4,494 research outputs found
The Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey parent population - I. Sample selection and number counts
We present the selection of the Jodrell Bank Flat-spectrum (JBF) radio source
sample, which is designed to reduce the uncertainties in the Cosmic Lens
All-Sky Survey (CLASS) gravitational lensing statistics arising from the lack
of knowledge about the parent population luminosity function. From observations
at 4.86 GHz with the Very Large Array, we have selected a sample of 117
flat-spectrum radio sources with flux densities greater than 5 mJy. These
sources were selected in a similar manner to the CLASS complete sample and are
therefore representative of the parent population at low flux densities. The
vast majority (~90 per cent) of the JBF sample are found to be compact on the
arcsecond scales probed here and show little evidence of any extended radio jet
emission. Using the JBF and CLASS complete samples we find the differential
number counts slope of the parent population above and below the CLASS 30 mJy
flux density limit to be -2.07+/-0.02 and -1.96+/-0.12, respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
VLA 8.4-GHz monitoring observations of the CLASS gravitational lens B1933+503
The complex ten-component gravitational lens system B1933+503 has been
monitored with the VLA during the period February to June 1998 with a view to
measuring the time delay between the four compact components and hence to
determine the Hubble parameter. Here we present the results of an `A'
configuration 8.4-GHz monitoring campaign which consists of 37 epochs with an
average spacing of 2.8 days. The data have yielded light curves for the four
flat-spectrum radio components (components 1, 3, 4 and 6). We observe only
small flux density changes in the four flat-spectrum components which we do not
believe are predominantly intrinsic to the source. Therefore the variations do
not allow us to determine the independent time delays in this system. However,
the data do allow us to accurately determine the flux density ratios between
the four flat-spectrum components. These will prove important as modelling
constraints and could prove crucial in future monitoring observations should
these data show only a monotonic increase or decrease in the flux densities of
the flat-spectrum components.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 5 pages, 2 included PostScript
figure
The properties of the gamma-ray blazars in the CJ-F VLBI sample
We present first results from the analysis of multi-epoch VLBI observations of the EGRET detected sources [9] in the CJ-F sample (Caltech Jodrell-Flat-spectrum, [10]). These objects form a subsample of 14 sources within the 293 AGN of the full CJ-F sample. 5 GHz VLBI snapshot observations of the CJ-F sources are continuously being performed in order to create a valid database for thorough statistical tests of pc-scale jet motion in AGN. All gamma-bright CJ-F AGN have been observed at least twice with the VLBA, which enables us to investigate jet component motions and paths. In particular, we concentrate on the analysis of those properties supposed to be essential for gamma-ray production, i.e., superluminal motion and bending. A paper discussing the possible relation between morphological changes and gamma-ray flaring/production is in preparation
Keck spectroscopy of CLASS gravitational lenses
We present the optical spectra of four newly discovered gravitational lenses
from the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS). These observations were carried
out using the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph on the W. M. Keck-I Telescope
as part of a program to study galaxy-scale gravitational lenses. From our
spectra we found the redshift of the background source in CLASS B0128+437
(z_s=3.1240+-0.0042) and the lensing galaxy redshifts in CLASS B0445+123
(z_l=0.5583+-0.0003) and CLASS B0850+054 (z_l=0.5883+-0.0006). Intriguingly, we
also discovered that CLASS B0631+519 may have two lensing galaxies
(z_l,1=0.0896+-0.0001, z_l,2=0.6196+-0.0004). We also found a single
unidentified emission line from the lensing galaxy in CLASS B0128+437 and the
lensed source in CLASS B0850+054. We find the lensing galaxies in CLASS
B0445+123 and CLASS B0631+519 (l,2) to be early-type galaxies with Einstein
Radii of 2.8-3.0 h^{-1} kpc. The deflector in CLASS B0850+054 is a late-type
galaxy with an Einstein Radius of 1.6 h^{-1} kpc.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
A Determination of H_0 with the CLASS Gravitational Lens B1608+656: I. Time Delay Measurements with the VLA
We present the results of a program to monitor the four-image gravitational
lens B1608+656 with the VLA. The system was observed over a seven month period
from 1996 October to 1997 May. The 64 epochs of observation have an average
spacing of 3.6~d. The light curves of the four images of the background source
show that the flux density of the background source has varied at the ~5%
level. We measure time delays in the system based on common features that are
seen in all four light curves. The three independent time delays in the system
are found to be Delta t_{BA} = 31 +/- 7~d, Delta t_{BC} = 36 +/- 7~d, and Delta
t_{BD} = 76^{+9}_{-10}~d at 95% confidence. This is the first gravitational
lens system for which three independent time delays have been measured. A
companion paper presents a mass model for the lensing galaxy which correctly
reproduces the observed image positions, flux density ratios, and time delay
ratios. The last condition is crucial for determining H_0 with a four-image
lens. We combine the time delays with the model to obtain a value for the
Hubble constant of H_0 = 59^{+8}_{-7} km/s/Mpc at 95% confidence (statistical)
for (Omega_M, Omega_{Lambda}) = (1,0). In addition, there is an estimated
systematic uncertainty of +/- 15 km/s/Mpc from uncertainties in modeling the
radial mass profiles of the lensing galaxies. The value of H_0 presented in
this paper is comparable to recent measurements of H_0 from the gravitational
lenses 0957+561, PG1115+080, B0218+357, and PKS1830-211.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 20 pages, 13 figure
Lensing galaxies: light or dark?
