arXiv subjects

M. A. Zwaan

Publications and source records attributed to M. A. Zwaan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

ALMACAL IV: A catalogue of ALMA calibrator continuum observations

We present a catalogue of ALMA flux density measurements of 754 calibrators observed between August 2012 and September 2017, for a total of 16,263 observations in different bands and epochs. The flux densities were measured reprocessing the ALMA images generated in the framework of the ALMACAL project, with a new code developed by the Italian node of the European ALMA Regional Centre. A search in the online databases yielded redshift measurements for 589 sources ($\sim$78 per cent of the total). Almost all sources are flat-spectrum, based on their low-frequency spectral index, and have properties consistent with being blazars of different types. To illustrate the properties of the sample we show the redshift and flux density distributions as well as the distributions of the number of observations of individual sources and of time spans in the source frame for sources observed in bands 3 (84$-$116 GHz) and 6 (211$-$275 GHz). As examples of the scientific investigations allowed by the catalogue we briefly discuss the variability properties of our sources in ALMA bands 3 and 6 and the frequency spectra between the effective frequencies of these bands. We find that the median variability index steadily increases with the source-frame time lag increasing from 100 to 800 days, and that the frequency spectra of BL Lacs are significantly flatter than those of flat-spectrum radio quasars. We also show the global spectral energy distributions of our sources over 17 orders of magnitude in frequency.

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arXiv2018

Massive, Absorption-selected Galaxies at Intermediate Redshifts

The nature of absorption-selected galaxies and their connection to the general galaxy population have been open issues for more than three decades, with little information available on their gas properties. Here we show, using detections of carbon monoxide (CO) emission with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), that five of seven high-metallicity, absorption-selected galaxies at intermediate redshifts, $z \approx 0.5-0.8$, have large molecular gas masses, $M_{\rm Mol} \approx (0.6 - 8.2) \times 10^{10} \: {\rm M}_\odot$ and high molecular gas fractions ($f_{\rm Mol} \equiv \: M_{\rm Mol}/(M_\ast + M_{\rm Mol}) \approx 0.29-0.87)$. Their modest star formation rates (SFRs), $\approx (0.3-9.5) \: {\rm M}_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$, then imply long gas depletion timescales, $\approx (3 - 120)$ Gyr. The high-metallicity absorption-selected galaxies at $z \approx 0.5-0.8$ appear distinct from populations of star-forming galaxies at both $z \approx 1.3-2.5$, during the peak of star formation activity in the Universe, and lower redshifts, $z \lesssim 0.05$. Their relatively low SFRs, despite the large molecular gas reservoirs, may indicate a transition in the nature of star formation at intermediate redshifts, $z \approx 0.7$.

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arXiv2017

ALMACAL III: A combined ALMA and MUSE Survey for Neutral, Molecular, and Ionised Gas in an HI-Absorption-Selected System

Studying the flow of baryons into and out of galaxies is an important part of understanding the evolution of galaxies over time. We present a detailed case study of the environment around an intervening Ly $α$ absorption line system at $z_{\rm abs} = 0.633$, seen towards the quasar J0423$-$0130 ($z_{\rm QSO} = 0.915$). We detect with ALMA the $^{12}$CO(2--1), $^{12}$CO(3--2) and $1.2$~mm continuum emission from a galaxy at the redshift of the Ly $α$ absorber at a projected distance of $135$ kpc. From the ALMA detections, we infer ISM conditions similar to those in low redshift Luminous Infrared Galaxies. DDT MUSE integral field unit observations reveal the optical counterpart of the $^{12}$CO emission line source and three additional emission line galaxies at the absorber redshift, which together form a galaxy group. The $^{12}$CO emission line detections originate from the most massive galaxy in this group. While we cannot exclude that we miss a fainter host, we reach a dust-uncorrected star-formation rate (SFR) limit of > $0.3 \text{M}_{\odot} \text{ yr}^{-1}$ within $100$ kpc from the sightline to the background quasar. We measure the dust-corrected SFR (ranging from $3$ to $50$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$), the morpho-kinematics and the metallicities of the four group galaxies to understand the relation between the group and the neutral gas probed in absorption. We find that the Ly $α$ absorber traces either an outflow from the most massive galaxy or intra-group gas. This case study illustrates the power of combining ALMA and MUSE to obtain a census of the cool baryons in a bounded structure at intermediate redshift.

