389 research outputs found
An extreme rotation measure in the high-redshift radio galaxy PKS B0529-549
We present the results of a radio polarimetric study of the high-redshift
radio galaxy PKS B0529-549 (z=2.575), based on high-resolution 12 mm and 3 cm
images obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The source
is found to have a rest-frame Faraday rotation measure of -9600 rad m^{-2}, the
largest seen thus far in the environment of a z > 2 radio galaxy. In addition,
the rest-frame Faraday dispersion in the screen responsible for the rotation is
calculated to be 5800 rad m^{-2}, implying rotation measures as large as -15400
rad m^{-2}. Using supporting near-IR imaging from the Very Large Telescope
(VLT), we suggest that the rotation measure originates in the Ly-alpha halo
surrounding the host galaxy, and estimate the magnetic field strength to be ~10
microGauss. We also present a new optical spectrum of PKS B0529-549 obtained
with the New Technology Telescope (NTT), and propose that the emission-line
ratios are best described by a photoionization model. Furthermore, the host
galaxy is found to exhibit both hot dust emission at 8.0 microns and
significant internal visual extinction (~1.6 mag), as inferred from Spitzer
Space Telescope near/mid-IR imaging.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Compact radio sources and jet-driven AGN feedback in the early Universe: Constraints from integral-field spectroscopy
To investigate the impact of radio jets during the formation epoch of their
massive host galaxies, we present an analysis of two massive, log(M_stel/
M_sun)~10.6 and 11.3, compact radio galaxies at z=3.5, TNJ0205+2242 and
TNJ0121+1320. Their small radio sizes (R<= 10 kpc) are most likely a sign of
youth. We compare their radio properties and gas dynamics with those in well
extended radio galaxies at high redshift, which show strong evidence for
powerful, jet-driven outflows of significant gas masses (M 10^9-10 M_sun). Our
analysis combines rest-frame optical integral-field spectroscopy with existing
radio imaging, CO emission line spectra, and rest-frame UV spectroscopy.
[OIII]5007 line emission is compact in both galaxies and lies within the region
defined by the radio lobes. For TNJ0205+2242, the Ly-alpha profile narrows
significantly outside the jet radius, indicating the presence of a quiescent
halo. TNJ0121+1320 has two components separated by ~10 kpc and a velocity
offset of ~300 km s^-1. If motions are gravitational, this implies a dynamical
mass of 2x10^11 M_sun for the more massive, radio-loud component. The dynamical
mass, molecular gas mass measured from the CO line emission, and radio
luminosity of these two compact radio galaxies imply that compact radio sources
may well develop large-scale, energetic outflows as observed in extended radio
galaxies, with the potential of removing significant fractions of the ISM from
the host galaxy. The absence of luminous emission line gas extending beyond the
radio emission in these sources agrees with the observed timescales and outflow
rates in extended radio galaxies, and adds further evidence that the energetic,
large-scale outflows observed in extended radio sources (Nesvadba et al. 2006)
are indeed the result of influence of the radio jet.Comment: A&A accepte
A Sample of Ultra Steep Spectrum Sources Selected from the Westerbork In the Southern Hemisphere (WISH) survey
The 352 MHz Westerbork In the Southern Hemisphere (WISH) survey is the
southern extension of the WENSS, covering 1.60 sr between -9 < DEC < -26 to a
limiting flux density of ~18 mJy (5sigma). Due to the very low elevation of the
observations, the survey has a much lower resolution in declination than in
right ascension (54" x 54"cosec(DEC)). A correlation with the 1.4 GHz NVSS
shows that the positional accuracy is less constrained in declination than in
right ascension, but there is no significant systematic error. We present a
source list containing 73570 sources.
