2,725 research outputs found
Radio Galaxy Clustering at z~0.3
Radio galaxies are uniquely useful as probes of large-scale structure as
their uniform identification with giant elliptical galaxies out to high
redshift means that the evolution of their bias factor can be predicted. As the
initial stage in a project to study large-scale structure with radio galaxies
we have performed a small redshift survey, selecting 29 radio galaxies in the
range 0.19<z<0.45 from a contiguous 40 square degree area of sky. We detect
significant clustering within this sample. The amplitude of the two-point
correlation function we measure is consistent with no evolution from the local
(z<0.1) value. This is as expected in a model in which radio galaxy hosts form
at high redshift and thereafter obey a continuity equation, although the
signal:noise of the detection is too low to rule out other models. Larger
surveys out to z~1 should reveal the structures of superclusters at
intermediate redshifts and strongly constrain models for the evolution of
large-scale structure.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ Letter
Large amounts of optically-obscured star formation in the host galaxies of some type-2 quasars
We present Hubble Space Telescope images, and spectral energy distributions
from optical to infrared wavelengths for a sample of six 0.3<z<0.8 type-2
quasars selected in the mid-infrared using data from the Spitzer Space
Telescope. All the host galaxies show some signs of disturbance. Most seem to
possess dusty, star-forming disks. The disk inclination, estimated from the
axial ratio of the hosts, correlates with the depth of the silicate feature in
the mid-infrared spectra, implying that at least some of the reddening towards
the AGN arises in the host galaxy. The star formation rates in these objects,
as inferred from the strengths of the PAH features and far-infrared continuum,
range from 3-90 Msun/yr, but are mostly much larger than those inferred from
the [OII]3727 emission line luminosity, due to obscuration. Taken together with
studies of type-2 quasar hosts from samples selected in the optical and X-ray,
this is consistent with previous suggestions that two types of extinction
processes operate within the type-2 quasar population, namely a component due
to the dusty torus in the immediate environment of the AGN, and a more extended
component due to a dusty, star forming disk.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by ApJ Letter
Accurate masses and radii of normal stars: modern results and applications
This paper presents and discusses a critical compilation of accurate,
fundamental determinations of stellar masses and radii. We have identified 95
detached binary systems containing 190 stars (94 eclipsing systems, and alpha
Centauri) that satisfy our criterion that the mass and radius of both stars be
known to 3% or better. To these we add interstellar reddening, effective
temperature, metal abundance, rotational velocity and apsidal motion
determinations when available, and we compute a number of other physical
parameters, notably luminosity and distance. We discuss the use of this
information for testing models of stellar evolution. The amount and quality of
the data also allow us to analyse the tidal evolution of the systems in
considerable depth, testing prescriptions of rotational synchronisation and
orbital circularisation in greater detail than possible before. The new data
also enable us to derive empirical calibrations of M and R for single (post-)
main-sequence stars above 0.6 M(Sun). Simple, polynomial functions of T(eff),
log g and [Fe/H] yield M and R with errors of 6% and 3%, respectively.