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arXiv2017

ALMA + VLT observations of a Damped Lyman-α absorbing galaxy: Massive, wide CO emission, gas-rich but with very low SFR

We are undertaking an ALMA survey of molecular gas in galaxies selected for their strong HI absorption, so-called DLA/sub-DLA galaxies. Here we report CO(2-1) detection from a DLA galaxy at z = 0.716. We also present optical and near-infrared spectra of the galaxy revealing [OII], Hα and [NII] emission lines shifted by ~170 km/s relative to the DLA, and providing an oxygen abundance 3.2 times solar, similar to the absorption metallicity. We report low unobscured SFR ~1 Msun/yr given the large reservoir of molecular gas, and also modest obscured SFR=4.5(+4.4,-2.6) Msun/yr based on far-IR and sub-mm data. We determine mass components of the galaxy: log[M*/Msun] = 10.80(+0.07,-0.14), log[M mol-gas/Msun] = 10.37 +/-0.04, and log[M dust/Msun] = 8.45(+0.10,-0.30). Surprisingly, this HI absorption-selected galaxy has no equivalent objects in CO surveys of flux-selected samples. The galaxy falls off current scaling relations for the SFR to molecular gas mass and CO Tully-Fisher relation. Detailed comparison of kinematical components of the absorbing, ionized and molecular gas, combined with their spatial distribution, suggests that part of the CO gas is both kinematically and spatially de-coupled from the main galaxy. It is thus possible that a major star burst in the past could explain the wide CO profile as well as the low SFR. Support for this also comes from the SED favouring an instantaneous burst of age ~0.5 Gyr. Our survey will establish whether flux-selected surveys of molecular gas are missing a key stage in the evolution of galaxies and their conversion of gas to stars.

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arXiv2017

Mass and metallicity scaling relations of high redshift star-forming galaxies selected by GRBs

We present a comprehensive study of the relations between gas kinematics, metallicity, and stellar mass in a sample of 82 GRB-selected galaxies using absorption and emission methods. We find the velocity widths of both emission and absorption profiles to be a proxy of stellar mass. We also investigate the velocity-metallicity correlation and its evolution with redshift and find the correlation derived from emission lines to have a significantly smaller scatter compared to that found using absorption lines. Using 33 GRB hosts with measured stellar mass and metallicitiy, we study the mass-metallicity relation for GRB host galaxies in a stellar mass range of $10^{8.2} M_{\odot}$ to $10^{11.1} M_{\odot}$ and a redshift range of $ z\sim 0.3-3.4$. The GRB-selected galaxies appear to track the mass-metallicity relation of star forming galaxies but with an offset of 0.15 towards lower metallicities. This offset is comparable with the average error-bar on the metallicity measurements of the GRB sample and also the scatter on the MZ relation of the general population. It is hard to decide whether this relatively small offset is due to systematic effects or the intrinsic nature of GRB hosts. We also investigate the possibility of using absorption-line metallicity measurements of GRB hosts to study the mass-metallicity relation at high redshifts. Our analysis shows that the metallicity measurements from absorption methods can significantly differ from emission metallicities and assuming identical measurements from the two methods may result in erroneous conclusions.