We correlate this WISH catalogue with the NVSS to construct a sample of faint
Ultra Steep Spectrum (USS) sources, which is accessible for follow-up studies
with large optical telescopes in the southern hemisphere. This sample is aimed
at increasing the number of known high redshift radio galaxies to allow
detailed follow-up studies of these massive galaxies and their environments in
the early Universe.Comment: 12 Pages, including 5 PostScript figures. Accepted for publication in
Astronomy & Astrophysics. The full WISH catalog with 73570 sources is
available from http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/wenss
A new view on the ISM of galaxies: far-infrared and submillimetre spectroscopy with Herschel
The FIR/submm window is amongst the least explored spectral regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum. It is, however, a key to study the general properties
of the interstellar medium of galaxies, as it contains important spectral line
diagnostics from the neutral, ionized and molecular ISM. The Herschel Space
Observatory, successfully launched on 14 May 2009, is the first observatory to
cover the entire FIR/submm range between 57 and 672 mum. We discuss the main
results from the ISO era on FIR spectroscopy of galaxies and the enormous
science potential of the Herschel mission through a presentation of its
spectroscopic extragalactic key programs.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in New Astronomy
Review
Deep VLT spectroscopy of the z=2.49 Radio Galaxy MRC 2104-242: Evidence for a metallicity gradient in its extended emission line region
We present spectroscopic observations of the rest-frame UV line emission
around radio galaxy MRC 2104-242 at z=2.49, obtained with FORS1 on VLT Antu.
The morphology of the halo is dominated by two spatially resolved regions. Lya
is extended by >12 arcsec along the radio axis, CIV and HeII are extended by ~8
arcsec. The overall spectrum is typical for that of high redshift radio
galaxies. The most striking spatial variation is that NV is present in the
spectrum of the region associated with the center of the galaxy hosting the
radio source, the northern region, while absent in the southern region.
Assuming that the gas is photoionized by a hidden quasar, the difference in NV
emission can be explained by a metallicity gradient within the halo. This is
consistent with a scenario in which the gas is associated with a massive
cooling flow or originates from the debris of the merging of two or more
galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letter
Detection of Two Massive CO Systems in 4C 41.17 at z = 3.8
We have detected CO(4-3) in the z=3.8 radio galaxy 4C 41.17 with the IRAM
Interferometer. The CO is in two massive (M_dyn ~ 6 x 10^10 M_Sun) systems
separated by 1.8" (13 kpc), and by 400 km/s in velocity, which coincide with
two different dark lanes in a deep Ly-alpha image. One CO component coincides
with the cm-radio core of the radio galaxy, and its redshift is close to that
of the HeII AGN line. The second CO component is near the base of a cone-shaped
region southwest of the nucleus, which resembles the emission-line cones seen
in nearby AGN and starburst galaxies. The characteristics of the CO sources and
their mm/submm dust continuum are similar to those found in ultraluminous IR
galaxies and in some high-z radio galaxies and quasars. The fact that 4C 41.17
contains two CO systems is further evidence for the role of mergers in the
evolution of galaxies at high redshift.Comment: 5 Pages, including 4 PostScript figures. Accepted for publication in
Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter
Fresh-salt water distribution in the central Belgian coastal plain: an update
The 1974 map showing the depth of the fresh-salt water interface (defined by 1500 mg/l total dissolved solids concentration) in the Belgian coastal plain is a vital document for hydrogeologists. Since its publication, new data have been collected. These comprise water quality analyses and borehole measurements ordered by the Flemish Environmental Agency, the Flemish Land Use Agency or from dissertations and new lithological data synthesised by the HCOV (Hydrogeological Code Flemish Subsurface) mapping. The aim of this paper is to compare the new information with the 1974 map and provide an update for the central part of the Belgian coastal plain. This resulted in only minor differences. The main adjustments are the identification of a number of additional areas where the phreatic aquifer is completely filled with fresh water, incorporation of insights of the groundwater flow system in the dunes, shore and sea and, some small changes in the position of transition zones between fresh-water lenses and adjacent areas where salt water occurs at very shallow depth. The general conclusion is that comparison with new field data obtained in the more than 30 years after its publication, confirms and strengthens the validity of the map
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