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D. Moss

Publications and source records attributed to D. Moss.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2007

A 610 MHz Survey of the 1H XMM-Newton/Chandra Survey Field

We present the results of a deep 610 MHz survey of the 1^H XMM/Chandra survey area with the GMRT. The resulting maps have a resolution of ~7 arcsec and an rms noise limit of 60 microJy. To a 5 sigma detection limit of 300 microJy we detect 223 sources within a survey area of diameter 64 arcmin. We compute the 610 MHz source counts and compare them to those measured at other radio wavelengths. The well know flattening of the Euclidean-normalised 1.4 GHz source counts below ~2 mJy, usually explained by a population of starburst galaxies undergoing luminosity evolution, is seen at 610 MHz. The 610 MHz source counts can be modelled by the same populations that explain the 1.4 GHz source counts, assuming a spectral index of -0.7 for the starburst galaxies and the steep spectrum AGN population. We find a similar dependence of luminosity evolution on redshift for the starburst galaxies at 610 MHz as is found at 1.4 GHz (i.e. 'Q'= 2.45 (+0.3,-0.4)).

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arXiv2007

Magnetic fields in barred galaxies. V. Modelling NGC 1365

We present a model of the global magnetic field in the barred galaxy NGC 1365 based jointly on the large-scale velocity field of interstellar gas fitted to HI and CO observations of this galaxy and on mean-field dynamo theory. The aim of the paper is to present a detailed quantitative comparison of a galactic dynamo model with independent radio observations. We consider several gas dynamical and nonlinear dynamo models that include plausible variations of parameters that are poorly known. Models of cosmic ray distribution in the galaxy are introduced to produce synthetic radio polarization maps allowing direct comparison with those observed at 3.5cm and 6.2cm. We show that the dynamo model is robust in that the most important magnetic features are controlled by the relatively well established properties of the density distribution and gas velocity field. The optimal agreement between the synthetic polarization maps and observations is obtained when a uniform cosmic ray distribution is adopted. We find some indirect evidence for enhanced turbulence in the regions of strong velocity shear and within 1-2kpc of the galactic centre. We confirm that magnetic stresses can drive an inflow of gas into the inner 1kpc of the galaxy at a rate of a few solar masses per year. The dynamo models are successful to some extent in modelling the large scale regular magnetic field in this galaxy. Our results demonstrate that dynamo models and synthetic polarization maps can provide information about both the gas dynamical models and conditions in the interstellar medium. We demonstrate that the dynamical effects of magnetic fields cannot be everywhere ignored in galaxy modelling.

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arXiv2006

The Star-formation History of the Universe as Revealed from Deep Radio Observations of the 13H XMM-Newton/Chandra Deep Field

Discerning the exact nature of the faint (sub-mJy) radio population has been historically difficult due to the low luminosity of these sources at most wavelengths. Using deep observations from Chandra/XMM-Newton/Spitzer and ground based follow up we are able to disentangle the AGN and star-forming populations for the first time in a deep multi-frequency GMRT/VLA/MERLIN Survey. The many diagnostics include radio luminosity, morphology, radio to mid-IR flux density ratios, radio to optical flux density ratios and radio spectral indices. Further diagnostics, e.g. optical spectra X-ray spectra/hardness ratios, IR colours indicate the presence of the AGN {\em independent} of whether the radio emission is powered by AGN or star-formation. We are able to examine the star-formation history of the universe up to z=2.5 in a unique way based on an unbiased star-formation rate indicator, radio luminosity. This work provides an alternative perspective on the distribution of star-formation by mass, ``downsizing'' and allows us to examine the prevalence of AGN in star-bursts.