In a recent paper, Hawkins (1997) argues on the basis of statistical studies
of double-image gravitational lenses and lens candidates that a large
population of dark lenses exists and that these outnumber galaxies with more
normal mass-to-light ratios by a factor of 3:1. If correct, this is a very
important result for many areas of astronomy including galaxy formation and
cosmology. In this paper we discuss our new radio-selected gravitational lens
sample, JVAS/CLASS, in order to test and constrain this proposition. We have
obtained ground-based and HST images of all multiple-image lens systems in our
sample and in 12 cases out of 12 we find the lensing galaxies in the optical
and/or near infrared. Our success in finding lensing galaxies creates problems
for the dark lens hypothesis. If it is to survive, ad hoc modifications seem to
be necessary: only very massive galaxies (more than about one trillion solar
masses) can be dark, and the cutoff in mass must be sharp. Our finding of lens
galaxies in all the JVAS/CLASS systems is complementary evidence which supports
the conclusion of Kochanek et al. (1997) that many of the wide-separation
optically-selected pairs are physically distinct quasars rather than
gravitational lens systems.Comment: 4 pages, 2 included figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysics. Paper version available on request. This replacement amends
the text to allow more discussion of the overlap with astro-ph/971016
Robust Buchwald-Hartwig amination enabled by ball-milling
An operationally simple mechanochemical method for the Pd catalysed Buchwald–Hartwig amination of arylhalides with secondary amines has been developed using a Pd PEPPSI catalyst system. The system is demonstrated on 30 substrates and applied in the context of a target synthesis. Furthermore, the performance of the reaction under aerobic conditions has been probed under traditional solution and mechanochemical conditions, the observations are discussed herein
A multi-epoch VLBI survey of the kinematics of CFJ sources
Context. This is the second in a series of papers presenting VLBI observations of the 293 Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-spectrum (hereafter CJF) sources and their analysis.
Aims. We obtain a consistent motion dataset large enough to allow the systematic properties of the population to be studied.
Methods. We present detailed kinematic analysis of the complete flux-density limited CJF survey. We computed 2D kinematic models based on the optimal model-fitting parameters of multi-epoch VLBA observations. This allows us to calculate not only radial, but also orthogonal motions, and thus to study curvature and acceleration. Statistical tests of the motions measured and their reliability were performed. A correlation analysis between the derived apparent motions, luminosities, spectral indices, and core dominance and the resulting consequences is described.
Results. With at least one velocity in each of the 237 sources, this sample is much larger than any available before, so it allows a meaningful statistical investigation of apparent motions and any possible correlations with other parameters in AGN jets. The main results to emerge are as follows: - In general motions are not consistent with a single uniform velocity applicable to all components along a jet. - We find a slight trend towards a positive outward acceleration and also adduce some evidence for greater acceleration in the innermost regions. - We find a lack of fast components at physical distances less than a few pc from the reference feature. - Only ~4% of the components from galaxies and <2% of those from quasars undergo large bends i.e. within 15° of ± 90°. - The distribution of radial velocities shows a broad distribution of velocities (apparent velocities up to 30 c). Fifteen percent of the best-sampled jet components exhibit low velocities that may need to be explained in a different manner to the fast motions. - Some negative superluminal motions are seen, and in 15 cases (6%) these are definitely significant. - We find a strong correlation between the 5 GHz luminosity and the apparent velocity. - The CJF galaxies, on average, show slower apparent jet-component velocities than the quasars. - The mean velocity in the VLBA 2 cm survey (Kellermann et al. 2004, ApJ, 609, 539) is substantially higher than in the CJF survey, the ratio could be roughly a factor of 1.5-2. This supports the observed trend toward increasing apparent velocity with increasing observing frequency.
Conclusions. This AGN survey provides the basis for any statistical analysis of jet and jet-component properties
Anomalous Crossing Frequency in Odd Proton Nuclei
A generic explanation for the recently observed anomalous crossing
frequencies in odd proton rare earth nuclei is given. As an example, the proton
band in Ta is discussed in detail by using the
angular momentum projection theory. It is shown that the quadrupole pairing
interaction is decisive in delaying the crossing point and the changes in
crossing frequency along the isotope chain are due to the different neutron
shell fillings
Simulations for single-dish intensity mapping experiments
HI intensity mapping is an emerging tool to probe dark energy. Observations
of the redshifted HI signal will be contaminated by instrumental noise,
atmospheric and Galactic foregrounds. The latter is expected to be four orders
of magnitude brighter than the HI emission we wish to detect. We present a
simulation of single-dish observations including an instrumental noise model
with 1/f and white noise, and sky emission with a diffuse Galactic foreground
and HI emission. We consider two foreground cleaning methods: spectral
parametric fitting and principal component analysis. For a smooth frequency
spectrum of the foreground and instrumental effects, we find that the
parametric fitting method provides residuals that are still contaminated by
foreground and 1/f noise, but the principal component analysis can remove this
contamination down to the thermal noise level. This method is robust for a
range of different models of foreground and noise, and so constitutes a
promising way to recover the HI signal from the data. However, it induces a
leakage of the cosmological signal into the subtracted foreground of around 5%.
The efficiency of the component separation methods depends heavily on the
smoothness of the frequency spectrum of the foreground and the 1/f noise. We
find that as, long as the spectral variations over the band are slow compared
to the channel width, the foreground cleaning method still works.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. Submitted to MNRA
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