Extending conceptualisations of the diversity and value of extracurricular activities: a cultural capital approach to graduate outcomes

This report presents the findings from the research project Extending conceptualisations of the diversity and value of extra curricular activities: a cultural capital approach to graduate outcomes. Very little research has directly addressed the question of what constitutes extra-curricular activities (ECA), the extent to which students engage in ECA, and how students experience and conceptualise benefits from their engagement. Nor is there research that looks at how staff understand ECA. This research sought to address these questions from a cultural capital approach. Traditionally conceived ECA include campus-based cultural and sporting activities and volunteering. An awareness is required of the fact that many students work for economic reasons, continue their faith and caring activities, and continue to live at home. The researchers were interested in the possible differential recognition and valuing of activities undertaken by different groups of students. This research explores issues of inter-generational capital that might shape both the capacities to participate and how students understood the benefits

Into the central 10 pc of the most distant known radio quasar. VLBI imaging observations of J1429+5447 at z=6.21

Context: There are about 60 quasars known at redshifts z>5.7 to date. Only three of them are detected in the radio above 1 mJy flux density at 1.4 GHz frequency. Among them, J1429+5447 (z=6.21) is the highest-redshift radio quasar known at present. These rare, distant, and powerful objects provide important insight into the activity of the supermassive black holes in the Universe at early cosmological epochs, and on the physical conditions in their environment. Aims: We studied the compact radio structure of J1429+5447 on the milli-arcsecond (mas) angular scale, in order to compare the structural and spectral properties with those of other two z~6 radio-loud quasars, J0836+0054 (z=5.77) and J1427+3312 (z=6.12). Methods: We performed Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) imaging observations of J1429+5447 with the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 1.6 GHz on 2010 June 8, and at 5 GHz on 2010 May 27. Results: Based on its observed radio properties, the compact but somewhat resolved structure on linear scales of <100 pc, and the steep spectrum, the quasar J1429+5447 is remarkably similar to J0836+0054 and J1427+3312. To answer the question whether the compact steep-spectrum radio emission is a "universal" feature of the most distant radio quasars, it is essential to study more, yet to be discovered radio-loud active galactic nuclei at z>6.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication as a Letter to the editor in Astronomy & Astrophyic

Star formation rate and dynamical mass of 10^8 solar mass black hole host galaxies at redshift 6

We present ALMA observations of two moderate luminosity quasars at redshift 6. These quasars from the Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS) have black hole masses of ~10^8 M_solar. Both quasars are detected in the [CII] line and dust continuum. Combining these data with our previous study of two similar CFHQS quasars we investigate the population properties. We show that z>6 quasars have a significantly lower far-infrared luminosity than bolometric-luminosity-matched samples at lower redshift, inferring a lower star formation rate, possibly correlated with the lower black hole masses at z=6. The ratios of [CII] to far-infrared luminosities in the CFHQS quasars are comparable with those of starbursts of similar star formation rate in the local universe. We determine values of velocity dispersion and dynamical mass for the quasar host galaxies based on the [CII] data. We find that there is no significant offset from the relations defined by nearby galaxies with similar black hole masses. There is however a marked increase in the scatter at z=6, beyond the large observational uncertainties.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

The radio luminosity function of radio-loud quasars from the 7C Redshift Survey

We present a complete sample of 24 radio-loud quasars (RLQs) from the new 7C Redshift Survey. Every quasar with a low-frequency (151 MHz) radio flux-density S_151 > 0.5 Jy in two regions of the sky covering 0.013 sr is included; 23 of these have sufficient extended flux to meet the selection criteria, 18 of these have steep radio spectra (hereafter denoted as SSQs). The key advantage of this sample over most samples of RLQs is the lack of an optical magnitude limit. By combining the 7C and 3CRR samples, we have investigated the properties of RLQs as a function of redshift z and radio luminosity L_151. We derive the radio luminosity function (RLF) of RLQs and find that the data are well fitted by a single power-law with slope alpha_1=1.9. We find that there must be a break in the RLQ RLF at log_10(L_151 / W Hz^-1 sr^-1) < 27, in order for the models to be consistent with the 7C and 6C source counts. The z-dependence of the RLF follows a one-tailed gaussian which peaks at z=1.7. We find no evidence for a decline in the co-moving space density of RLQs at higher redshifts. A positive correlation between the radio and optical luminosities of SSQs is observed, confirming a result of Serjeant et al. (1998). We are able to rule out this correlation being due to selection effects or biases in our combined sample. The radio-optical correlation and best-fit model RLF enable us to estimate the distribution of optical magnitudes of quasars in samples selected at low radio frequencies. We conclude that for samples with S_151 < 1 Jy one must use optical data significantly deeper than the POSS-I limit (R approx 20), in order to avoid severe incompleteness.Comment: 28 pages with 13 figures. To appear in MNRA