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arXiv2006

X-ray spectra of sources in the 13H XMM-Newton / Chandra deep field

We present the X-ray spectra of 86 optically-identified sources in the 13H XMM-Newton/Chandra deep field which have >70 X-ray counts. The sample consists of 50 broad line AGN, 25 narrow emission line galaxies, 6 absorption line galaxies, and 5 Galactic stars. The majority (42/50) of the broad line AGN have X-ray spectra which are consistent with a power law shape. They have a mean photon index of Gamma = 2.0 +- 0.1 and an intrinsic dispersion sigma = 0.4 +- 0.1. Five BLAGN show a deficit of soft X-rays, indicating absorption. Significant absorption is more common in the narrow emission line galaxies (13/25) and absorption line galaxies (2/6) than in the broad line AGN (5/50), but is not universal in any of these classes of object. The majority of the 20 absorbed sources have X-ray spectra consistent with a simple cold photoelectric absorber, but 6/20 require more complex models with either an additional component of soft X-ray emitting plasma, or an ionised absorber. Of the 16 galaxies which do not show evidence for X-ray absorption, only 2 objects are likely to be powered by star formation, and both have 2-10 keV X-ray luminosities of <= 10^40 cgs. The X-ray emission in the other 14 unabsorbed NELGs and galaxies is most likely powered by AGN, which are not detected in the optical because they are outshone by their luminous host galaxies. The Galactic stars show multi-temperature thermal spectra which peak between 0.5 and 1 keV. Star/AGN discrimination is possible for 4 of the 5 stars solely from their X-ray spectra.

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arXiv2006

The distribution of current helicity at the solar surface at the beginning of the solar cycle

A fraction of solar active regions are observed to have current helicity of a sign that contradicts the polarity law for magnetic helicity; this law corresponds to the well-known Hale polarity law for sunspots. A significant excess of active regions with the "wrong" sign of helicity is seen to occur just at the beginning of the cycle. We compare these observations with predictions from a dynamo model based on principles of helicity conservation, discussed by Zhang et al. (2006). This model seems capable of explaining only a fraction of the regions with the wrong sign of the helicity. We attribute the remaining excess to additional current helicity production from the twisting of rising magnetic flux tubes, as suggested by Choudhuri et al. (2004). We estimate the relative contributions of this effect and that connected with the model based on magnetic helicity conservation.

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arXiv2005

Magnetic fields in barred galaxies. IV. NGC 1097 and NGC 1365

We present 3.5cm and 6.2cm radio continuum maps in total and polarized intensity of the barred galaxies NGC 1097 and NGC 1365. Both galaxies exhibit radio ridges roughly overlapping with the massive dust lanes in the bar region. The contrast in total intensity across the radio ridges is compatible with compression and shear of an isotropic random magnetic field. The contrast in polarized intensity is significantly smaller than that expected from compression and shearing of the regular magnetic field; this could be the result of decoupling of the regular field from the dense molecular clouds. The regular field in the ridge is probably strong enough to reduce significantly shear in the diffuse gas (to which it is coupled) and hence to reduce magnetic field amplification by shearing. This contributes to the misalignment of the observed field orientation with respect to the velocity vectors of the dense gas. Our observations, for the first time, indicate that magnetic forces can control the flow of the diffuse interstellar gas at kiloparsec scales. The total radio intensity reaches its maximum in the circumnuclear starburst regions, where the equipartition field strength is about 60μG, amongst the strongest fields detected in spiral galaxies so far. The regular field in the inner region has a spiral shape with large pitch angle, indicating the action of a dynamo. Magnetic stress leads to mass inflow towards the centre, sufficient to feed the active nucleus in NGC 1097. We detected diffuse X-ray emission, possibly forming a halo of hot gas around NGC 1097.

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arXiv2005

XMM-Newton 13H Deep field - I. X-ray sources

We present the results of a deep X-ray survey conducted with XMM-Newton, centred on the UK ROSAT 13H deep field area. This region covers 0.18 deg^2 and is the first of two areas covered with XMM-Newton as part of an extensive multi-wavelength survey designed to study the nature and evolution of the faint X-ray source population. We have produced detailed Monte-Carlo simulations to obtain a quantitative characterisation of the source detection procedure and to assess the reliability of the resultant sourcelist. We use the simulations to establish a likelihood threshold above which we expect less than 7 (3%) of our sources to be spurious. We present the final catalogue of 225 sources. Within the central 9 arcmin, 68 per cent of source positions are accurate to 2 arcsec, making optical follow-up relatively straightforward. We construct the N(>S) relation in four energy bands: 0.2-0.5 keV, 0.5-2 keV, 2-5 keV and 5-10 keV. In all but our highest energy band we find that the source counts can be represented by a double powerlaw with a bright end slope consistent with the Euclidean case and a break around 10^-14 cgs. Below this flux the counts exhibit a flattening. Our source counts reach densities of 700, 1300, 900 and 300 deg^-2 at fluxes of 4.1x10^-16, 4.5x10^-16, 1.1x10^-15 and 5.3x10^-15 cgs in the 0.2-0.5, 0.5-2, 2-5 and 5-10 keV energy bands respectively. We have compared our source counts with those in the two Chandra deep fields and Lockman hole and find our source counts to be amongst the highest of these fields in all energy bands. We resolve >51% (>50%) of the X-ray background emission in the 1-2 keV (2-5 keV) energy bands.

