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Vincenzo Galluzzi

Publications and source records attributed to Vincenzo Galluzzi.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

VAPOLA -- A multi-year, multi-band polarization survey of AGN and Sgr A* at mm wavelengths with ALMA I. Survey Overview and Science-Ready Archival Products

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is the most sensitive interferometric array at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Through the ALMA Phasing System (APS), it can participate in global Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) arrays, enhancing their sensitivity and resolution. However, processing and analzing the ALMA data obtained in APS mode during VLBI observations remains a complex task, requiring specialized expertise and time-consuming calibration and imaging procedures. In this paper, we present VAPOLA-the first online, multi-epoch, multi-band repository of high-level data products from ALMA observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and Sgr A* during global VLBI campaigns. Built on an automated pipeline that processes fully calibrated ALMA (QA2) data, generates science-ready products with minimal user intervention. The repository includes fully calibrated interferometric visibilities, full-Stokes images across individual and combined spectral windows, polarimetric and spectral index maps, as well as tabulated polarimetric parameters from visibility-domain polarization fitting. By offering ready-to-use data through a user-friendly web portal, VAPOLA enables non-expert users to perform advanced science analyses without needing in-depth knowledge of ALMA procedures. This resource will facilitate a broad range of scientific investigations, including the characterization of magnetic field properties in accretion flows and relativistic jets, the structure and kinematics of dusty and molecular tori in AGN, and absorption studies of the interstellar medium toward the Galactic Center. In addition, the dataset provides source-integrated parameters and calibration metadata essential for refining VLBI calibration and imaging workflows as well as for placing robust observational constraints on theoretical models of supermassive black holes and their environments.

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An extremely bright slow-rising afterglow from an off-axis jet in GRB 260310A

We present a multi-wavelength study of GRB 260310A, a nearby long-duration gamma-ray burst at $z\simeq0.153$ associated with a broad-lined Type Ic supernova. Despite its modest prompt gamma-ray output, $E_{γ,\rm iso}\simeq3.5\times10^{50}$ erg, GRB\,260310A exhibits one of the brightest afterglows ever observed in the X-ray, optical, and radio bands. Its apparent brightness is not its only remarkable feature. The optical afterglow displays a delayed onset, characterized by a slow rising phase, with slope $α\approx-1$, and a late peak at $\approx$0.1 d. We argue that the combination of weak prompt emission, hard peak energy, and late afterglow onset is naturally explained by a GRB jet viewed off-axis. The radio spectral energy distributions are consistent with synchrotron radiation and indicate the presence of both reverse- and forward-shock components, thus providing a first test of reverse-shock models in an off-axis geometry. The X-ray afterglow displays a prominent rebrightening, monitored for up to $\approx$68 d with no evidence of spectral evolution. A low level of linear polarization, $Π\approx1.7\%$, is measured at 15 GHz at $T_0+55$ d and suggests that, at these late times, the forward-shock is the dominant emission component from radio to X-rays. This late-time rebrightening represents a critical test for the two-component jet model. If interpreted as the emergence of a narrow jet core viewed further off-axis, it would imply extreme luminosities and energetics for an on-axis observer.

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SHORES II: Multi-frequency Characterisation of the Sub-mJy Radio Population in FIR-selected Fields