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arXiv2017

Large turbulent reservoirs of cold molecular gas around high-redshift starburst galaxies

Starburst galaxies at the peak of cosmic star formation are among the most extreme starforming engines in the universe, producing stars over ~100 Myr. The star formation rates of these galaxies, which exceed 100 $M_\odot$ per year, require large reservoirs of cold molecular gas to be delivered to their cores, despite strong feedback from stars or active galactic nuclei. Starburst galaxies are therefore ideal targets to unravel the critical interplay between this feedback and the growth of a galaxy. The methylidyne cation, CH$^+$, is a most useful molecule for such studies because it cannot form in cold gas without supra-thermal energy input, so its presence highlights dissipation of mechanical energy or strong UV irradiation. Here, we report the detection of CH$^+$(J=1-0) emission and absorption lines in the spectra of six lensed starburst galaxies at redshifts z~2.5. This line has such a high critical density for excitation that it is emitted only in very dense ($>10^5$ cm$^{-3}$) gas, and is absorbed in low-density gas. We find that the CH$^+$ emission lines, which are broader than 1000 km s$^{-1}$, originate in dense shock waves powered by hot galactic winds. The CH$^+$ absorption lines reveal highly turbulent reservoirs of cool ($T\sim 100$K), low-density gas, extending far outside (>10 kpc) the starburst cores (radii <1 kpc). We show that the galactic winds sustain turbulence in the 10 kpc-scale environments of the starburst cores, processing these environments into multi-phase, gravitationally bound reservoirs. However, the mass outflow rates are found to be insufficient to balance the star formation rates. Another mass input is therefore required for these reservoirs, which could be provided by on-going mergers or cold stream accretion. Our results suggest that galactic feedback, coupled jointly to turbulence and gravity, extends the starburst phase instead of quenching it.

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arXiv2017

Detection of CH+, SH+, and their 13C- and 34S- isotopologues toward PKS1830-211

The z=0.89 molecular absorber toward PKS1830-211 provides us with the opportunity to probe the chemical and physical properties of the interstellar medium in the disk of a galaxy at a look-back time of half the present age of the Universe. Recent ALMA observations of hydrides have unveiled the multi-phase composition of this source's interstellar medium along two absorbing sightlines. Here, we report ALMA observations of CH+ and SH+, and of their 13C- and 34S- isotopologues, as potential tracers of energetic processes in the interstellar medium. CH+ and 13CH+ are detected toward both images of PKS1830-211, CH+ showing the deepest and broadest absorption among all species observed so far. The [CH+]/[13CH+] abundance ratio is ~100 in the south-west line of sight. [...] Toward the north-east image, we find an even larger value of [CH+]/[13CH+], 146 +/- 43, although with a large uncertainty. This sightline intercepts the absorber at a larger galactocentric radius than the southwestern one, where material might be less processed in stellar nucleosynthesis. In contrast to CH+ and its 13C isotopologue, SH+ and 34SH+ are only detected on the south-west sightline. These are the first detections of extragalactic SH+ and interstellar 34SH+. The spectroscopic parameters of SH+ are reevaluated and improved rest frequencies of 34SH+ are obtained. The [CH+]/[SH+] column density ratios show a large difference between the two lines of sight: ~25 and >600 toward the SW and NE image, respectively. We are not able to shed light on the formation process of CH+ and SH+ with these data, but the differences in the two sightlines toward PKS1830-211 suggest that their absorptions arise from gas with molecular fraction gtrsim 10%, with SH+ tracing significantly higher molecular fractions than CH+.

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arXiv2016

Early Science with the Large Millimeter Telescope: discovery of the 12CO(1-0) emission line in the ring galaxy, VIIZw466