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arXiv2005

The Radial Distribution of Magnetic Helicity in the Solar Convective Zone: Observations and Dynamo Theory

We continue our attempt to connect observational data on current helicity in solar active regions with solar dynamo models. In addition to our previous results about temporal and latitudinal distributions of current helicity (Kleeorin et al. 2003), we argue that some information concerning the radial profile of the current helicity averaged over time and latitude can be extracted from the available observations. The main feature of this distribution can be presented as follows. Both shallow and deep active regions demonstrate a clear dominance of one sign of current helicity in a given hemisphere during the whole cycle. Broadly speaking, current helicity has opposite polarities in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, although there are some active regions that violate this polarity rule. The relative number of active regions violating the polarity rule is significantly higher for deeper active regions. A separation of active regions into `shallow', `middle' and `deep' is made by comparing their rotation rate and the helioseismic rotation law. We use a version of Parker's dynamo model in two spatial dimensions, that employs a nonlinearity based on magnetic helicity conservation arguments. The predictions of this model about the radial distribution of solar current helicity appear to be in remarkable agreement with the available observational data; in particular the relative volume occupied by the current helicity of "wrong" sign grows significantly with the depth.

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arXiv2004

Dynamo models and differential rotation in late-type rapidly rotating stars

Increasing evidence is becoming available about not only the surface differential rotation of rapidly rotating cool stars but, in a small number of cases, also about temporal variations, which possibly are analogous to the solar torsional oscillations. Given the present difficulties in resolving the precise nature of such variations, due to both the short length and poor resolution of the available data, theoretical input is vital to help assess the modes of behaviour that might be expected, and will facilitate interpretation of the observations. Here we take a first step in this direction by studying the variations in the convection zones of such stars, using a two dimensional axisymmetric mean field dynamo model operating in a spherical shell in which the only nonlinearity is the action of the azimuthal component of the Lorentz force of the dynamo generated magnetic field on the stellar angular velocity. We consider three families of models with different depths of dynamo-active regions. For moderately supercritical dynamo numbers we find torsional oscillations that penetrate all the way down to the bottom of the convection zones, similar to the case of the Sun. For larger dynamo numbers we find fragmentation in some cases and sometimes there are other dynamical modes of behaviour, including quasi-periodicity and chaos. We find that the largest deviations in the angular velocity distribution caused by the Lorentz force are of the order of few percent, implying that the original assumed `background' rotation field is not strongly distorted.

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arXiv2003

Magnetic Helicity Evolution During the Solar Activity Cycle: Observations and Dynamo Theory

We study a simple model for the solar dynamo in the framework of the Parker migratory dynamo, with a nonlinear dynamo saturation mechanism based on magnetic helicity conservation arguments. We find a parameter range in which the model demonstrates a cyclic behaviour with properties similar to that of Parker dynamo with the simplest form of algebraic alpha-quenching. We compare the nonlinear current helicity evolution in this model with data for the current helicity evolution obtained during 10 years of observations at the Huairou Solar Station of China. On one hand, our simulated data demonstrate behaviour comparable with the observed phenomenology, provided that a suitable set of governing dynamo parameters is chosen. On the other hand, the observational data are shown to be rich enough to reject some other sets of governing parameters. We conclude that, in spite of the very preliminary state of the observations and the crude nature of the model, the idea of using observational data to constrain our ideas concerning magnetic field generation in the framework of the solar dynamo appears promising.