We present a new deep multi-frequency radio survey of two extragalactic fields observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) as part of the SHORES project (Serendipitous H-ATLAS fields Observations of Radio Extragalactic Sources). The observations, centred at 2.1, 5.5, and 9 GHz, cover the central 0.5 deg$^2$ of two Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey (H-ATLAS) fields down to rms sensitivities of 9-17 $μ$Jy$/$beam at 2.1 GHz, 28-39 $μ$Jy/beam at 5.5 GHz and 38-61 $μ$Jy/beam at 9 GHz. This setup allows us to investigate the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of faint radio sources and probe the nature of the sub-mJy population. We extract and validate a robust catalogue of 489 sources at 2.1 GHz, 101 of which are also detected at 5.5 GHz. We perform a multi-frequency analysis of the radio number counts and derive the spectral indices of sources in the deep fields. The spectral index distribution of our sources peaks around $α\sim -0.7$, consistent with synchrotron emission from the faint radio population. The number counts at 2.1 GHz are consistent with previous deep surveys and theoretical models, and provide a lower limit on the star-forming galaxy population, which is expected to dominate the faint end. The 5.5 GHz data offer new, direct constraints on the sub-mJy radio sky at higher frequencies. By cross-matching with the H-ATLAS catalogue, we identify a sample of sources with far-infrared (FIR) counterparts and explore the far-infrared-radio correlation (FIRRC). The sources with $q_{FIR} \geq 1.69$ exhibit radio spectral indices typical of star-forming galaxies. Furthermore, we identify a population of radio-only sources with similar indices that may correspond to high-redshift SFGs, lacking counterparts in the FIR survey due to its limited resolution and sensitivity.

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ALMACAL. XV. Band 3 ALMA Survey and Number Counts

The ALMACAL project leverages ALMA maps of calibrator-centered fields to conduct deep mm/sub-mm surveys, enabling the detection of extragalactic sources with flux densities orders of magnitude fainter than achievable with other instruments. These faint sources are critical for refining evolutionary models, as their number counts provide key constraints. In this study, we analyzed band-3 ALMACAL maps from 606 calibrator fields, employing a novel machine learning approach to mitigate the often-overlooked bias introduced by the calibrator itself. Supported by extensive simulations, we extended 100 GHz radio AGN counts by approximately 1.5 orders of magnitude in flux density and refined constraints on dusty star-forming galaxies, reaching sensitivities as low as $\sim$180 $μ$Jy. We have improved the sampling, compared to previous results, in the region of the dominant population transition (between dusty star-forming galaxies and radio AGN). Our results are in good agreement with model predictions.

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A FLASH on Blazars: Capturing the Radio Realm of 4FGL Blazars with SKAO Pathfinders

This work investigates the multi-wavelength properties of 165 4FGL blazars from the Fermi-LAT fourth source catalogue, looking for with counterparts in the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) First Large Absorption Survey in HI (FLASH) continuum. Using high-resolution data from FLASH and complementary radio datasets, combined with archival Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observations, we perform detailed spectral energy distribution (SED) analyses across cm-to-mm wavelengths. Our findings reveal that most blazars exhibit re-triggered peaked spectra, indicative of emission dominated by a single emitting region. Additionally, we identify strong correlations between radio and gamma-ray luminosities, highlighting the significant role of relativistic jets in these active galactic nuclei. The inclusion of spectroscopic redshifts from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Gaia enables a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary trends and physical characteristics of the sources. Furthermore, we report a tight Radio-X-ray Correlation for Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars, contrasting with the more scattered behaviour observed in BL-Lacs, reflecting their distinct accretion and jet-driving mechanisms. These results provide critical insights into the physics of blazars and their environments, paving the way for future studies with next-generation facilities like the SKA Observatory (SKAO) for radio observations and Cherenkov Telescope Array for gamma-ray studies.

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An Updated Repository of Sub-mJy Extragalactic Source-Count Measurements in the Radio Domain

We present an updated repository of sub-mJy extragalactic radio source counts between $150$ MHz and $10$ GHz, incorporating recent advances in radio surveys and observational techniques. By compiling and refining previous datasets, we provide a comprehensive catalog that enhances the understanding of faint radio-source populations, including Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies (DSFGs) and Radio-Quiet Active Galactic Nuclei (RQAGNs), from intermediate to high redshifts. Our analysis accounts for observational biases, such as resolution effects and Eddington bias, ensuring improved accuracy in flux-density estimations. We also discuss the implications of new-generation radio telescopes, such as the Square-Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO) and its precursors and pathfinders, to further resolve these populations. Our collection contributes to constraining evolutionary models of radio sources, highlighting the increasing role of polarization studies in distinguishing different classes. This work serves as a key reference for future deep radio surveys targeting the faintest end of the extragalactic radio sky.

