Radio Halo of NGC 4631: Comparing Observations and Simulations
  We present low frequency observations at $315$ and $745$ MHz from the
upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) of the edge-on, nearby galaxy
NGC $4631$. We compare the observed surface brightness profiles along the minor
axis of the galaxy with those obtained from hydrodynamical simulations of
galactic outflows. These are 3D simulations that replicate star-formation in a
Milky-Way mass galaxy and follow magnetized outflows emerging from the disk. We
detect a plateau-like feature in the observed emission at a height of $2-3$ kpc
from the mid-plane of the galaxy, in qualitative agreement with that expected
from simulations. This feature is believed to be due to the compression of
magnetic fields behind the outer shocks of galactic outflows. We model the
observed surface brightness profiles by assuming an exponential as well as a
Gaussian fitting model. Using $\chi^2$ statistics, we find that the exponential
model fits the profiles better and we use it to determine the scale heights. We
estimate the scale height for the synchrotron radio emission to be $\sim 1$
kpc. The timescales for advection due to outflows and diffusion of cosmic ray
electrons are $\gtrsim 5$ and $\sim 160$ Myr, respectively. Because advection
acts on a timescale much shorter than diffusion, we conclude that in NGC $4631$
advection, rather than diffusion, plays the dominant role in the formation of
radio halo. The spectral index image with regions of flatter radio spectral
index in the halo appears to indicate possible effects of gas outflow from the
plane of the galaxy.
