5,258 research outputs found
VLA Polarimetry of Two Extended Radio Galaxies
Multi-wavelength VLA observations of two extended radio galaxies, 0235-197
and 1203+043 are presented. There is some evidence from earlier studies that
these two sources exhibit low frequency (<1 GHz) variability. This work shows
that both sources have linear polarizations, if any, below the detection limits
at 320 MHz, so we cannot explain the variability as being due to instrumental
polarization effects as has been suggested for 3C159. Refractive scintillation
may be the cause of the variability in 0235-197. This would require the
existence of a bright, compact component in one of the hot spots seen in these
observations. This is not implausible but the resolution of this observational
program is insufficent to address that question. The radio source 1203+043
lacks any bright compact component thereby ruling out a refractive
scintillation mechanism for its variability. Consequently, it is possible that
claims of variability in this source are spurious. However, the 320 MHz VLA
observations show that 1203+043 has an `X'-shaped radio structure. This is a
rare morphology for the brightness distribution of a radio galaxy; the
implications of this are examined.Comment: 8 pages, plain tex, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics,
Supplement Serie
The jet-ISM interaction in the Outer Filament of Centaurus A
The interaction between the radio plasma ejected by the active nucleus of a
galaxy and the surrounding medium is a key process that can have a strong
impact on the interstellar medium of the galaxy and hence on galaxy evolution.
The closest laboratory where we can observe and investigate this phenomenon is
the radio galaxy Centaurus A. About 15 kpc north-east of this galaxy, a
particularly complex region is found: the so-called Outer Filament where
jet-cloud interactions have been proposed to occur. We investigate the presence
of signatures of jet-ISM interaction by a detailed study of the kinematics of
the ionized gas, expanding on previous results obtained from the HI. We
observed two regions of the outer filament with VLT/VIMOS in the IFU observing
mode. Emission from Hbeta and [OIII]4959,5007\AA\ is detected in both
pointings. We found two distinct kinematical components of ionized gas that
well match the kinematics of the nearby HI cloud. One component follows the
regular kinematics of the rotating gas while the second shows similar
velocities to those of the nearby HI component thought to be disturbed by an
interaction with the radio jet. We suggest that the ionized and atomic gas are
part of the same dynamical gas structure originating as result of the merger
that shaped Centaurus A and which is regularly rotating around Centaurus A as
proposed by other authors. The gas (ionized and HI) with anomalous velocities
is tracing the interaction of the Large-Scale radio Jet with the ISM,
suggesting that, although poorly collimated as structure, the jet is still
active. However, we can exclude that a strong shock is driving the ionization
of the gas. It is likely that a combination of jet entrainment and
photoionization by the UV continuum from the central engine is needed in order
to explain both the ionization and the kinematics of the gas in the Outer
Filament.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Final version accepted for publication
on A&
What triggers a radio AGN? The intriguing case of PKSB 1718-649
We present new Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) observations of the
young (< 10^2 years) radio galaxy PKS B1718-649. We study the morphology and
the kinematics of the neutral hydrogen (HI) disk (M(HI) = 1.1x 10^10 M(sun),
radius ~ 30 kpc). In particular, we focus on the analysis of the cold gas in
relation to the triggering of the nuclear activity. The asymmetries at the
edges of the disk date the last interaction with a companion to more than 1 Gyr
ago. The tilted-ring model of the HI disk shows that this event may have formed
the disk as we see it now, but that it may have not been responsible for
triggering the AGN. The long timescales of the interaction are incompatible
with the short ones of the radio activity. In absorption, we identify two
clouds with radial motions which may represent a population that could be
involved in the triggering of the radio activity. We argue that PKS B1718-649
may belong to a family of young low-excitation radio AGN where, rather than
through a gas rich merger, the active nuclei (AGN) are triggered by local
mechanisms such as accretion of small gas clouds.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, Accepted to A&
The outer filament of Centaurus A as seen by MUSE
We investigate signatures of a jet-interstellar medium (ISM) interaction
using optical integral-field observations of the so-called outer filament near
Centaurus A, expanding on previous results obtained on a more limited area.