Ground-state 12CO emission and a resolved jet at 115 GHz (rest-frame) in the radio loud quasar 3C318

An analysis of 44 GHz VLA observations of the z = 1.574 radio-loud quasar 3C318 has revealed emission from the redshifted J = 1 - 0 transition of the CO molecule and spatially resolved the 6.3 kpc radio jet associated with the quasar at 115 GHz rest-frame. The continuum-subtracted line emitter is spatially offset from the quasar nucleus by 0.33" (2.82 kpc in projection). This spatial offset has a significance of >8-sigma and, together with a previously published -400 km/s velocity offset measured in the J = 2 - 1 CO line relative to the systemic redshift of the quasar, rules out a circumnuclear starburst or molecular gas ring and suggests that the quasar host galaxy is either undergoing a major merger with a gas-rich galaxy or is otherwise a highly disrupted system. If the merger scenario is correct then the event may be in its early stages, acting as the trigger for both the young radio jets in the quasar and a starburst in the merging galaxy. The total molecular gas mass in the spatially offset line emitter as measured from the ground-state CO line M_H2 = 3.7 (+/-0.4) x 10^10 (alpha_CO/0.8) M_solar. Assuming that the line-emitter can be modelled as a rotating disk, an inclination-dependent upper limit is derived for its dynamical mass M_dyn sin^2(i) < 3.2 x 10^9 M_solar, suggesting that for M_H2 to remain less than M_dyn the inclination angle must be i < 16 degrees. The far infrared and CO luminosities of 246 extragalactic systems are collated from the literature for comparison. The high molecular gas content of 3C318 is consistent with that of the general population of high redshift quasars and sub-millimetre galaxies.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables (additional table to appear online as supplementary material), accepted for publication in MNRA

A wide dispersion in star formation rate and dynamical mass of 10^8 solar mass black hole host galaxies at redshift 6

ALMA [CII] line and continuum observations of five redshift z>6 quasars are presented. This sample was selected to probe lower black hole mass quasars than most previous studies. We find a wide dispersion in properties with CFHQS J0216-0455, a low-luminosity quasar with absolute magnitude M_1450=-22.2, remaining undetected implying a limit on the star formation rate in the host galaxy of <10 solar masses per year, whereas other host galaxies have star formation rates up to hundreds of solar masses per year. Two other quasars have particularly interesting properties. VIMOS2911 is one of the least luminous z>6 quasars known with M_1450=-23.1, yet its host galaxy is experiencing a very powerful starburst. PSO J167-13 has a broad and luminous [CII] line and a neighbouring galaxy a projected distance of 5kpc away that is also detected in the [CII] line and continuum. Combining with similar observations from the literature, we study the ratio of [CII] line to far-infrared luminosity finding this ratio increases at high-redshift at a fixed far-infrared luminosity, likely due to lower dust content, lower metallicity and/or higher gas masses. We compile a sample of 21 high-redshift quasars with dynamical masses and investigate the relationship between black hole mass and dynamical mass. The new observations presented here reveal dynamical masses consistent with the relationship defined by local galaxies. However, the full sample shows a very wide scatter across the black hole mass - dynamical mass plane, whereas both the local relationship and simulations of high-redshift quasars show a much lower dispersion in dynamical mass.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, ApJ in pres

The Jet Power and Emission Line Correlations of Radio Loud Optically Selected Quasars