Excellent agreement is found with independent determinations for host stars of
transiting extrasolar planets, and good agreement with determinations of M and
R from stellar models as constrained by trigonometric parallaxes and
spectroscopic values of T(eff) and [Fe/H]. Finally, we list a set of 23
interferometric binaries with masses known to better than 3%, but without
fundamental radius determinations (except alpha Aur). We discuss the prospects
for improving these and other stellar parameters in the near future.Comment: 56 pages including figures and tables. To appear in The Astronomy and
Astrophysics Review. Ascii versions of the tables will appear in the online
version of the articl
Spitzer Power-law AGN Candidates in the Chandra Deep Field-North
We define a sample of 62 galaxies in the Chandra Deep Field-North whose
Spitzer IRAC SEDs exhibit the characteristic power-law emission expected of
luminous AGN. We study the multiwavelength properties of this sample, and
compare the AGN selected in this way to those selected via other Spitzer
color-color criteria. Only 55% of the power-law galaxies are detected in the
X-ray catalog at exposures of >0.5 Ms, although a search for faint emission
results in the detection of 85% of the power-law galaxies at the > 2.5 sigma
detection level. Most of the remaining galaxies are likely to host AGN that are
heavily obscured in the X-ray. Because the power-law selection requires the AGN
to be energetically dominant in the near- and mid-infrared, the power-law
galaxies comprise a significant fraction of the Spitzer-detected AGN population
at high luminosities and redshifts. The high 24 micron detection fraction also
points to a luminous population. The power-law galaxies comprise a subset of
color-selected AGN candidates. A comparison with various mid-infrared color
selection criteria demonstrates that while the color-selected samples contain a
larger fraction of the X-ray luminous AGN, there is evidence that these
selection techniques also suffer from a higher degree of contamination by
star-forming galaxies in the deepest exposures. Considering only those
power-law galaxies detected in the X-ray catalog, we derive an obscured
fraction of 68% (2:1). Including all of the power-law galaxies suggests an
obscured fraction of < 81% (4:1).Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, 27 pages, 20
figures, 5 tables, version with high-resolution figures and online-only
tables available at: http://frodo.as.arizona.edu/~jdonley/powerlaw
The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS). Science case, survey design and initial results
The Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) is a synoptic, all-sky radio sky survey with a unique combination of high angular resolution (â2.â5), sensitivity (a 1Ï goal of 70 ÎŒJy/beam in the coadded data), full linear Stokes polarimetry, time domain coverage, and wide bandwidth (2â4 GHz). The first observations began in 2017 September, and observing for the survey will finish in 2024. VLASS will use approximately 5500 hr of time on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) to cover the whole sky visible to the VLA (decl. > â40°), a total of 33 885 degÂČ. The data will be taken in three epochs to allow the discovery of variable and transient radio sources. The survey is designed to engage radio astronomy experts, multi-wavelength astronomers, and citizen scientists alike. By utilizing an "on the fly" interferometry mode, the observing overheads are much reduced compared to a conventional pointed survey. In this paper, we present the science case and observational strategy for the survey, and also results from early survey observations
Spectacular Shells in the Host Galaxy of the QSO MC2 1635+119
We present deep HST/ACS images and Keck spectroscopy of MC2 1635+119, a QSO
hosted by a galaxy previously classified as an undisturbed elliptical. Our new
images reveal dramatic shell structure indicative of a merger event in the
relatively recent past. The brightest shells in the central regions of the host
are distributed alternately in radius, with at least two distinct shells on one
side of the nucleus and three on the other, out to a distance of ~13 kpc. The
light within the five shells comprises ~6% of the total galaxy light. Lower
surface brightness ripples or tails and other debris extend out to a distance
of ~65 kpc. A simple N-body model for a merger reproduces the inner shell
structure and gives an estimate for the age of the merger between ~30 Myr and
~1.7 Gyr, depending on a range of reasonable assumptions. While the inner shell
structure is suggestive of a minor merger, the total light contribution from
the shells and extended structures are more indicative of a major merger. The
spectrum of the host galaxy is dominated by a population of intermediate age
(~1.4 Gyr), indicating a strong starburst episode that may have occurred at the
time of the merger event. We speculate that the current QSO activity may have
been triggered in the recent past by either a minor merger, or by debris from
an older (~Gyr) major merger that is currently ``raining'' back into the
central regions of the merger remnant.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Observation of cosmic ray positrons from 5 to 25 GeV
The positron data gathered in conjunction with electron data published elsewhere is reported. The basic recognition scheme was to look for low mass positive particles that cause a cascade in a 7 radiation length shower counter. The mass criteria is imposed by selecting particles that were accompanied by Cherenkov light but whose rigidity was below the proton Cherenkov threshold. Thus the proton Cherenkov threshold represents an upper limit to the range of the experiment
Propane on Titan
We present the first observations of propane (CH) on Titan that
unambiguously resolve propane features from other numerous stratospheric
emissions. This is accomplished using a
spectrometer (TEXES) to observe propane's rotation-vibration band
near 748 cm. We find a best-fit fractional abundance of propane in
Titan's stratosphere of in the altitude range to
which we are sensitive (90-250 km or 13-0.24 mbar).Comment: accepted to ApJL 18 September 2003; See also:
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~hroe/propane2003
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