arXiv subjects

B. M. Gaensler

Publications and source records attributed to B. M. Gaensler.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Chasing the Identification of ASCA Galactic Objects (ChIcAGO) - An X-ray Survey of Unidentified Sources in the Galactic Plane I: Source Sample and Initial Results

We present the Chasing the Identification of ASCA Galactic Objects (ChIcAGO) survey, which is designed to identify the unknown X-ray sources discovered during the ASCA Galactic Plane Survey (AGPS). Little is known about most of the AGPS sources, especially those that emit primarily in hard X-rays (2-10 keV) within the F_x ~ 10^-13 to 10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1 X-ray flux range. In ChIcAGO, the subarcsecond localization capabilities of Chandra have been combined with a detailed multi-wavelength follow-up program, with the ultimate goal of classifying the >100 unidentified sources in the AGPS. Overall to date, 93 unidentified AGPS sources have been observed with Chandra as part of the ChIcAGO survey. A total of 253 X-ray point sources have been detected in these Chandra observations within 3' of the original ASCA positions. We have identified infrared and optical counterparts to the majority of these sources, using both new observations and catalogs from existing Galactic plane surveys. X-ray and infrared population statistics for the X-ray point sources detected in the Chandra observations reveal that the primary populations of Galactic plane X-ray sources that emit in the F_x ~ 10^-13 to 10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1 flux range are active stellar coronae, massive stars with strong stellar winds that are possibly in colliding-wind binaries, X-ray binaries, and magnetars. There is also a fifth population that is still unidentified but, based on its X-ray and infrared properties, likely comprise partly of Galactic sources and partly of active galactic nuclei.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Automatic classification of time-variable X-ray sources

To maximize the discovery potential of future synoptic surveys, especially in the field of transient science, it will be necessary to use automatic classification to identify some of the astronomical sources. The data mining technique of supervised classification is suitable for this problem. Here, we present a supervised learning method to automatically classify variable X-ray sources in the second \textit{XMM-Newton} serendipitous source catalog (2XMMi-DR2). Random Forest is our classifier of choice since it is one of the most accurate learning algorithms available. Our training set consists of 873 variable sources and their features are derived from time series, spectra, and other multi-wavelength contextual information. The 10-fold cross validation accuracy of the training data is ${\sim}$97% on a seven-class data set. We applied the trained classification model to 411 unknown variable 2XMM sources to produce a probabilistically classified catalog. Using the classification margin and the Random Forest derived outlier measure, we identified 12 anomalous sources, of which, 2XMM J180658.7$-$500250 appears to be the most unusual source in the sample. Its X-ray spectra is suggestive of a ULX but its variability makes it highly unusual. Machine-learned classification and anomaly detection will facilitate scientific discoveries in the era of all-sky surveys.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2013

A Precision Multi-Band Two-Epoch Photometric Catalog of 44 Million Sources in the Northern Sky from Combination of the USNO-B and Sloan Digital Sky Survey Catalogs

A key science driver for the next generation of wide-field optical and radio surveys is the exploration of the time variable sky. These surveys will have unprecedented sensitivity and areal coverage, but will be limited in their ability to detect variability on time scales longer than the lifetime of the surveys. We present a new precision, multi-epoch photometric catalog that spans 60 years by combining the USNO-B and SDSS Data Release 9 catalogs. We recalibrate the photometry of the original USNO-B catalog and create a catalog with two epochs of photometry in up to five different bands for 43,647,887 optical point sources that lie in the DR9 footprint of the northern sky. The recalibrated objects span a magnitude range 14 < m < 20 and are accurate to $\approx$ 0.1 mag. We minimize the presence of spurious objects and those with inaccurate magnitudes by identifying and removing several sources of systematic errors in the two originating catalogs, with a focus on spurious objects that exhibit large apparent magnitude variations. After accounting for these effects, we find $\approx$ 250,000 stars and quasars that show significant (> 4$σ$) changes in brightness between the USNO-B and SDSS DR9 epochs. We discuss the historical value of the catalog and its application to the study of long time-scale, large amplitude variable stars and quasars.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

A survey for transients and variables with the Murchison Widefield Array 32-tile prototype at 154 MHz