In this Letter, the properties of the extended radio emission form SDSS DR7 quasars with $0.4<z<0.8$ is studied. This low redshift sample is useful since any corresponding FIRST radio observations are sensitive enough to detect extended flux in even the weakest FR II radio sources. In the sample, 2.7% of the sources have detectable extended emission on larger than galactic scales ($>$ 20 - 30 kpc). The frequency of quasars with FR II level extended radio emission is $\approx 2.3$ and $>0.4$ of quasars have FR I level extended radio emission. The lower limit simply reflects the flux density limit of the survey. The distribution of the long term time averaged jet powers of these quasars, $\bar{Q}$, has a broad peak $\sim 3\times 10^{44}$ ergs/sec that turns over below below $10^{44}$ ergs/sec and sources above $10^{45}$ ergs/sec are extremely rare. It is found that the correlation between the bolometric (total thermal) luminosity of the accretion flow, $L_{bol}$, and $\bar{Q}$ is not strong. The correlation of $\bar{Q}$ with narrow line luminosity is stronger than the correlation with broad line luminosity and the continuum luminosity. It is therefore concluded that previous interpretations of correlations of $\bar{Q}$ with narrow line strengths in radio galaxies as a direct correlation of jet power and accretion power have been overstated. It is explained why this interpretation mistakenly overlooks the sizeable fraction of sources with weak accretion luminosity and powerful jets discovered by Ogle et al (2006).Comment: To appear in ApJ Letter

A Gunn-Peterson test with a QSO at z=6.4

Understanding the cosmic re-ionization is one of the key goals of the modern observational cosmology. High redshift QSO spectra can be used as background light sources to measure absorption by intervening neutral hydrogen. We investigate neutral hydrogen absorption in a deep, moderate-resolution Keck/Deimos spectrum of QSO CFHQSJ2329-0301 at z=6.4. This QSO is one of the highest redshift QSOs presently known at z=6.4 but is 2.5 mag fainter than a previously well-studied QSO SDSSJ1148+5251 at z=6.4. Therefore, it has a smaller Stromgren sphere, and allows us to probe the highest redshift hydrogen absorption to date. The average transmitted flux at 5.915<z_abs<6.365 (200 comoving Mpc) is consistent with zero, in Ly_alpha, Ly_beta, and Ly_gamma absorption measurements. This corresponds to the lower limit of optical depth, tau_eff>4.9. These results are consistent with strong evolution of the optical depth at z>5.7.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Redshift 6.4 host galaxies of 10^8 solar mass black holes: low star formation rate and dynamical mass

We present ALMA observations of rest-frame far-infrared continuum and [CII] line emission in two z=6.4 quasars with black hole masses of ~10^8 M_sun. CFHQS J0210-0456 is detected in the continuum with a 1.2 mm flux of 120+/-35 microJy, whereas CFHQS J2329-0301 is undetected at a similar noise level. J2329-0301 has a star formation rate limit of <40 M_sun/yr, considerably below the typical value at all redshifts for this bolometric luminosity. By comparison with hydro simulations, we speculate that this quasar is observed at a relatively rare phase where quasar feedback has effectively shut down star formation in the host galaxy. [CII] emission is also detected only in J0210-0456. The ratio of [CII] to far-infrared luminosity is similar to that of low redshift galaxies of comparable luminosity, suggesting the previous finding of an offset in the relationships between this ratio and far-infrared luminosity at low- and high-redshift may be partially due to a selection effect from the limited sensitivity of previous observations. The [CII] line of J0210-0456 is relatively narrow (FWHM=189+/-18 km/s), indicating a dynamical mass substantially lower than expected from the local black hole - velocity dispersion correlation. The [CII] line is marginally resolved at 0.7" resolution with the blue and red wings spatially offset by 0.5" (3 kpc) and a smooth velocity gradient of 100 km/s across a scale of 6 kpc, possibly due to rotation of a galaxy-wide disk. These observations are consistent with the idea that stellar mass growth lags black hole accretion for quasars at this epoch with respect to more recent times.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, ApJ in press, replaced with final versio