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Using Planck maps for a systematic search of ultra-bright high-redshift strongly lensed galaxies

This paper presents a novel approach to the use of Planck telescope data for the systematic search of ultra-bright high-redshift strongly lensed galaxies. These galaxies provide crucial insights into the early universe, particularly during phases of intense star formation. The Planck mission, despite its limited angular resolution, offers a unique opportunity to identify candidate strongly lensed galaxies over a wide area of the sky. This work outlines the methodology used to identify these rare objects, the challenges encountered, and the preliminary results obtained from follow-up observations with higher-resolution instruments.

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SHORES: Serendipitous H-ATLAS-fields Observations of Radio Extragalactic Sources with the ATCA. I: catalog generation and analysis

We introduce the Serendipitous H-ATLAS-fields Observations of Radio Extragalactic Sources (SHORES) multiple pencil beam survey that observed at 2.1 GHz with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) 29 fields in total intensity and polarization within the Herschel-ATLAS Southern Galactic Field. This paper presents the observations, calibration and analysis of the 27 shallow fields that cover an overall area of $\sim 26$ square degree with increasing sensitivity towards the phase centers of each pointing according to the ATCA 22 m dish response function, down to $σ\lesssim 33\, μ$Jy. Two additional (deep) fields have been observed to even higher sensitivity. All the SHORES observations have been calibrated to account also for linear polarization. Polarization and deeper field analysis will be presented in future papers. The SHORES shallow-field sample considered in the present paper counts $2294$ sources detected with BLOBCAT to signal-to-noise ratio $SNR\gtrsim 4.5$. Simulations determined that our procedure and final catalog is 95% reliable above $497.5\, μ$Jy and $95\%$ complete to the $SNR\gtrsim 4.5$ significance level. By exploiting ATCA E-W 6 km configuration we reached resolutions of $3.2\times 7.2$ arcsec, to which level $81\%$ of our sources are unresolved. We determined source counts down to the $150\, μ$Jy level. For the sources with a counterpart in H-ATLAS, the FIR-radio correlation is calculated and discussed.

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Teaming-up radio and submm-FIR observations to probe dusty star-forming galaxies

In this paper, we investigate the benefits of teaming up data from the radio to the far- 1 infrared (FIR) regime for the characterization of Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies (DSFGs). These galaxies 2 are thought to be the star-forming progenitors of local massive quiescent galaxies, and play a pivotal 3 role in the reconstruction of the cosmic star formation rate density up to high redshift. Due to their 4 dust-enshrouded nature, DSFGs are often invisible in the near-infrared/Optical/UV bands. Therefore, 5 they necessitate observations at longer wavelengths, primarily the FIR, where dust emission occurs, 6 and radio, which is not affected by dust absorption. Combining data from these two spectral windows 7 makes it possible to characterize even the dustiest objects, enabling the retrieval of information about 8 their age, dust temperature, and star-formation status, and facilitates the differentiation between 9 various galaxy populations that evolve throughout cosmic history. Despite the detection of faint radio 10 sources being a challenging task, this study demonstrates that an effective strategy to build statistically 11 relevant samples of DSFGs would be reaching deep sensitivities in the radio band, even restricted to 12 smaller areas, and then combining these radio observations with FIR/submm data. Additionally, 13 the paper quantifies the improvement in the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) reconstruction of 14 DSFGs by incorporating ALMA band measurements, in particular, in its upgraded status thanks to 15 the anticipated Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade.