We present a search for transient and variable radio sources at 154 MHz with the Murchison Widefield Array 32-tile prototype. Fifty-one images were obtained that cover a field of view of 1430 deg^2 centred on Hydra A. The observations were obtained over three days in 2010 March and three days in 2011 April and May. The mean cadence of the observations was 26 minutes and there was additional temporal information on day and year timescales. We explore the variability of a sample of 105 low frequency radio sources within the field. Four bright (S > 6 Jy) candidate variable radio sources were identified that displayed low levels of short timescale variability (26 minutes). We conclude that this variability is likely caused by simplifications in the calibration strategy or ionospheric effects. On the timescale of one year we find two sources that show significant variability. We attribute this variability to either refractive scintillation or intrinsic variability. No radio transients were identified and we place an upper limit on the surface density of sources rho < 7.5 x 10^-5 deg^-2 with flux densities > 5.5 Jy, and characteristic timescales of both 26 minutes and one year.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Absolutely calibrated radio polarimetry of the inner Galaxy at 2.3 GHz and 4.8 GHz

We present high sensitivity and absolutely calibrated images of diffuse radio polarisation at a resolution of about 10 arcmin covering the range 10 degr <l<34 degr and |b|<5 degr at 2.3 GHz from the S-band Parkes All Sky Survey and at 4.8 GHz from the Sino-German 6 cm polarisation survey of the Galactic plane. Strong depolarisation near the Galactic plane is seen at 2.3 GHz, which correlates with strong Halpha emission. We ascribe the depolarisation to spatial Faraday rotation measure fluctuations of about 65 rad/m2 on scales smaller than 6-9 pc. We argue that most (about 90%) of the polarised emission seen at 4.8 GHz originates from a distance of 3-4 kpc in the Scutum arm and that the random magnetic field dominates the regular field there. A branch extending from the North Polar Spur towards lower latitudes can be identified from the polarisation image at 4.8 GHz but only partly from the polarised image at 2.3 GHz, implying the branch is at a distance larger than 2-3 kpc. We show that comparison of structure functions of complex polarised intensity with those of polarised intensity can indicate whether the observed polarised structures are intrinsic or caused by Faraday screens. The probability distribution function of gradients from the polarisation images at 2.3 GHz indicates the turbulence in the warm ionised medium is transonic.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

The radio remnant of Supernova 1987A at high frequencies and high resolution

As the remnant of Supernova (SN) 1987A has been getting brighter over time, new observations at high frequencies have allowed imaging of the radio emission at unprecedented detail. We present a new radio image at 44 GHz of the supernova remnant (SNR), derived from observations performed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) in 2011. The diffraction-limited image has a resolution of $349\times225$ mas, which is the highest achieved to date in high-dynamic range images of the SNR. We also present a new image at 18 GHz, also derived from ATCA observations performed in 2011, which is super-resolved to $0./!/!^{\prime\prime}25$. The new 44 and 18 GHz images yield the first high-resolution spectral index map of the remnant. The comparison of the 44 GHz image with contemporaneous X-ray and H$α$ observations allows further investigations of the nature of the remnant asymmetry and sheds more light into the progenitor hypotheses and SN explosion. In light of simple free-free absorption models, we discuss the likelihood of detecting at 44 GHz the possible emission originating from a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) or a compact source in the centre of the remnant.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Radio Observations of Supernova 1987A

Supernovae and their remnants are believed to be prodigious sources of Galactic cosmic rays and interstellar dust. Understanding the mechanisms behind their surprisingly high production rate is helped by the study of nearby young supernova remnants. There has been none better in modern times than SN1987A, for which radio observations have been made for over a quarter of a century. We review extensive observations made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at centimetre wavelengths. Emission at frequencies from 1 to 100 GHz is dominated by synchrotron radiation from an outer shock front which has been growing exponentially in strength from day 3000, and is currently sweeping around the circumstellar ring at about 4000 km s$^{-1}$. Three dimensional models of the propagation of the shock into the circumstellar medium are able to reproduce the main observational features of the remnant, and their evolution. We find that up to 4% of the electrons encountered by the shock are accelerated to relativistic energies. High-frequency ALMA observations will break new ground in the understanding of dust and molecule production.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Evolution of the Radio Remnant of Supernova 1987A: Morphological Changes from Day 7000

