621 research outputs found

    The history and evolution of young and distant radio sources

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    We study two classes of object to gain a better understanding of the evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN): Infrared-Faint Radio Sources (IFRSs) and Gigahertz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) / Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) sources. IFRSs are a recently discovered rare class of object, which were found to be strong in the radio but undetectable in extremely sensitive infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope, even in stacked images with σ 3. Therefore, IFRSs may significantly increase the number of known high-redshift galaxies. However, their non-detections in the optical and infrared prevented confirmation of their nature. Previous studies of IFRSs focused on very sensitive observations of a few small regions of the sky, and the largest sample consisted of 55 IFRSs. However, we follow the strategy of combining radio data with IR and optical data for a large region of the sky. Using these data, we discover a population of >1300 brighter IFRSs which are, for the first time, reliably detected in the infrared and optical. We present the first spectroscopic redshifts of IFRSs and show that the brightest IFRSs are at z > 2. Furthermore, we rule out that IFRSs are Star Forming Galaxies, hotspots, lobes or misidentifications. We find the first X-ray counterparts of IFRSs, and increase the number of known polarised IFRSs five-fold. We present an analysis of their radio spectra and show that IFRSs consist of GPS, CSS and ultra-steep-spectrum sources. We follow up >50 of these using VLBI observations, and confirm the AGN status of IFRSs. We conclude that IFRSs represent a new population of high-redshift radio galaxies, which, for the faintest IFRSs, may have redshifts as high as z = 7 and consist of a few hundred thousand objects across the μJy sky. GPS and CSS sources are compact radio sources with a convex radio spectrum. They are widely thought to represent young and evolving radio galaxies that have recently launched their jets. However, good evidence exists in individual cases that GPS and CSS sources are one of the following: 1) frustrated by interactions with dense gas and dust in their environment; 2) prematurely dying radio sources; 3) recurrent radio galaxies. Their convex spectrum is generally thought to be caused by Synchrotron Self Absorption (SSA), an internal process in which the same population of electrons is responsible for the synchrotron emission and self-absorption. However, recent studies have shown that the convex spectrum may be caused by Free-Free Absorption (FFA), an external process in which an inhomogeneous screen absorbs the synchrotron emission. The majority of GPS and CSS samples consist of Jy-level and therefore, high-luminosity sources. VLBI images show that GPS and CSS sources typically have double-lobed, edge-brightened morphologies on mas scales, appearing as scaled down versions of Fanaroff-Riley Class II (FR II) galaxies. Recently, two low-luminosity GPS sources were found to have jet-brightened morphologies, which appeared as scaled down versions of Fanaroff-Riley Class I (FR I) galaxies. From this, it was proposed that there exists a morphology-luminosity break analogous to the FR I/II break and that low-luminosity GPS and CSS sources are the compact counterparts of FR I galaxies. However, this hypothesis remains unconfirmed, since very few samples of low-luminosity GPS and CSS sources exist. We have observed the faintest population of GPS and CSS sources to date, consisting ⇠150 sources, many of which are low-luminosity. We use high-resolution radio observations to determine their linear size, resolve their jets and observe their small-scale morphology. We combine these data with a large number of radio observations at other frequencies to model their radio spectra using SSA and FFA models. In particular, we use very low frequency observations that have only recently become available to constrain their spectral peaks. We follow up eight of the most compact sources with VLBI and detect six of them. We find that our GPS and CSS sources are well modelled by an inhomogeneous FFA model (hereafter ‘FFA’). Furthermore, we find a number of very compact GPS and CSS sources that are inconsistent with SSA theory. We show that a single inhomogeneous SSA model fits poorly to the majority of radio spectra, predicting far too steep a slope below the peak. We resolve all of the sources with VLBI and derive their kinematic ages based on the jet sizes. Even when assuming more complex SSA models, we derive magnetic field strengths several orders of magnitude too high for one source. A few sources are well modelled by an FFA model in which the inhomogeneous absorption is dominated by clouds of high density, consistent with the frustration hypothesis. However, the majority of sources are well modelled by FFA models with low-density clouds. These models suggest that an inhomogeneous and clumpy medium surrounds the sources, implying they may undergo recurrent activity. Furthermore, the spectral model of one CSS source suggests it is a prematurely dying radio galaxy whose jets have been switched off for ∽600 years. However, we find no evidence of restarted radio galaxies within our high resolution observations. The kinematic and spectral ages we derive are consistent with the hypothesis that GPS and CSS sources are young and evolving. We find tentative evidence that at mJy-levels, the fraction of CSS sources is smaller than the fraction estimated for Jy-level sources. This may be accounted for as a selection effect or if a smaller fraction of mJy-level GPS sources evolve into CSS sources as compared to the Jy-level GPS sources. We find a few GPS sources with low luminosities, which we will follow up with VLBI to test whether they are the compact counterparts of FR I galaxies. We conclude that, despite being historically favoured, single inhomogeneous SSA is not the dominant form of absorption amongst a large fraction of GPS and CSS sources. We find that FFA provides a good model for the majority of the spectra with observable turnovers, suggesting an inhomogeneous and clumpy ambient medium. Furthermore, we conclude that the majority of our GPS and CSS sources are young and evolving and may undergo recurrent activity over small time scales. We conclude that a very small fraction of GPS and CSS sources consists of frustrated, dying or restarted radio galaxies