Using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the VLT during science
verification, we observed a significant fraction of the brighter emitting gas
across the outer filament. The ionized gas shows complex morphology with
compact blobs, arc-like structures and diffuse emission. Based on the
kinematics, we identified three main components. The more collimated component
is oriented along the direction of the radio jet. The other two components
exhibit diffuse morphology together with arc-like structures also oriented
along the radio jet direction. Furthermore, the ionization level of the gas is
found to decrease from the more collimated component to the more diffuse
components. The morphology and velocities of the more collimated component
confirm our earlier results that the outer filament and the nearby HI cloud are
likely partially shaped by the lateral expansion of the jet. The arc-like
structures embedded within the two remaining components are the clearest
evidence of a smooth jet-ISM interaction along the jet direction. This suggests
that, although poorly collimated, the radio jet is still active and has an
impact on the surrounding gas. This result indicates that the effect on the ISM
of even low-power radio jets should be considered when studying the influence
Active Galactic Nuclei can have on their host galaxy.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication by A&
Measurements of the Cerenkov light emitted by a TeO2 crystal
Bolometers have proven to be good instruments to search for rare processes
because of their excellent energy resolution and their extremely low intrinsic
background. In this kind of detectors, the capability of discriminating alpha
particles from electrons represents an important aspect for the background
reduction. One possibility for obtaining such a discrimination is provided by
the detection of the Cerenkov light which, at the low energies of the natural
radioactivity, is only emitted by electrons. In this paper, the results of the
analysis of the light emitted by a TeO2 crystal at room temperature when
transversed by a cosmic ray are reported. Light is promptly emitted after the
particle crossing and a clear evidence of its directionality is also found.
These results represent a strong indication that Cerenkov light is the main, if
not even the only, component of the light signal in a TeO2 crystal. They open
the possibility to make large improvements in the performance of experiments
based on this kind of material
BeppoSAX observations of low power radio galaxies: possible detection of obscured nuclei
We present the first results of BeppoSAX observations of a small sample of
low brightness FRI radio galaxies. The flux of all the targets is consistent
with a thermal spectrum, as due to the presence of hot intracluster gas or
galactic corona. Moreover in three sources a non thermal absorbed spectrum can
be present in the MECS spectrum at energies larger than 7 keV, while for a
fourth object a high energy flux has been detected in the PDS instrument at
energies larger than 15 keV. This component could be related to the inner AGN
surrounded by an obscuring torus.Comment: 4 pages, LateX, 3 figures (included). Uses espcrc2.sty (included). To
appear in: "The Active X-ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and Rossi-XTE", Rome,
Italy, 21-24 October, 1997, Eds.: L. Scarsi, H. Bradt, P. Giommi and F. Fior
Measurements and optimization of the light yield of a TeO crystal
Bolometers have proven to be good instruments to search for rare processes
because of their excellent energy resolution and their extremely low intrinsic
background. In this kind of detectors, the capability of discriminating alpha
particles from electrons represents an important aspect for the background
reduction. One possibility for obtaining such a discrimination is provided by
the detection of the Cherenkov light which, at the low energies of the natural
radioactivity, is only emitted by electrons. This paper describes the method
developed to evaluate the amount of light produced by a crystal of TeO when
hit by a 511 keV photon. The experimental measurements and the results of a
detailed simulation of the crystal and the readout system are shown and
compared. A light yield of about 52 Cherenkov photons per deposited MeV was
measured. The effect of wrapping the crystal with a PTFE layer, with the aim of
maximizing the light collection, is also presented
The HI and Ionized Gas Disk of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 1144 = Arp 118: A Violently Interacting Galaxy with Peculiar Kinematics
We present observations of the distribution and kinematics of neutral and
ionized gas in NGC 1144, a galaxy that forms part of the Arp 118 system.
Ionized gas is present over a huge spread in velocity (1100 km/s) in the disk
of NGC 1144, but HI emission is detected over only 1/3 of this velocity range,
in an area that corresponds to the NW half of the disk. In the nuclear region
of NGC 1144, a jump in velocity in the ionized gas component of 600 km/s is
observed. Faint, narrow HI absorption lines are also detected against radio
sources in the SE part of the disk of NGC 1144, which includes regions of
massive star formation and a Seyfert nucleus. The peculiar HI distribution,
which is concentrated in the NW disk, seems to be the inverse of the molecular
distribution which is concentrated in the SE disk. Although this may partly be
the result of the destruction of HI clouds in the SE disk, there is
circumstantial evidence that the entire HI emission spectrum of NGC 1144 is
affected by a deep nuclear absorption line covering a range of 600 km/s, and is
likely blueshifted with respect to the nucleus. In this picture, a high
column-density HI stream is associated with the nuclear ionized gas velocity
discontinuity, and the absorption effectively masks any HI emission that would
be present in the SE disk of NGC 1144.Comment: manuscript, arp118.ps: 28 pages; 1 Table: arp118.tab1.ps; 16 Figures:
arp118.fig1-16.ps; Accepted to Ap
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Intravital imaging reveals p53-dependent cancer cell death induced by phototherapy via calcium signaling.
One challenge in biology is signal transduction monitoring in a physiological context. Intravital imaging techniques are revolutionizing our understanding of tumor and host cell behaviors in the tumor environment. However, these deep tissue imaging techniques have not yet been adopted to investigate the second messenger calcium (Ca2+). In the present study, we established conditions that allow the in vivo detection of Ca2+ signaling in three-dimensional tumor masses in mouse models. By combining intravital imaging and a skinfold chamber technique, we determined the ability of photodynamic cancer therapy to induce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and, consequently, an increase in cell death in a p53-dependent pathway
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