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A search for candidate strongly-lensed dusty galaxies in the Planck satellite catalogues

The Planck sub-mm surveys detected the brightest strongly gravitationally lensed dusty galaxies in the sky. The combination of their extreme gravitational flux boosting and image stretching offers the unique possibility of measuring in detail, via high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic follow-up, the galaxy structure and kinematics in early evolutionary phases, thus gaining otherwise unaccessible direct information on physical processes in action. The extraction of candidate strongly lensed galaxies (SLGs) from Planck catalogues is hindered by the fact that they are generally detected with poor S/N, except for the few brightest ones, their photometric properties are strongly blurred and they are difficult to single out. We devised a method to increase by a factor of 3 to 4 the number of identified Planck-detected SLGs, although with an unavoidably limited efficiency. Our approach uses the fact that SLGs have sub-mm colours colder than nearby dusty galaxies (the large majority of Planck extragalactic sources). The sub-mm colours of the 47 confirmed or very likely Planck-detected SLGs are used to estimate the colour range of these objects. Moreover, most nearby galaxies and radio sources can be picked up by cross-matching with IRAS and PCNT catalogues, respectively. We present samples of 177, 97, 104 lensed candidates at 545, 857, 353 GHz, respectively. The efficiency of our approach, tested on the SPT survey covering 2,500 sq. deg., is estimated to be of 30%-40%. We also discuss stricter selection criteria increasing efficiency to 50% but with a somewhat lower completeness. Our analysis of SPT data has identified a dozen of galaxies that can be reliably considered previously unrecognized Planck-detected SLGs. Extrapolating the number of Planck-detected confirmed or very likely SLGs found within the SPT and H-ATLAS areas, we expect from 150 to 190 such sources over the|b|>20deg sky.

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ALMA Band 3 polarimetric follow-up of a complete sample of faint PACO sources

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimiter Array (ALMA) high sensitivity ($σ_P \simeq 0.4\,$mJy) polarimetric observations at $97.5\,$GHz (Band 3) of a complete sample of $32$ extragalactic radio sources drawn from the faint Planck-ATCA Co-eval Observations (PACO) sample ($b<-75^\circ$, compact sources brighter than $200\,$mJy at $20\,$GHz). We achieved a detection rate of $~97\%$ at $3\,σ$ (only $1$ non-detection). We complement these observations with new Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) data between $2.1$ and $35\,$GHz obtained within a few months and with data published in earlier papers from our collaboration. Adding the co-eval GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison widefield array (GLEAM) survey detections between $70\,$ and $230\,$MHz for our sources, we present spectra over more than $3$ decades in frequency in total intensity and over about $1.7$ decades in polarization. The spectra of our sources are smooth over the whole frequency range, with no sign of dust emission from the host galaxy at mm wavelengths nor of a sharp high frequency decline due, for example, to electron ageing. We do however find indications of multiple emitting components and present a classification based on the number of detected components. We analyze the polarization fraction behaviour and distributions up to $97\,$GHz for different source classes. Source counts in polarization are presented at $95\,$GHz.

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Radio sources in next-generation CMB surveys

CMB surveys provide, for free, blindly selected samples of extragalactic radio sources at much higher frequencies than traditional radio surveys. Next-generation, ground-based CMB experiments with arcmin resolution at mm wavelengths will provide samples of thousands radio sources allowing the investigation of the evolutionary properties of blazar populations, the study of the earliest and latest stages of radio activity, the discovery of rare phenomena and of new transient sources and events. Space-borne experiments will extend to sub-mm wavelengths the determinations of the SEDs of many hundreds of blazars, in temperature and in polarization, allowing us to investigate the flow and the structure of relativistic jets close to their base, and the electron acceleration mechanisms. A real breakthrough will be achieved in the caracterization of the polarization properties. The first direct counts in polarization will be obtained, enabling a solid assessment of the extra-galactic source contamination of CMB maps and allowing us to understand structure and intensity of magnetic fields, particle densities and structures of emitting regions close to the base of the jet.