We report an early science discovery of the CO(1-0) emission line in the collisional ring galaxy, VII Zw466, using the Redshift Search Receiver instrument on the Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano.The apparent molecular-to-atomic gas ratio either places the ISM of VII Zw466 in the HI-dominated regime or implies a large quantity of CO-dark molecular gas, given its high star formation rate. The molecular gas densities and star formation rate densities of VII Zw466 are consistent with the standard Kennicutt-Schmidt star formation law even though we find this galaxy to be H2-deficient. The choice of CO-to-H2 conversion factors cannot explain the apparent H2 deficiency in its entirety. Hence, we find that the collisional ring galaxy, VII Zw466, is either largely deficient in both H2 and HI or contains a large mass of CO-dark gas. A low molecular gas fraction could be due to the enhancement of feedback processes from previous episodes of star formation as a result of the star-forming ISM being confined to the ring. We conclude that collisional ring galaxy formation is an extreme form of galaxy interaction that triggers a strong galactic-wide burst of star formation that may provide immediate negative feedback towards subsequent episodes of star formation---resulting in a short-lived star formation history or, at least, the appearance of a molecular gas deficit.

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arXiv2016

OH+ and H2O+ absorption toward PKS1830-211

We report the detection of OH+ and H2O+ in the z=0.89 absorber toward the lensed quasar PKS1830-211. The abundance ratio of OH+ and H2O+ is used to quantify the molecular hydrogen fraction (fH2) and the cosmic-ray ionization rate of atomic hydrogen (zH) along two lines of sight, located at ~2 kpc and ~4 kpc to either side of the absorber's center. The molecular fraction decreases outwards, from ~0.04 to ~0.02, comparable to values measured in the Milky Way at similar galactocentric radii. For zH, we find values of ~2x10^-14 s^-1 and ~3x10^-15 s^-1, respectively, which are slightly higher than in the Milky Way at comparable galactocentric radii, possibly due to a higher average star formation activity in the z=0.89 absorber. The ALMA observations of OH+, H2O+, and other hydrides toward PKS1830-211 reveal the multi-phase composition of the absorbing gas. Taking the column density ratios along the southwest and northeast lines of sight as a proxy of molecular fraction, we classify the species ArH+, OH+, H2Cl+, H2O+, CH, and HF as tracing gases increasingly more molecular. Incidentally, our data allow us to improve the accuracy of H2O+ rest frequencies and thus refine the spectroscopic parameters.

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arXiv2016

Using 21-cm absorption surveys to measure the average HI spin temperature in distant galaxies

We present a statistical method for measuring the average HI spin temperature in distant galaxies using the expected detection yields from future wide-field 21cm absorption surveys. As a demonstrative case study we consider a simulated all-southern-sky survey of 2-h per pointing with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder for intervening HI absorbers at intermediate cosmological redshifts between $z = 0.4$ and $1$. For example, if such a survey yielded $1000$ absorbers we would infer a harmonic-mean spin temperature of $\overline{T}_\mathrm{spin} \sim 100$K for the population of damped Lyman $α$ (DLAs) absorbers at these redshifts, indicating that more than $50$ per cent of the neutral gas in these systems is in a cold neutral medium (CNM). Conversely, a lower yield of only 100 detections would imply $\overline{T}_\mathrm{spin} \sim 1000$K and a CNM fraction less than $10$ per cent. We propose that this method can be used to provide independent verification of the spin temperature evolution reported in recent 21cm surveys of known DLAs at high redshift and for measuring the spin temperature at intermediate redshifts below $z \approx 1.7$, where the Lyman-$α$ line is inaccessible using ground-based observatories. Increasingly more sensitive and larger surveys with the Square Kilometre Array should provide stronger statistical constraints on the average spin temperature. However, these will ultimately be limited by the accuracy to which we can determine the HI column density frequency distribution, the covering factor and the redshift distribution of the background radio source population.