    How well do POLST forms assure that patients get the end-of-life care they requested?

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    Q: How well do POLST forms assure that patients get the end-of-life care they requested? A: quite well, for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Most patients (91%-100%) who select "do not resuscitate" (DNR) on their physician's orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) forms are allowed a natural death without attempted CPR across a variety of settings (community, skilled nursing facilities, emergency medical services, and hospice). Few patients (6%) who select "comfort measures only" die in the hospital, whereas more (22%) who choose "limited interventions," and still more (34%) without a POLST form, die in the hospital (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, large, consistent cross-sectional and cohort studies). Most patients (84%) who select "attempt resuscitation" receive resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in emergency services settings (SOR: B, small retrospective cohort study). POLST orders declining other services (intravenous fluids, intensive care, intubation, feeding tubes) are carried out in most (84%-100%) cases. POLST orders regarding antibiotic treatments are less effectively implemented (SOR: B, moderate-sized retrospective chart review).Authors: Jordan Collier, DO; Gary Kelsberg, MD Valley Family Medicine Residency, Renton, Wash; Sarah Safranek, MLIS University of Washington Health Sciences Library, Seattl

    Radio Planetary Nebulae in the Small Magellanic Cloud

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    We present ten new radio continuum (RC) detections at catalogued planetary nebula (PN) positions in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC): SMPS6, LIN 41, LIN 142, SMP S13, SMP S14, SMP S16, J18, SMP S18, SMP S19 and SMP S22. Additionally, six SMC radio PNe previously detected, LIN 45, SMP S11, SMPS17, LIN321, LIN339 and SMPS24 are also investigated (re-observed) here making up a population of 16 radio detections of catalogued PNe in the SMC. These 16 radio detections represent ~15 % of the total catalogued PN population in the SMC. We show that six of these objects have characteristics that suggest that they are PN mimics: LIN 41, LIN 45, SMP S11, LIN 142, LIN 321 and LIN 339. We also present our results for the surface brightness - PN radius relation ({\Sigma}-D) of the SMC radio PN population. These are consistent with previous SMC and LMC PN measurements of the ({\Sigma}-D) relation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

    Effect of Cattail (Typha domingensis) Extracts, Leachates, and Selected Phenolic Compounds on Rates of Oxygen Production by Salvinia (Salvinia minima)

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    Salvinia (Salvinia minima Willd.) is a water fern found in Florida waters, usually associated with Lemna and other small free-floating species. Due to its buoyancy and mat-forming abilities, it is spread by moving waters. In 1994, salvinia was reported to be present in 247 water bodies in the state (out of 451 surveyed public waters, Schardt 1997). It is a small, rapidly growing species that can become a nuisance due to its explosive growth rates and its ability to shade underwater life (Oliver 1993). Any efforts toward management of salvinia populations must consider that, in reasonable amounts, its presence is desirable since it plays an important role in the overall ecosystem balance. New management alternatives need to be explored besides the conventional herbicide treatments; for example, it has been shown that the growth of S. molesta can be inhibited by extracts of the tropical weed parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus) and its purified toxin parthenin (Pande 1994, 1996). We believe that cattail, Typha spp. may be a candidate for control of S. minima infestations. Cattail is an aggressive aquatic plant, and has the ability to expand over areas that weren't previously occupied by other species (Gallardo et al. 1998a and references cited there). In South Florida, T. domingensis is a natural component of the Everglades ecosystem, but in many cases it has become the dominant marsh species, outcompeting other native plants. In Florida public waters, this cattail species is the most dominant emergent species of aquatic plants (Schardt 1997). Several factors enable it to accomplish opportunistic expansion, including size, growth habits, adaptability to changes in the surroundings, and the release of compounds that can prevent the growth and development of other species. We have been concerned in the past with the inhibitory effects of the T. domingensis extracts, and the phenolic compounds mentioned before, towards the growth and propagation of S. minima (Gallardo et al. 1998b). This investigation deals with the impact of cattail materials on the rates of oxygen production of salvinia, as determined through a series of Warburg experiments (Martin et al. 1987, Prindle and Martin 1996)