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The Tiered Radio Extragalactic Continuum Simulation (T-RECS)

We present the Tiered Radio Extragalactic Continuum Simulation (T-RECS): a new simulation of the radio sky in continuum, over the 150 MHz-20 GHz range. T-RECS models two main populations of radio galaxies: Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and Star-Forming Galaxies (SFGs), and corresponding sub-populations. Our model also includes polarized emission over the full frequency range, which has been characterised statistically for each population using the available information. We model the clustering properties in terms of probability distributions of hosting halo masses, and use lightcones extracted from a high-resolution cosmological simulation to determine the positions of haloes. This limits the sky area for the simulations including clustering to a 25deg2 field of view. We compare luminosity functions, number counts in total intensity and polarization, and clustering properties of our outputs to up-to-date compilations of data and find a very good agreement. We deliver a set of simulated catalogues, as well as the code to produce them, which can be used for simulating observations and predicting results from deep radio surveys with existing and forthcoming radio facilities, such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

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Characterization of polarimetric and total intensity behaviour of a complete sample of PACO radio sources in the radio bands

We present high sensitivity ($σ_P \simeq 0.6\,$mJy) polarimetric observations in seven bands, from $2.1$ to $38\,$GHz, of a complete sample of $104$ compact extragalactic radio sources brighter than $200\,$mJy at $20\,$GHz. Polarization measurements in six bands, in the range $5.5-38\,$GHz, for $53$ of these objects were reported by \citet{Galluzzi2017}. We have added new measurements in the same six bands for another 51 sources and measurements at $2.1\,$GHz for the full sample of $104$ sources. Also, the previous measurements at $18$, $24$, $33$ and $38\,$GHz were re-calibrated using the updated model for the flux density absolute calibrator, PKS1934-638, not available for the earlier analysis. The observations, carried out with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), achieved a $90\%$ detection rate (at $5σ$) in polarization. $89$ of our sources have a counterpart in the $72$ to $231\,$MHz GLEAM survey \citep{HurleyWalker2017}, providing an unparalleled spectral coverage of $2.7$ decades of frequency for these sources. While the total intensity data from $5.5$ to $38\,$GHz could be interpreted in terms of single component emission, a joint analysis of more extended total intensity spectra presented here, and of the polarization spectra, reveals that over $90\%$ of our sources show clear indications of at least two emission components. We interpret this as an evidence of recurrent activity. Our high sensitivity polarimetry has allowed a $5\,σ$ detection of the weak circular polarization for $\sim 38\%$ of the dataset, and a deeper estimate of $20\,$GHz polarization source counts than has been possible so far.

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The Planck-ATCA Co-eval Observations (PACO) project: analysis of radio source properties between 5 and 217 GHz

The Planck-ATCA Co-eval Observations (PACO) project has yielded observations of 464 sources with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) between 4.5 and 40 GHz. The main purpose of the project was to investigate the spectral properties of mm-selected radio sources at frequencies below and overlapping with the ESA's Planck satellite frequency bands, minimizing the variability effects by observing almost simultaneously with the first two Planck all-sky surveys. In this paper we present the whole catalogue of observations in total intensity. By comparing PACO with the various measures of Planck Catalog of Compact Sources (PCCS) flux densities we found the best consistency with the PCCS "detection pipeline" photometry (DETFLUX) that we used to investigate the spectral properties of sources from 5 to 217 GHz. Of our sources, 91% have remarkably smooth spectrum, well described by a double power law over the full range. This suggests a single emitting region, at variance with the notion that "flat" spectra result from the superposition of the emissions from different compact regions, self absorbed up to different frequencies. Most of the objects show a spectral steepening above 30 GHz, consistent with synchrotron emission becoming optically thin. Thus, the classical dichotomy between flat-spectrum/compact and steep-spectrum/extended radio sources, well established at cm wavelengths, breaks down at mm wavelengths. The mm-wave spectra do not show indications of the spectral break expected as the effect of "electron ageing", suggesting young source ages.

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