SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 0710.5682

The ATESP 5 GHz radio survey. II. Physical properties of the faint radio population

Abstract

One of the most debated issues about sub-mJy radio sources, which are responsible for the steepening of the 1.4 GHz source counts, is the origin of their radio emission. Particularly interesting is the possibility of combining radio spectral index information with other observational properties to assess whether the sources are triggered by star formation or nuclear activity. The aim of this work is to study the optical and near infrared properties of a complete sample of 131 radio sources with S>0.4 mJy, observed at both 1.4 and 5 GHz as part of the ATESP radio survey. We use deep multi-colour (UBVRIJK) images, mostly taken in the framework of the ESO Deep Public Survey, to optically identify and derive photometric redshifts for the ATESP radio sources. Deep optical coverage and extensive colour information are available for 3/4 of the region covered by the radio sample. Typical depths of the images are U~25, B~26, V~25.4, R~25.5, I~24.3, 19.5 1000), typical of classical powerful radio galaxies and quasars. Flat-spectrum sources with low R values are preferentially identified with early type galaxies, where the radio emission is most probably triggered by low-luminosity active galactic nuclei. Considering both early type galaxies and quasars as sources with an active nucleus, such sources largely dominate our sample (78%). Flat-spectrum sources associated with early type galaxies are quite compact (d<10-30 kpc), suggesting core-dominated radio emission.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

A. Mignano, I. Prandoni, L. Gregorini, P. Parma, H. R. de Ruiter, M. H. Wieringa, G. Vettolani, R. D. Ekers. 2007-10-30. The ATESP 5 GHz radio survey. II. Physical properties of the faint radio population. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20078545

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Numerical Simulation of the Viscous-like Flow in and Around the Plasma Tail of a Comet

We model the interaction of the solar wind with the plasma tail of a comet by means of numerical simulations, taking into account the effects of viscous-like forces.A 2D hydrodynamical, two species, finite difference code has been developed for the solution of the time dependent continuity, momentum and energy conservation equations, as applied to the problem at hand. Velocity, density and temperature profiles across the tail are obtained. Several cases with different flow parameters are considered in order to study the relative importance of viscous-like effects and the coupling between species on the flow dynamics. Assuming a Mach number equal to 2 for the incident solar wind as it flows past the comet nucleus, the flow exhibits three transitions with location and properties depending on the Reynolds number for each species and on the ratio of the timescale for inter-species coupling to the crossing time of the free flowing solar wind. By comparing our results with the measurements taken in situ by the Giotto spacecraft during its flyby of comet Halley we constrain the flow parameters for both plasmas. In the context of our approximations, we find that our model is qualitatively consistent with the in situ measurements as long as the Reynolds number of the solar wind protons and of cometary H2O+ ions is low, less than 100, suggesting that viscous-like momentum transport processes may play an important role in the interaction of the solar wind and the plasma environment of comets.

astro-ph

Mass and Redshift Dependence of Dark Halo Structure

Using a combination of N-body simulations with different resolutions, we study in detail how the concentrations of cold dark matter (CDM) halos depend on halo mass at different redshifts. We confirm that halo concentrations at the present time depend strongly on halo mass, but our results also show marked differences from the predictions of some early empirical models. Our main result is that the mass dependence of the concentrations becomes weaker at higher redshifts, and at z >~ 3 halos of mass greater than 10^{11} Msun/h all have a similar median concentration, c ~ 3.5. While the median concentrations of low-mass halos grow significantly with time, those of massive halos change only little with redshifts. These results are quantitatively in good agreement with the empirical model proposed by Zhao et al. which shows that halos in the early fast accretion phase all have similar concentrations.

astro-ph

Cosmology from very high energy $γ$-rays

In this work we study how the cosmological parameter, the Hubble constant $H_0$, can be constrained by observation of very high energy (VHE) $γ$-rays at the TeV scale. The VHE $γ$-rays experience attenuation by background radiation field through $e^+e^-$ pair production during the propagation in the intergalactic space. This effect is proportional to the distance that the VHE $γ$-rays go through. Therefore the absorption of TeV $γ$-rays can be taken as cosmological distance indicator to constrain the cosmological parameters. Two blazars Mrk 501 and 1ES 1101-232, which have relatively good spectra measurements by the atmospheric Cerenkov telescope, are studied to constrain $H_0$. The mechanism constraining the Hubble constant adopted here is very different from the previous methods such as the observations of type Ia supernovae and the cosmic microwave background. However, at $2σ$ level, our result is consistent with other methods.

astro-ph