SINFONI's take on Star Formation, Molecular Gas, and Black Hole Masses in AGN

We present some preliminary (half-way) results on our adaptive optics spectroscopic survey of AGN at spatial scales down to 0.085arcsec. Most of the data were obtained with SINFONI which provides integral field capability at a spectral resolution of R~4000. The themes on which we focus in this contribution are: star formation around the AGN, the properties of the molecular gas and its relation to the torus, and the mass of the black hole.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Science Perspectives for 3D Spectroscopy. ESO Astrophysics Symposia. Ed by M. Kissler-Patig, M. Roth and J. Wals

New Cosmological Structures on Medium Angular Scales Detected with the Tenerife Experiments

We present observations at 10 and 15 GHz taken with the Tenerife experiments in a band of the sky at Dec.=+35 degrees. These experiments are sensitive to multipoles in the range l=10-30. The sensitivity per beam is 56 and 20 microK for the 10 and the 15 GHz data, respectively. After subtraction of the prediction of known radio-sources, the analysis of the data at 15 GHz at high Galactic latitude shows the presence of a signal with amplitude Delta Trms ~ 32 microK. In the case of a Harrison-Zeldovich spectrum for the primordial fluctuations, a likelihood analysis shows that this signal corresponds to a quadrupole amplitude Q_rms-ps=20.1+7.1-5.4 microK, in agreement with our previous results at Dec.+=40 degrees and with the results of the COBE DMR. There is clear evidence for the presence of individual features in the RA range 190 degrees to 250 degrees with a peak to peak amplitude of ~110 microK. A preliminary comparison between our results and COBE DMR predictions for the Tenerife experiments clearly indicates the presence of individual features common to both. The constancy in amplitude over such a large range in frequency (10-90 GHz) is strongly indicative of an intrinsic cosmological origin for these structures.Comment: ApJ Letters accepted, 13 pages Latex (uses AASTEX) and 4 encapsulated postscript figures

The existence and detection of optically dark galaxies by 21cm surveys

One explanation for the disparity between Cold Dark Matter (CDM) predictions of galaxy numbers and observations could be that there are numerous dark galaxies in the Universe. These galaxies may still contain baryons, but no stars, and may be detectable in the 21cm line of atomic hydrogen. The results of surveys for such objects, and simulations that do/do not predict their existence, are controversial. In this paper we use an analytical model of galaxy formation, consistent with CDM, to firstly show that dark galaxies are certainly a prediction of the model. Secondly, we show that objects like VIRGOHI21, a dark galaxy candidate recently discovered by us, while rare are predicted by the model. Thirdly, we show that previous 'blind' HI surveys have placed few constraints on the existence of dark galaxies. This is because they have either lacked the sensitivity and/or velocity resolution or have not had the required detailed optical follow up. We look forward to new 21cm blind surveys (ALFALFA and AGES) using the Arecibo multi-beam instrument which should find large numbers of dark galaxies if they exist

A miniature UV-VIS spectrometer for the surface of Mars

A miniature spectrometer is in the process of development for a future Mars mission, to measure the UV-VIS spectrum encountered at the martian surface. With an intended mass of ~100 g, the spectrometer is planned as part of the ESA ExoMars mission

Radio Observations of GRB Host Galaxies

We present 5.5 and 9.0 GHz observations of a sample of seventeen GRB host galaxies at 0.5<z<1.4, using the radio continuum to explore their star formation properties in the context of the small but growing sample of galaxies with similar observations. Four sources are detected, one of those (GRB 100418A) likely due to lingering afterglow emission. We suggest that the previously-reported radio afterglow of GRB 100621A may instead be due to host galaxy flux. We see no strong evidence for redshift evolution in the typical star formation rate of GRB hosts, but note that the fraction of `dark' bursts with detections is higher than would be expected given constraints on the more typical long GRB population. We also determine the average radio-derived star formation rates of core collapse supernovae at comparable redshift, and show that these are still well below the limits obtained for GRB hosts, and show evidence for a rise in typical star formation rate with redshift in supernova hosts.Comment: 15 pages, MNRAS accepte

User data dissemination concepts for earth resources

Domestic data dissemination networks for earth-resources data in the 1985-1995 time frame were evaluated. The following topics were addressed: (1) earth-resources data sources and expected data volumes, (2) future user demand in terms of data volume and timeliness, (3) space-to-space and earth point-to-point transmission link requirements and implementation, (4) preprocessing requirements and implementation, (5) network costs, and (6) technological development to support this implementation. This study was parametric in that the data input (supply) was varied by a factor of about fifteen while the user request (demand) was varied by a factor of about nineteen. Correspondingly, the time from observation to delivery to the user was varied. This parametric evaluation was performed by a computer simulation that was based on network alternatives and resulted in preliminary transmission and preprocessing requirements. The earth-resource data sources considered were: shuttle sorties, synchronous satellites (e.g., SEOS), aircraft, and satellites in polar orbits

The Low Surface Brightness Extent of the Fornax Cluster

We have used a large format CCD camera to survey the nearby Fornax cluster and its immediate environment for low luminosity low surface brightness galaxies. Recent observations indicate that these are the most dark matter dominated galaxies known and so they are likely to be a good tracer of the dark matter in clusters. We have identified large numbers of these galaxies consistent with a steep faint end slope of the luminosity function (alpha~ -2) down to MB ~ -12. These galaxies contribute almost the same amount to the total cluster light as the brighter galaxies and they have a spatial extent that is some four times larger. They satisfy two of the important predictions of N-body hierarchical simulations of structure formation using dark halos. The luminosity (mass ?) function is steep and the mass distribution is more extended than that defined by the brighter galaxies. We also find a large concentration of low surface brightness galaxies around the nearby galaxy NGC1291.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure