1,507 research outputs found
The Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample 3. Space density and evolution of QSOs
We analyze the Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample of QSOs in terms of
space density, including the redshift distribution, the radio luminosity
function, and the evidence for a redshift cutoff. With regard to the luminosity
function, we note the strong evolution in space density from the present day to
epochs corresponding to redshifts ~ 1. We draw attention to a selection effect
due to spread in spectral shape that may have misled other investigators to
consider the apparent similarities in shape of luminosity functions in
different redshift shells as evidence for luminosity evolution. To examine the
evolution at redshifts beyond 3, we develop a model-independent method based on
the V_max test using each object to predict expectation densities beyond z=3.
With this we show that a diminution in space density at z > 3 is present at a
significance level >4 sigma. We identify a severe bias in such determinations
from using flux-density measurements at epochs significantly later than that of
the finding survey. The form of the diminution is estimated, and is shown to be
very similar to that found for QSOs selected in X-ray and optical wavebands.
The diminution is also compared with the current estimates of star-formation
evolution, with less conclusive results. In summary we suggest that the
reionization epoch is little influenced by powerful flat-spectrum QSOs, and
that dust obscuration does not play a major role in our view of the QSO
population selected at radio, optical or X-ray wavelengths.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, accepted 18 Dec 2004, Astron. & Astrophys. The
accepted version is expanded to include an analysis of the form of the
decline in radio-QSO space density at high redshifts. This is compared with
the forms of epoch dependence derived for optically-selected QSOs, for
X-ray-selected QSOs, and for star formation rat
The micro-Jy Radio Source Population: the VLA-CDFS View
We analyse the 267 radio sources from our deep (flux limit of 42 microJy at
the field center at 1.4 GHz) Chandra Deep Field South 1.4 and 5 GHz VLA survey.
The radio population is studied by using a wealth of multi-wavelength
information, including morphology and spectral types, in the radio, optical,
and X-ray bands. The availability of redshifts for ~ 70% of our sources allows
us to derive reliable luminosity estimates for the majority of the objects.
Contrary to some previous results, we find that star-forming galaxies make up
only a minority (~ 1/3) of sub-mJy sources, the bulk of which are faint radio
galaxies, mostly of the Fanaroff-Riley I type.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the proceedings of "At the Edge of
the Universe", Sintra, Portugal, Oct. 9 - 13, 200
Discovery of Radio-loud Quasars with Redshifts above 4 from the PMN sample
We present results of a new, large survey for high-redshift radio-loud
quasars, which targets quasars with z>4. The survey is based on the PMN and
NVSS radio surveys, optically identified using digitised UKST B, R and I
plates. Six new z>4 flat-spectrum QSOs have been discovered, and one previously
known z>4 QSO rediscovered, based on their red optical colours. The QSOs
discovered in this survey are bright in both radio and optical bands; in
particular PMN J1451-1512 (z=4.763, I=17.3, R=19.1) and PMN J0324-2918
(z=4.630, R=18.7) are very luminous. PMN J1451-1512 at z=4.763 is also now the
most distant radio-selected quasar. In addition, 9 new quasars with 3.5<z<4.0
were discovered during the survey. We present spectra and finding charts for
the new quasars. We also derive a surface density of 1.0+/-0.4 x 10^-3 /sq deg
for flat-spectrum z>4 QSOs with S>= 72mJy and R< 21mag.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
The Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample 2. New Optical Spectra and Redshift Measurements
We present optical spectra and redshift measurements for 178 flat-spectrum
objects from the Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample. These spectra were
obtained in order to compile a complete sample of quasars for use in a study of
quasar evolution. We present a composite optical spectrum made from the subset
of 109 quasars that have flux densities in the range 0.25Jy < S(2.7GHz)< 0.5Jy,
and make a comparison with a composite for radio-quiet QSOs from the Large
Bright Quasar Survey. Our large sample of radio-loud quasars allows us to
strengthen previous reports that the Ly-alpha and CIV emission lines have
larger equivalent width in radio-loud quasars than radio-quiet QSOs to greater
than the 3-sigma level. However we see no significant difference in the
equivalent widths of CIII] or MgII. We also show that the flux decrements
across the Lyman-alpha line (D_A) measured from these spectra show the same
trend with redshift as for optically selected QSOs.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Clonal interference and Muller's ratchet in spatial habitats
Competition between independently arising beneficial mutations is enhanced in
spatial populations due to the linear rather than exponential growth of clones.
Recent theoretical studies have pointed out that the resulting fitness dynamics
is analogous to a surface growth process, where new layers nucleate and spread
stochastically, leading to the build up of scale-invariant roughness. This
scenario differs qualitatively from the standard view of adaptation in that the
speed of adaptation becomes independent of population size while the fitness
variance does not. Here we exploit recent progress in the understanding of
surface growth processes to obtain precise predictions for the universal,
non-Gaussian shape of the fitness distribution for one-dimensional habitats,
which are verified by simulations. When the mutations are deleterious rather
than beneficial the problem becomes a spatial version of Muller's ratchet. In
contrast to the case of well-mixed populations, the rate of fitness decline
remains finite even in the limit of an infinite habitat, provided the ratio
between the deleterious mutation rate and the square of the
(negative) selection coefficient is sufficiently large. Using again an analogy
to surface growth models we show that the transition between the stationary and
the moving state of the ratchet is governed by directed percolation
Automated optical identification of a large complete northern hemisphere sample of flat spectrum radio sources with S_6cm > 200 mJy
This paper describes the automated optical APM identification of radio
sources from the Jodrell Bank - VLA Astrometric Survey (JVAS), as used for the
search for distant radio-loud quasars. The sample has been used to investigate
possible relations between optical and radio properties of flat spectrum radio
sources. From the 915 sources in the sample, 756 have an optical APM
identification at a red (e) and/or blue (o) plate,resulting in an
identification fraction of 83% with a completeness and reliability of 98% and
99% respectively. About 20% are optically identified with extended APM objects
on the red plates, e.g. galaxies. However the distinction between galaxies and
quasars can not be done properly near the magnitude limit of the POSS-I plates.
The identification fraction appears to decrease from >90% for sources with a 5
GHz flux density of >1 Jy, to <80% for sources at 0.2 Jy. The identification
fraction, in particular that for unresolved quasars, is found to be lower for
sources with steeper radio spectra. In agreement with previous studies, we find
that the quasars at low radio flux density levels also tend to have fainter
optical magnitudes, although there is a large spread. In addition, objects with
a steep radio-to-optical spectral index are found to be mainly highly polarised
quasars, supporting the idea that in these objects the polarised synchrotron
component is more prominent. It is shown that the large spread in
radio-to-optical spectral index is possibly caused by source to source
variations in the Doppler boosting of the synchrotron component [Abridged].Comment: LaTex, 17 pages, 5 gif figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in
MNRAS. High resolution figures can be found at http://www.roe.ac.uk/~ignas
The CORALS Survey I: New Estimates of the Number Density and Gas Content of Damped Lyman Alpha Systems Free from Dust Bias
(Abridged) We present the first results from the Complete Optical and Radio
Absorption Line System (CORALS) survey. We have compiled a homogeneous sample
of radio-selected QSOs from the Parkes Catalogue and searched for damped Lyman
alpha systems (DLAs) towards every target, irrespective of its optical
magnitude. This approach circumvents selection effects -- particularly from
intervening dust -- which have long been suspected to affect DLA surveys in
optically-selected, magnitude-limited QSO samples. The CORALS data set consists
of 66 z_em > 2.2 QSOs in which 22 DLAs with absorption redshifts 1.8 < z_abs <
z_em have been identified over a total redshift interval Delta z = 55.46. In
this first paper of the CORALS series we describe the sample, present
intermediate resolution spectroscopy and determine the population statistics of
DLAs. We deduce a value of the neutral gas mass density traced by DLAs
(expressed as a fraction of the closure density) log Omega_DLA h =
-2.59^{+0.17}_{-0.24}, and a number density of DLAs per unit redshift n(z) =
0.31^{+0.09}_{-0.08}, both at a mean redshift = 2.37. Taking into account
the errors, we conclude that dust-induced bias in previous surveys may have led
to an underestimate of these quantities by at most a factor of two and we have
not uncovered a previously unrecognised population of high column density DLAs
in front of faint QSOs.Comment: 25 pages, accepted for publication in A&
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