Radio halos in a mass-selected sample of 75 galaxy clusters: I. Sample selection and data analysis

Context. Radio halos are synchrotron diffiuse sources at the centre of a fraction of galaxy clusters. The study of large samples of clusters with adequate radio and X-ray data is necessary to investigate the origin of radio halos and their connection with the cluster dynamics and formation history. Aims. The aim of this paper is to compile a well-selected sample of galaxy clusters with deep radio observations to perform an unbiased statistical study of the properties of radio halos. Methods. We selected 75 clusters with M ≤ 6 × 1014M⊙at z = 0.08-0.33 from the Planck Sunyaev-Zel'dovich catalogue. Clusters without suitable radio data were observed with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and/or the Jansky Very Large Array to complete the information about the possible presence of diffiuse emission. We used archival Chandra X-ray data to derive information on the clusters' dynamical states. Results. This observational campaign led to the detection of several cluster-scale diffiuse radio sources and candidates that deserve future follow-up observations. Here we summarise their properties and add information resulting from our new observations. For the clusters where we did not detect any hint of diffiuse emission, we derived new upper limits to their diffiuse flux. Conclusions.We have built the largest mass-selected (>80% complete in mass) sample of galaxy clusters with deep radio observations available to date. The statistical analysis of the sample, which includes the connection between radio halos and cluster mergers, the radio power - mass correlation, and the occurrence of radio halos as a function of the cluster mass, will be presented in Paper II.