however, we argue that the merger activates mechanisms that cause electron re-acceleration in the large 800kpc radio tail associated with IC 711. In the cluster Z7215 we discover diffuse radio emission at the cluster centre, and we classify this emission as a radio halo, although it is dimmer and smaller than expected by the radio halo power versus cluster mass correlation. We suggest that the disturbed cluster Z7215 is in its post-merging phase. Systematic studies of this kind over a larger sample of clusters observed with LoTSS will help to constrain the timescales involved in turbulent re-acceleration and the subsequent energy losses of the underlying electrons.