    Infrared-Faint Radio Sources: A New Population of High-redshift Radio Galaxies

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    We present a sample of 1317 Infrared-Faint Radio Sources (IFRSs) that, for the first time, are reliably detected in the infrared, generated by cross-correlating the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) all-sky survey with major radio surveys. Our IFRSs are brighter in both radio and infrared than the first generation IFRSs that were undetected in the infrared by the Spitzer Space Telescope. We present the first spectroscopic redshifts of IFRSs, and find that all but one of the IFRSs with spectroscopy has z > 2. We also report the first X-ray counterparts of IFRSs, and present an analysis of radio spectra and polarization, and show that they include Gigahertz-Peaked Spectrum, Compact Steep Spectrum, and Ultra-Steep Spectrum sources. These results, together with their WISE infrared colours and radio morphologies, imply that our sample of IFRSs represents a population of radio-loud Active Galactic Nuclei at z > 2. We conclude that our sample consists of lower-redshift counterparts of the extreme first generation IFRSs, suggesting that the fainter IFRSs are at even higher redshift.Comment: 23 pages, 17 figures. Submitted to MNRA

    HI intensity mapping with the MIGHTEE survey: power spectrum estimates

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    Intensity mapping (IM) with neutral hydrogen is a promising avenue to probe the large scale structure of the Universe. With MeerKAT single-dish measurements, we are constrained to scales >1>1 degree, and this will allow us to set important constraints on the Baryon acoustic oscillations and redshift space distortions. However, with MeerKAT's interferometric observation, we can also probe relevant cosmological scales. In this paper, we establish that we can make a statistical detection of HI with one of MeerKAT's existing large survey projects (MIGHTEE) on semi-linear scales, which will provide a useful complementarity to the single-dish IM. We present a purpose-built simulation pipeline that emulates the MIGHTEE observations and forecast the constraints that can be achieved on the HI power spectrum at z=0.27z = 0.27 for k>0.3k > 0.3 Mpc1\rm{Mpc}^{-1} using the foreground avoidance method. We present the power spectrum estimates with the current simulation on the COSMOS field that includes contributions from HI, noise and point source models from the data itself. The results from our \textit{visibility} based pipeline are in good agreement to the already available MIGHTEE data. This paper demonstrates that MeerKAT can achieve very high sensitivity to detect HI with the full MIGHTEE survey on semi-linear scales (signal-to-noise ratio >7> 7 at k=0.49k=0.49 Mpc1\rm{Mpc}^{-1}) which are instrumental in probing cosmological quantities such as the spectral index of fluctuation, constraints on warm dark matter, the quasi-linear redshift space distortions and the measurement of the HI content of the Universe up to z0.5z\sim 0.5.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Submitted to MNRAS, comments welcom

    WALLABY Early Science - I. The NGC 7162 Galaxy Group

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    We present Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind Survey (WALLABY) early science results from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) observations of the NGC 7162 galaxy group. We use archival HIPASS and Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) observations of this group to validate the new ASKAP data and the data reduction pipeline ASKAPsoft. We detect six galaxies in the neutral hydrogen (HI) 21-cm line, expanding the NGC 7162 group membership from four to seven galaxies. Two of the new detections are also the first HI detections of the dwarf galaxies, AM 2159-434 and GALEXASC J220338.65-431128.7, for which we have measured velocities of cz=2558cz=2558 and cz=2727cz=2727 km s1^{-1}, respectively. We confirm that there is extended HI emission around NGC 7162 possibly due to past interactions in the group as indicated by the 4040^{\circ} offset between the kinematic and morphological major axes for NGC 7162A, and its HI richness. Taking advantage of the increased resolution (factor of 1.5\sim1.5) of the ASKAP data over archival ATCA observations, we fit a tilted ring model and use envelope tracing to determine the galaxies' rotation curves. Using these we estimate the dynamical masses and find, as expected, high dark matter fractions of fDM0.810.95f_{\mathrm{DM}}\sim0.81-0.95 for all group members. The ASKAP data are publicly available.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
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