We present radio imaging observations of supernova remnant 1987A at 9 GHz, taken with the Australia Telescope Compact Array over 21 years from 1992 to 2013. By employing a Fourier modeling technique to fit the visibility data, we show that the remnant structure has evolved significantly since day 7000 (mid-2006): the emission latitude has gradually decreased, such that the overall geometry has become more similar to a ring structure. Around the same time, we find a decreasing trend in the east-west asymmetry of the surface emissivity. These results could reflect the increasing interaction of the forward shock with material around the circumstellar ring, and the relative weakening of the interaction with the lower-density material at higher latitudes. The morphological evolution caused an apparent break in the remnant expansion measured with a torus model, from a velocity of 4600+150-200 km/s between day 4000 and 7000 to 2400+100-200 km/s after day 7000. However, we emphasize that there is no conclusive evidence for a physical slowing of the shock at any given latitude in the expanding remnant, and that a change of radio morphology alone appears to dominate the evolution. This is supported by our ring-only fits which show a constant expansion of 3890+/-50 km/s without deceleration between days 4000 and 9000. We suggest that once the emission latitude no longer decreases, the expansion velocity obtained from the torus model should return to the same value as that measured with the ring model.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

The giant lobes of Centaurus A observed at 118 MHz with the Murchison Widefield Array

We present new wide-field observations of Centaurus A (Cen A) and the surrounding region at 118 MHz with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) 32-tile prototype, with which we investigate the spectral-index distribution of Cen A's giant radio lobes. We compare our images to 1.4 GHz maps of Cen A and compute spectral indices using temperature-temperature plots and spectral tomography. We find that the morphologies at 118 MHz and 1.4 GHz match very closely apart from an extra peak in the southern lobe at 118 MHz, which provides tentative evidence for the existence of a southern counterpart to the northern middle lobe of Cen A. Our spatially-averaged spectral indices for both the northern and southern lobes are consistent with previous analyses, however we find significant spatial variation of the spectra across the extent of each lobe. Both the spectral-index distribution and the morphology at low radio frequencies support a scenario of multiple outbursts of activity from the central engine. Our results are consistent with inverse-Compton modelling of radio and gamma-ray data that supports a value for the lobe age of between 10 and 80 Myr.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

On the detection and tracking of space debris using the Murchison Widefield Array. I. Simulations and test observations demonstrate feasibility

The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a new low frequency interferomeric radio telescope. The MWA is the low frequency precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and is the first of three SKA precursors to be operational, supporting a varied science mission ranging from the attempted detection of the Epoch of Reionisation to the monitoring of solar flares and space weather. We explore the possibility that the MWA can be used for the purposes of Space Situational Awareness (SSA). In particular we propose that the MWA can be used as an element of a passive radar facility operating in the frequency range 87.5 - 108 MHz (the commercial FM broadcast band). In this scenario the MWA can be considered the receiving element in a bi-static radar configuration, with FM broadcast stations serving as non-cooperative transmitters. The FM broadcasts propagate into space, are reflected off debris in Earth orbit, and are received at the MWA. The imaging capabilities of the MWA can be used to simultaneously detect multiple pieces of space debris, image their positions on the sky as a function of time, and provide tracking data that can be used to determine orbital parameters. Such a capability would be a valuable addition to Australian and global SSA assets, in terms of southern and eastern hemispheric coverage. We provide a feasibility assessment of this proposal, based on simple calculations and electromagnetic simulations that shows the detection of sub-metre size debris should be possible (debris radius of >0.5 m to ~1000 km altitude). We also present a proof-of-concept set of observations that demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal, based on the detection and tracking of the International Space Station via reflected FM broadcast signals originating in south-west Western Australia. These observations broadly validate our calculations and simulations.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2013

Broadband radio circular polarization spectrum of the relativistic jet in PKS B2126-158

