A VLA Survey of Rich Clusters of Galaxies. I. Whole-cluster Maps, Source List and Source Statistics

Abstract

We have surveyed 58 fields near rich clusters of galaxies with the Very Large Array using scaled arrays in the B/C and/or C/O configurations at 1·5 GHz and 4·9 GHz. The fields were centred on steep spectrum sources in or near clusters that were earlier surveyed with lower resolution telescopes. The whole-field maps at 1·5 GHz are given and a list of 940 sources with 1·5 GHz flux densities down to -1 mJy is presented. Spectral indices of sources within 5' of the field centres are given. Complete flux-limited samples of sources are used to establish a criterion for cluster membership. Sources with total 1·5 GHz flux density >20 mjy and closer to the cluster centre than 0·28 of the cluster radius (a total of 57 sources) are accepted as cluster members.