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arXiv2016

The Califa and Hipass velocity function for all morphological galaxy types

The velocity function is a fundamental observable statistic of the galaxy population, similarly impor- tant as the luminosity function, but much more difficult to measure. In this work we present the first directly measured circular velocity function that is representative between 60 < v_circ < 320 km/s for galaxies of all morphological types at a given rotation velocity. For the low mass galaxy population (60 < v_circ < 170 km/s), we use the HIPASS velocity function. For the massive galaxy population (170 < v_circ < 320 km/s), we use stellar circular velocities from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area Survey (CALIFA). In earlier work we obtained the measurements of circular velocity at the 80% light radius for 226 galaxies and demonstrated that the CALIFA sample can produce volume- corrected galaxy distribution functions. The CALIFA velocity function includes homogeneous velocity measurements of both late and early-type rotation-supported galaxies and has the crucial advantage of not missing gas-poor massive ellipticals that HI surveys are blind to. We show that both velocity functions can be combined in a seamless manner, as their ranges of validity overlap. The resulting observed velocity function is compared to velocity functions derived from cosmological simulations of the z = 0 galaxy population. We find that dark matter-only simulations show a strong mismatch with the observed VF. Hydrodynamic simulations fare better, but still do not fully reproduce observations.

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arXiv2016

ALMACAL II: Extreme star-formation-rate densities in a pair of dusty starbursts at $z = 3.442$ revealed by ALMA 20-milliarcsec resolution imaging

We present ALMA ultra-high-spatial resolution ($\sim 20 \, {\rm mas}$) observations of dust continuum at $920 \, {\rm μm}$ and $1.2 \, {\rm mm}$ in a pair of submm galaxies (SMGs) at $z = 3.442$, ALMACAL-1 (A-1: $S_{\rm 870 μm} = 6.5 \pm 0.2 \, {\rm mJy}$) and ALMACAL-2 (A-2: $S_{\rm 870 μm} = 4.4 \pm 0.2 \, {\rm mJy}$). The spectroscopic redshifts of A-1 and A-2 have been confirmed via serendipitous detection of up to nine emission lines. Our ultra-high-spatial resolution data reveal that about half of the star formation in each of these starbursts is dominated by a single compact clump (FWHM size of $\sim 350 \, {\rm pc}$). This structure is confirmed by independent datasets at $920 \, {\rm μm}$ and $1.2 \, {\rm mm}$. The star-formation rate (SFR) surface densities of all these clumps are extremely high, $Σ_{\rm SFR} \sim 1200$ to $\sim 3000 \, {M_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1} \, {\rm kpc}^{-2}}$, the highest found in high-redshift galaxies. There is a small probability that A-1 and A-2 are the lensed components of a background source gravitationally amplified by the blazar host. If this was the case, the effective radius of the source would be $R_{\rm eff} \sim 40 \, {\rm pc}$, and the de-magnified SFR surface density would be $Σ_{\rm SFR} \sim 10000 \, {M_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1} \, {\rm kpc}^{-2}}$, comparable with the eastern nucleus of Arp 220. Despite being unable to rule out an AGN contribution, our results suggest that a significant percentage of the enormous far-IR luminosity in some dusty starbursts is concentrated in very small star-forming regions. The high $Σ_{\rm SFR}$ in our pair of SMGs could only be measured thanks to the ultra-high-resolution ALMA observations used in this work, demonstrating that long-baseline observations are essential to study and interpret the properties of dusty starbursts in the early Universe.

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arXiv2016

Parsec-scale HI absorption structure in a low-redshift galaxy seen against a Compact Symmetric Object

We present global VLBI observations of the 21-cm transition of atomic hydrogen seen in absorption against the radio source J0855+5751. The foreground absorber (SDSS~J085519.05+575140.7) is a dwarf galaxy at $z$ = 0.026. As the background source is heavily resolved by VLBI, the data allow us to map the properties of the foreground HI gas with a spatial resolution of 2pc. The absorbing gas corresponds to a single coherent structure with an extent $>$35pc, but we also detect significant and coherent variations, including a change in the HI optical depth by a factor of five across a distance of $\leq$6pc. The large size of the structure provides support for the Heiles & Troland model of the ISM, as well as its applicability to external galaxies. The large variations in HI optical depth also suggest that caution should be applied when interpreting $T_S$ measurements from radio-detected DLAs. In addition, the distorted appearance of the background radio source is indicative of a strong jet-cloud interaction in its host galaxy. We have measured its redshift ($z$ = 0.54186) using optical spectroscopy on the William Herschel Telescope and this confirms that J0855+5751 is a FRII radio source with a physical extent of $<$1kpc and supports the previous identification of this source as a Compact Symmetric Object. These sources often show absorption associated with the host galaxy and we suggest that both HI and OH should be searched for in J0855+5751.