We present full-Stokes radio polarization observations of the quasar PKS B2126-158 (z=3.268) from 1 to 10 GHz using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The source has large fractional circular polarization, m_c \equiv |V|/I, detected at high significance across the entire band (from 15 to 90σper 128 MHz sub-band). This allows us to construct the most robust circular polarization (CP) spectrum of an AGN jet to date. We find m_c \propto ν^{+0.60\pm0.03} from 1.5 to 6.5 GHz, with a peak of m_c ~ 1% before the spectrum turns over somewhere between 6.5 and 8 GHz, above which m_c \propto ν^{-3.0\pm0.4}. The fractional linear polarization (p) varies from <~0.2% to ~1% across our frequency range and is strongly anti-correlated with the fractional CP, with a best-fit power law giving m_c \propto p^{-0.24\pm0.03}. This is the first clear relation between the observed linear and circular polarisations of an AGN jet, revealing the action of Faraday conversion of linear polarization (LP) to CP within the jet. More detailed modelling in conjunction with high-spatial resolution observations are required to determine the true driving force behind the conversion (i.e. magnetic twist or internal Faraday rotation). In particular determining whether the observed Faraday rotation is internal or entirely external to the jet is key to this goal. The simplest interpretation of our observations favours some internal Faraday rotation, implying that Faraday rotation-driven conversion of LP to CP is the dominant CP generation mechanism. In this case, a small amount of vector-ordered magnetic field along the jet axis is required, along with internal Faraday rotation from the low energy end of the relativistic electron energy spectrum in an electron-proton dominated jet.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

A 189 MHz, 2400 square degree polarization survey with the Murchison Widefield Array 32-element prototype

We present a Stokes I, Q and U survey at 189 MHz with the Murchison Widefield Array 32-element prototype covering 2400 square degrees. The survey has a 15.6 arcmin angular resolution and achieves a noise level of 15 mJy/beam. We demonstrate a novel interferometric data analysis that involves calibration of drift scan data, integration through the co-addition of warped snapshot images and deconvolution of the point spread function through forward modeling. We present a point source catalogue down to a flux limit of 4 Jy. We detect polarization from only one of the sources, PMN J0351-2744, at a level of 1.8 \pm 0.4%, whereas the remaining sources have a polarization fraction below 2%. Compared to a reported average value of 7% at 1.4 GHz, the polarization fraction of compact sources significantly decreases at low frequencies. We find a wealth of diffuse polarized emission across a large area of the survey with a maximum peak of ~13 K, primarily with positive rotation measure values smaller than +10 rad/m^2. The small values observed indicate that the emission is likely to have a local origin (closer than a few hundred parsecs). There is a large sky area at 2^h30^m where the diffuse polarized emission rms is fainter than 1 K. Within this area of low Galactic polarization we characterize the foreground properties in a cold sky patch at $(α,δ) = (4^h,-27^\circ.6)$ in terms of three dimensional power spectra

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

A New Catalog of Faraday Rotation Measures and Redshifts for Extragalactic Radio Sources

We present a catalog of Faraday rotation measures (RMs) and redshifts for 4003 extragalactic radio sources detected at 1.4 GHz, derived by identifying optical counterparts and spectroscopic redshifts for linearly polarized radio sources from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey. This catalog is more than an order of magnitude larger than any previous sample of RM vs. redshift, and covers the redshift range 0 < z < 5.3 ; the median redshift of the catalog is z = 0.70, and there are more than 1500 sources at redshifts z > 1. For 3650 of these sources at Galactic latitudes |b| >= 20 degrees, we present a second catalog in which we have corrected for the foreground Faraday rotation of the Milky Way, resulting in an estimate of the residual rotation measure (RRM) that aims to isolate the contribution from extragalactic magnetic fields. We find no significant evolution of RRM with redshift, but observe a strong anti-correlation between RRM and fractional polarization, p, that we argue is the result of beam depolarization from small-scale fluctuations in the foreground magnetic field or electron density. We suggest that the observed variance in RRM and the anti-correlation of RRM with p both require a population of magnetized intervening objects that lie outside the Milky Way but in the foreground to the emitting sources.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Atomic Hydrogen in a Galactic Center Outflow

We describe a population of small, high velocity, atomic hydrogen clouds, loops, and filaments found above and below the disk near the Galactic Center. The objects have a mean radius of 15 pc, velocity widths of $\sim 14$ km/s and are observed at $|z|$ heights up to 700 pc. The velocity distribution of the clouds shows no signature of Galactic rotation. We propose a scenario where the clouds are associated with an outflow from a central star-forming region at the Galactic Center. We discuss the clouds as entrained material traveling at $\sim 200$ km/s in a Galactic wind.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

