180 research outputs found
Radio imaging of core-dominated high redshift quasars
VLA imaging at kiloparsec-scale resolution of sixteen core-dominated
radio-loud QSOs is presented. Many objects appear to display variable radio
emission and their radio morphologies are significantly smaller than those of
steep-spectrum quasars, consistent with these objects being observed at sight
lines close to their (relativistic, 4-7) jet axes. The
usefulness of the radio source orientation indicator R_V, being defined as
ratio of radio core and rest frame optical V-band luminosity, is confirmed.Comment: 11 pages, 11 postscript figures, uses aa.cls 4.03 for LaTeX2e To
appear in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Resolution of the Compact Radio Continuum Sources in Arp220
We present 2 cm and 3.6 cm wavelength very long baseline interferometry
images of the compact radio continuum sources in the nearby ultra-luminous
infrared galaxy Arp220. Based on their radio spectra and variability
properties, we confirm these sources to be a mixture of supernovae (SNe) and
supernova remnants (SNRs). Of the 17 detected sources we resolve 7 at both
wavelengths. The SNe generally only have upper size limits. In contrast all the
SNRs are resolved with diameters {\geq} 0.27 pc. This size limit is consistent
with them having just entered their Sedov phase while embedded in an
interstellar medium (ISM) of density 10^4 cm^{-3} . These objects lie on the
diameter-luminosity correlation for SNRs (and so also on the diameter-surface
brightness relation) and extend these correlations to very small sources. The
data are consistent with the relation L {\propto} D^{-9/4}. Revised
equipartition arguments adjusted to a magnetic field to relativistic particle
energy density ratio of 1% combined with a reasonable synchrotron-emitting
volume filling factor of 10% give estimated magnetic field strengths in the SNR
shells of ~ 15-50 mG. The SNR shell magnetic fields are unlikely to come from
compression of ambient ISM fields and must instead be internally generated. We
set an upper limit of 7 mG for the ISM magnetic field. The estimated energy in
relativistic particles, 2%-20% of the explosion kinetic energy, is consistent
with estimates from models that fit the IR-radio correlation in compact
starburst galaxies.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Continuum and spectral line observations of the OH Megamaser galaxy Arp 220
We present MERLIN observations of the continuum (both 1.6 and 5 GHz) and OH
maser emission towards Arp220. the correct spatial configuration of the various
componnents of the galaxy is revealed. In the eastern component the masers are
shown to be generally coincident with the larger scale continuum emission; in
the west, the masers and continuum do not generally arise from the same
location. A velocity gradient (0.32+/-0.03km/s/pc) is found in the eastern
nuclear region in MERLIN scales; this gradient is three times smaller than seen
in OH and implies that the OH gas lies inside the HI. A re-analysis of
previously presented global VLBI data (Lonsdale et al. 1998) reveals a very
high velocity gradient (18.67+/-0.12km/s/pc) in one component, possibly the
site of a heavily obscured AGN.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, accepted by MNRA
Multiwavelength radio observations of the compact starburst in Arp 220
We report the first detection at multiple radio wavelengths (13, 6, and 3.6 cm) of 18 compact
sources within both nuclei of the Ultra Luminous Infra-Red Galaxy (ULIRG) Arp 220. In just
over half of the sources we find that the observed spectra are consistent with the standard model
of powerful Type IIn supernovae interacting with their pre-explosion stellar wind. The rate of appearance
of new radio sources ascribed to these supernova events suggests that a large fraction of
core-collapse supernovae in Arp 220 are highly luminous, possibly implying a radically different
stellar initial mass function (IMF) or stellar evolution compared to galactic disks. A second group
of sources, consisting of the brightest and longest monitored sources at 18 cm, do not easily fit
the radio supernova model. We propose that these are young supernova remnants that have just
begun interacting with their surrounding dense ISM
VLBI Images of 49 Radio Supernovae in Arp 220
We have used a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) array at 18cm
wavelength to image the nucleus of the luminous IR galaxy Arp 220 at ~1 pc
linear resolution, and with very high sensitivity. The resulting map has an rms
of 5.5 microJy/beam, and careful image analysis results in 49 confirmed point
sources ranging in flux density from 1.2 mJy down to ~60 microJy. Comparison
with high sensitivity data from 12 months earlier reveals at least four new
sources. The favored interpretation of these sources is that they are radio
supernovae, and if all new supernovae are detectable at this sensitivity, a
resulting estimate of the supernova rate in the Arp 220 system is 4 +/- 2 per
year. The implied star formation rate is sufficient to power the entire
observed far-infrared luminosity of the galaxy. The two nuclei of Arp 220
exhibit striking similarities in their radio properties, though the western
nucleus is more compact, and appears to be ~3 times more luminous than the
eastern nucleus. There are also some puzzling differences, and differential
free-free absorption, synchrotron aging and expansion losses may all be playing
a role. Comparison with the nearby starburst galaxy M82 supports the hypothesis
that the activity in Arp 220 is essentially a scaled-up version of that in M82.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Ap.
Using VLBI to Probe the Orion-KL Outflow on AU Scales
We present the first contemporaneous 43GHz and 86GHz VLBI images of the v=1
J=2-1 and J=1-0 SiO masers in the Orion-KL nebula. Both maser species exhibit
the same general morphology of earlier J=1-0 maser images which appear to trace
the edges of a bi-polar conical outflow. Surprisingly, the J=2-1 masers form
further from the central protostar than the J=1-0 masers, a fact not readily
explained by current SiO maser pumping models. The average magnitude of offsets
between corresponding regions of the two masing transitions is approximately
14% of the total radial extent of the SiO maser emission. This offset indicates
that each transition must trace different physical conditions.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure
Radio Jet Feedback and Star Formation in Heavily Obscured Quasars at Redshifts ~0.3-3, I: ALMA Observations
We present ALMA 870 micron (345 GHz) data for 49 high redshift (0.47<z<2.85),
luminous (11.7 < log L(bol) (Lsun) < 14.2) radio-powerful AGN, obtained to
constrain cool dust emission from starbursts concurrent with highly obscured
radiative-mode black hole (BH) accretion in massive galaxies which possess a
small radio jet. The sample was selected from WISE with extremely steep (red)
mid-infrared (MIR) colors and with compact radio emission from NVSS/FIRST.
Twenty-six sources are detected at 870 microns, and we find that the sample has
large mid- to far-infrared luminosity ratios consistent with a dominant and
highly obscured quasar. The rest-frame 3 GHz radio powers are 24.7 < log P3.0
GHz (W/Hz) < 27.3, and all sources are radio-intermediate or radio-loud. BH
mass estimates are 7.7 < log M(BH) (Msun) < 10.2. The rest frame 1-5 um SEDs
are very similar to the "Hot DOGs" (Hot Dust Obscured Galaxies), and steeper
(redder) than almost any other known extragalactic sources. ISM masses
estimated for the ALMA detected sources are 9.9 < log M(ISM) (Msun) < 11.75
assuming a dust temperature of 30K. The cool dust emission is consistent with
star formation rates (SFRs) reaching several thousand Msun/yr, depending on the
assumed dust temperature, however we cannot rule out the alternative that the
AGN powers all the emission in some cases. Our best constrained source has
radiative transfer solutions with ~ equal contributions from an obscured AGN
and a young (10-15 Myr) compact starburst.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures. To appear in Astrophysical Journal. Update on
Sept 14 to correct the ALMA proposal id. to ADS/JAO.ALMA#2011.0.00397.S and
to add a missing acknowledgemen
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