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arXiv2002

Nonlinear Magnetic Diffusion and Magnetic Helicity Transport in Galactic Dynamos

We have extended our previous mean-field galactic dynamo model which included algebraic and dynamic alpha nonlinearities (Kleeorin et al., A&A, v. 387, 453, 2002), to include also a quenching of turbulent diffusivity. We readily obtain equilibrium states for the large-scale magnetic field in the local disc dynamo model, and these fields have strengths that are comparable to the equipartition field strength. We find that the algebraic nonlinearity alone (i.e. quenching of both the alpha effect and turbulent magnetic diffusion) cannot saturate the growth of the mean magnetic field; only the combined effect of algebraic and dynamic nonlinearities can limit the growth of the mean magnetic field. However, in contrast to our earlier work without quenching of the turbulent diffusivity, we cannot now find satisfactory solutions in the no-z approximation to the axisymmetric galactic dynamo problem.

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arXiv2002

Helicity Balance and Steady-State Strength of the Dynamo Generated Galactic Magnetic Field

We demonstrate that the inclusion of the helicity flux in the magnetic helicity balance in the nonlinear stage of galactic dynamo action results in a radical change in the magnetic field dynamics. The equilibrium value of the large-scale magnetic field is then approximately the equipartition level. This is in contrast to the situation without the flux of helicity, when the magnetic helicity is conserved locally, which leads to substantially subequipartition values for the equilibrium large-scale magnetic field.

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arXiv2002

The Role of Magnetic Helicity Transport in Nonlinear Galactic Dynamos

We consider the magnetic helicity balance for the galactic dynamo in the framework of the local dynamo problem, as well as in the no-z model (which includes explicitly the radial distribution of the magnetic fields). When calculating the magnetic helicity balance we take into account the redistribution of the small-scale and large-scale magnetic fields between the magnetic helicities, as well as magnetic helicity transport and diffusion due to small-scale turbulence. We demonstrate that the magnetic helicity flux through the galactic disc boundaries leads to a steady-state magnetic field with magnetic energy comparable to the equipartition energy of the turbulent motions of the interstellar medium. If such flux is ignored, the steady-state magnetic field is found to be much smaller than the equipartition field. The total magnetic helicity flux through the boundaries consists of both an advective flux and a diffusive flux. The exact ratio of these contributions seems not to be crucial for determining the strength of the steady-state magnetic field and its structure. However at least some diffusive contribution is needed to smooth the magnetic helicity profile near to the disc boundaries. The roles of various transport coefficients for magnetic helicity are investigated, and the values which lead to magnetic field configurations comparable with those observed are determined.

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arXiv2001

Magnetic fields in barred galaxies. II. Dynamo models

We study the generation and maintenance of large-scale magnetic fields in barred galaxies. We take a velocity field (with strong noncircular components) from a published gas dynamical simulation of Athanassoula (1992), and use this as input to a galactic dynamo calculation. Our work is largely motivated by recent high quality VLA radio observations of the barred galaxy NGC 1097, and we compare our results in detail with the regular magnetic fields deduced from these observations. We are able to reproduce most of the conspicuous large-scale features of the observed regular field, including the field structure in the central regions, by using a simple mean-field dynamo model in which the intensity of interstellar turbulence (more precisely, the turbulent diffusivity) is enhanced by a factor of 2-6 in the dust lanes and near the circumnuclear ring. We argue that magnetic fields can be dynamically important, and therefore should be included in models of gas flow in barred galaxies.

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arXiv1998

The influence of geometry and topology on axisymmetric mean-field dynamos

We study the changes in the dynamical behaviour of axisymmetric spherical mean-field dynamo models produced by changes in their geometry and topology, by considering a two parameter family of models, ranging from a full sphere to spherical shell, torus and disc-like configurations, within a unified framework. We find that the two parameter space of the family of models considered here separates into at least three different regions with distinct characteristics for the onset of dynamo action. In two of these regions, the most easily excited fields are oscillatory, in one case with dipolar symmetry, and in the other with quadrupolar, whereas in the third region the most easily excited field is steady and quadrupolar. In the nonlinear regime, we find that topological changes can alter significantly the dynamical behaviour, whilst modest changes in geometry can produce qualitative changes, particularly for thin disc-like configurations. This is of potential importance, since the exact shapes of astrophysical bodies, especially accretion discs and galaxies, are usually not precisely known.

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