High-resolution radio observations of SNR 1987A at high frequencies

We present new imaging observations of the remnant of Supernova (SN) 1987A at 44 GHz, performed in 2011 with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The $0\farcs35\times0\farcs23$ resolution of the diffraction-limited image is the highest achieved to date in high-dynamic range. We also present a new ATCA image at 18 GHz derived from 2011 observations, which is super-resolved to $0\farcs25$. The flux density is 40$\pm$2 mJy at 44 GHz and 81$\pm$6 mJy at 18 GHz. At both frequencies, the remnant exhibits a ring-like emission with two prominent lobes, and an east-west brightness asymmetry that peaks on the eastern lobe. A central feature of fainter emission appears at 44 GHz. A comparison with previous ATCA observations at 18 and 36 GHz highlights higher expansion velocities of the remnant eastern side. The 18-44 GHz spectral index is $α=-0.80$ ($S_ν\proptoν^α$). The spectral index map suggests slightly steeper values at the brightest sites on the eastern lobe, whereas flatter values are associated with the inner regions. The remnant morphology at 44 GHz generally matches the structure seen with contemporaneous X-ray and H$α$ observations. Unlike the H$α$ emission, both the radio and X-ray emission peaks on the eastern lobe. The regions of flatter spectral index align and partially overlap with the optically-visible ejecta. Simple free-free absorption models suggest that emission from a pulsar wind nebula or a compact source inside the remnant may now be detectable at high frequencies, or at low frequencies if there are holes in the ionised component of the ejecta.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Simulated Faraday Rotation Measures toward High Galactic Latitudes

We study the Faraday rotation measure (RM) due to the Galactic magnetic field (GMF) toward high Galactic latitudes. The RM arises from the global, regular component as well as from the turbulent, random component of the GMF. We model the former based on observations and the latter using the data of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence simulations. For a large number of different GMF models, we produce mock RM maps around the Galactic poles and calculate various statistical quantities with the RM maps. We find that the observed medians of RMs toward the north and south Galactic poles, $\sim 0.0\pm 0.5 {\rm rad m^{-2}}$ and $\sim +6.3\pm 0.5 {\rm rad m^{-2}}$, are difficult to explain with any of our many alternate GMF models. The standard deviation of observed RMs, $\sim 9 {\rm rad m^{-2}}$, is clearly larger than that of simulated RMs. The second-order structure function of observed RMs is substantially larger than that of simulated RMs, especially at small angular scales. We discuss other possible contributions to RM toward high Galactic latitudes. Besides observational errors and the intrinsic RM of background radio sources against which RM is observed, we suggest that the RM due to the intergalactic magnetic field may account for a substantial fraction of the observed RM. Finally we note that reproducing the observed medians may require additional components or/and structures of the GMF that are not present in our models.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Science with the Murchison Widefield Array

Significant new opportunities for astrophysics and cosmology have been identified at low radio frequencies. The Murchison Widefield Array is the first telescope in the Southern Hemisphere designed specifically to explore the low-frequency astronomical sky between 80 and 300 MHz with arcminute angular resolution and high survey efficiency. The telescope will enable new advances along four key science themes, including searching for redshifted 21 cm emission from the epoch of reionisation in the early Universe; Galactic and extragalactic all-sky southern hemisphere surveys; time-domain astrophysics; and solar, heliospheric, and ionospheric science and space weather. The Murchison Widefield Array is located in Western Australia at the site of the planned Square Kilometre Array (SKA) low-band telescope and is the only low-frequency SKA precursor facility. In this paper, we review the performance properties of the Murchison Widefield Array and describe its primary scientific objectives.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2013

The Murchison Widefield Array: solar science with the low frequency SKA Precursor

The Murchison Widefield Array is a low frequency (80 - 300 MHz) SKA Precursor, comprising 128 aperture array elements (known as tiles) distributed over an area of 3 km diameter. The MWA is located at the extraordinarily radio quiet Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory in the mid-west of Western Australia, the selected home for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 SKA low frequency arrays. The MWA science goals include: 1) detection of fluctuations in the brightness temperature of the diffuse redshifted 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen from the epoch of reionisation; 2) studies of Galactic and extragalactic processes based on deep, confusion-limited surveys of the full sky visible to the array; 3) time domain astrophysics through exploration of the variable radio sky; and 4) solar imaging and characterisation of the heliosphere and ionosphere via propagation effects on background radio source emission. This paper concentrates on the capabilities of the MWA for solar science and summarises some of the solar science results to date, in advance of the initial operation of the final instrument in 2013.

astro-ph.IM↗