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arXiv2016

Characterising uniform star formation efficiencies with marginally-stable galactic disks

We examine the HI-based star formation efficiency (SFE_HI), the ratio of star formation rate to the atomic Hydrogen (HI) mass, in the context of a constant stability star-forming disk model. Our observations of HI-selected galaxies show SFE to be fairly constant (log SFE_HI = -9.65 yr-1 with a dispersion of 0.3 dex) across ~5 orders of magnitude in stellar masses. We present a model to account for this result, whose main principle is that the gas within galaxies forms a uniform stability disk and that stars form within the molecular gas in this disk. We test two versions of the model differing in the prescription that determines the molecular gas fraction, based on either the hydrostatic pressure, or the stellar surface density of the disk. For high-mass galaxies such as the Milky Way, we find that either prescription predicts SFE_HI similar to the observations. However, the hydrostatic pressure prescription is a more accurate SFE_HI predictor for low-mass galaxies. Our model is the first model that links the uniform SFE_HI observed in galaxies at low redshifts to star-forming disks with constant marginal stability. While the rotational amplitude Vmax is the primary driver of disk structure in our model, we find the specific angular momentum of the galaxy may play a role in explaining a weak correlation between SFE_HI and effective surface brightness of the disk.

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arXiv2016

First Connection between Cold Gas in Emission and Absorption: CO Emission from a Galaxy-Quasar Pair

We present the first detection of molecular emission from a galaxy selected to be near a projected background quasar using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The ALMA detection of CO(1$-$0) emission from the $z=0.101$ galaxy toward quasar PKS 0439-433 is coincident with its stellar disk and yields a molecular gas mass of $M_{\rm mol} \approx 4.2 \times 10^9 M_\odot$ (for a Galactic CO-to-H$_2$ conversion factor), larger than the upper limit on its atomic gas mass. We resolve the CO velocity field, obtaining a rotational velocity of $134 \pm 11$ km s$^{-1}$, and a resultant dynamical mass of $\geq 4 \times 10^{10} M_\odot$. Despite its high metallicity and large molecular mass, the $z=0.101$ galaxy has a low star formation rate, implying a large gas consumption timescale, larger than that typical of late-type galaxies. Most of the molecular gas is hence likely to be in a diffuse extended phase, rather than in dense molecular clouds. By combining the results of emission and absorption studies, we find that the strongest molecular absorption component toward the quasar cannot arise from the molecular disk, but is likely to arise from diffuse gas in the galaxy's circumgalactic medium. Our results emphasize the potential of combining molecular and stellar emission line studies with optical absorption line studies to achieve a more complete picture of the gas within and surrounding high-redshift galaxies.

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arXiv2015

ALMACAL I: First dual-band number counts from a deep and wide ALMA submm survey, free from cosmic variance

We have exploited ALMA calibration observations to carry out a novel, wide and deep submm survey, ALMACAL. These calibration data comprise a large number of observations of calibrator fields in a variety of frequency bands and array configurations. Gathering together data acquired during multiple visits to many ALMA calibrators, it is possible to reach noise levels which allow the detection of faint dusty, star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) over a significant area. In this paper we outline our survey strategy and report the first results. We have analysed data for 69 calibrators, reaching depths of $\sim 25 \, {\rm μJy \, beam^{-1}}$ at sub-arcsec resolution. Adopting a conservative approach based on $\geq 5 σ$ detections, we have found eight and 11 DSFGs in ALMA bands 6 and 7, respectively, with flux densities $S_{\rm 1.2 mm} \geq 0.2 \, {\rm mJy}$. The faintest galaxies would have been missed by even the deepest \emph{Herschel} surveys. Our cumulative number counts have been determined independently at 870 $μ$m and 1.2 mm, from a sparse sampling of the astronomical sky, and are thus relatively free of cosmic variance. The counts are lower than reported previously by a factor of at least $2\times$. Future analyses will yield large, secure samples of DSFGs, with redshifts determined via detection of submm spectral lines. Uniquely, our strategy then allows morphological studies of very faint DSFGs - representative of more normal star-forming galaxies than conventional submm galaxies (SMGs) - in fields where self-calibration is feasible, yielding milliarcsecond spatial resolution.

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arXiv2015

Discovery of HI gas in a young radio galaxy at $z = 0.44$ using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder

We report the discovery of a new 21-cm HI absorption system using commissioning data from the Boolardy Engineering Test Array of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). Using the 711.5 - 1015.5 MHz band of ASKAP we were able to conduct a blind search for the 21-cm line in a continuous redshift range between $z = 0.4$ and 1.0, which has, until now, remained largely unexplored. The absorption line is detected at $z = 0.44$ towards the GHz-peaked spectrum radio source PKS B1740$-$517 and demonstrates ASKAP's excellent capability for performing a future wide-field survey for HI absorption at these redshifts. Optical spectroscopy and imaging using the Gemini-South telescope indicates that the HI gas is intrinsic to the host galaxy of the radio source. The narrow OIII emission lines show clear double-peaked structure, indicating either large-scale outflow or rotation of the ionized gas. Archival data from the \emph{XMM-Newton} satellite exhibit an absorbed X-ray spectrum that is consistent with a high column density obscuring medium around the active galactic nucleus. The HI absorption profile is complex, with four distinct components ranging in width from 5 to 300 km s$^{-1}$ and fractional depths from 0.2 to 20 per cent. In addition to systemic HI gas, in a circumnuclear disc or ring structure aligned with the radio jet, we find evidence for a possible broad outflow of neutral gas moving at a radial velocity of $v \sim 300$ km s$^{-1}$. We infer that the expanding young radio source ($t_{\rm age} \approx 2500$ yr) is cocooned within a dense medium and may be driving circumnuclear neutral gas in an outflow of $\sim$ 1 $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$.

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arXiv2015

A blind HI Mass Function from the Arecibo Ultra-Deep Survey (AUDS)

The Arecibo Ultra Deep Survey (AUDS) combines the unique sensitivity of the telescope with the wide field of the Arecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFA) to directly detect 21cm HI emission from galaxies at distances beyond the local Universe bounded by the lower frequency limit of ALFA (z=0.16). AUDS has collected 700 hours of integration time in two fields with a combined area of 1.35 square degrees. In this paper we present data from 60% of the total survey, corresponding to a sensitivity level of 80 micro-Jy. We discuss the data reduction, the search for galaxies, parametrisation, optical identification and completeness. We detect 102 galaxies in the mass range of log M_HI/M_sun-2log h=5.6-10.3. We compute the HI mass function (HIMF) at the highest redshifts so far measured. A fit of a Schechter function results in alpha=-1.37+-0.03, Phi=(7.72+-1.4)*10^3 h^3/Mpc^3 and log M_HI/M_sun=9.75+-0.041+2log h. Using the measured HIMF, we find a cosmic HI density of Omega_HI=(2.33+-0.07)*10^-4/h for the sample z=0.065. We discuss further uncertainties arising from cosmic variance. Because of its depth, AUDS is the first survey that can determine parameters for the HI mass function in independent redshift bins from a single homogeneous data set. The results indicate little evolution of the co-moving mass function and Omega_HI within this redshift range. We calculate a weighted average for Omega_HI in the range $0<z<0.2$, combining the results from AUDS as well as results from other 21cm surveys and stacking, finding a best combined estimate of Omega_HI=(2.63+-0.10)*10-4/h.

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