Spectroscopy of RC sources

The results of spectroscopic observations of the host galaxies of objects in the RC catalog (the “Big Trio” program) obtained using the new SCORPIO spectrograph of the Special Astrophysical Observatory are presented. The spectroscopic redshifts of the objects are compared with their photometric color redshifts, and the errors in the latter are estimated. Based on BV RI observations obtained on the 6-m telescope of the SAO, the errors for the population of powerful radio galaxies are close to those found previously for radio quiet galaxies (about 10–20%). The detection of Ly α in the B filter in RC 1626+0448 is confirmed. This object is the second spectrally studied FR II radio source from the RC catalog to have a redshift z>2.5. Star formation in its host galaxy began at a redshift z>3.3. This first use of the new SCORPIO spectrograph demonstrates its promise for studies of very distant steep-spectrum radio galaxies brighter than 23^m–24^m in V.     

Radio and optical spectra of objects from three complete samples of radio sources

We present classifications, optical identifications, and radio spectra for 19 radio sources from three complete samples, with declinations 4°–6° (B1950, S _{3.9 GHz} > 200 mJy), 10°–12°30′ (J2000, S _{4.85 GHz} > 200 mJy), and 74°–75° (J2000, S _{4.85 GHz} > 100 mJy). We also present corresponding information for the radio source J0527+0331. The right ascensions are 0–24^h and the Galactic latitudes |b| > 15° for all the samples. Our observations were obtained with the 6 m telescope from the Special Astrophysical Observatory in the range 4000–9000 Å or 4000–7500 Å and the RATAN-600 radio telescope at frequencies in the range 0.97–21.7 GHz. We obtained flux densities for the radio sources and optical spectra for their optical counterparts. Nine objects were classified as quasars with redshifts from z = 1.029 to 3.212; nine objects are emission-line galaxies with redshifts from 0.172 to 0.546, and one is a galaxy with burstlike star formation at z = 0.156, and one is a BL Lac object with z = 0.509. The spectra of five radio sources were decomposed into extended and compact components. The radio source J0527+0331, identified with a BL Lac object, displays significant variations of time scales from several days to several years. Data on flux variations are presented for 11 radio sources, as well as their spectra at several epochs.     

Long-term variability of a complete sample of flat-spectrum radio sources at declinations 10°–12°30′ (J2000)

The paper reports the results of ten-year centimeter-wavelength observations with the RATAN-600 radio telescope of a complete sample of 83 flat-spectrum sources from the GB6 catalog of the MGB Survey, with S _4.85 > 200 mJy at declinations 10°?C12°30??. Starting in 2000, the observations were conducted simultaneously at six frequencies in the range 0.97?C21.7 GHz. Seventy-six sources (including 54 quasars) have been identified with optical objects, which have redshifts in the range z = 0.331?C3.601. Analysis of light curves and spectra at different activity phases has shown that, in most cases, the dynamics of the development of flares is consistent with a model in which the variability results from the evolution of a shock in a radio jet. A relationship between the time scales for the rise and fall of the flares has been found. There is no redshift dependence of the true linear dimensions of the radiating regions and the variability indices obtained over ten years. These facts can be interpreted as an absence of cosmological evolution of quasars at least up to z ?? 3.     

Long-term variability of a complete sample of flat-spectrum radio sources at declinations of 4°–6° (B1950)

We present the results of twenty-year observations of a complete sample of 68 flat-spectrum radio sources with flux densities S _{3.9 GHz} > 200 mJy carried out at centimeter wavelengths with the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Since 1995, we have observed simultaneously at six frequencies between 0.97 and 21.7 GHz. Of the 56 sources identified with optical objects, 41 are quasars with redshifts between 0.293 and 3.263. Based on our analysis of the spectral shapes, we divide the sources into four classes. Changes of spectral class for individual sources are fairly rare. Based on the light curves and spectra, in most cases, a flare’s evolution is in accordance with a model in which the variations result from the evolution of a shock in the radio jet. The main result of our study is that there is no redshift dependence for the true linear sizes of the radiating regions, the variability indices derived for all 20 years of data or for individual flares, or the peak frequencies of the spectra of the compact radio emission. We suggest that this testifies to an absence of cosmological evolution of the sample quasars, at least to z ≈ 3.     

Studies of bright steep-spectrum radio sources

Results of studies of bright radio sources in the constellation Cetus are presented. More than 50% of the sources have radio spectral indices steeper than 0.9. Optical identifications have been determined for 35 sources. A large fraction of the radio sources are identified with weak blue galaxies. Given their spectral indices, it is likely that these objects have redshifts z=0.4–1.0. More than 20% of the steep-spectrum sources do not have optical identifications and appear to be weak galaxies with z>2.     

Spectral studies with the Special Astrophysical Observatory 6 m and RATAN-600 telescopes

We present optical identifications, classifications, and radio spectra for 19 radio sources from a complete sample in flux density with declinations 10°–12°30′ (J2000) obtained with the 6-m optical telescope (4000–9000 Å) and RATAN-600 radio telescope (0.97–21.7 GHz) of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. Twelve objects with redshifts from 0.573 to 2.694 have been classiffied as quasars, and two objects with featureless spectra as BL Lac objects. Four objects are emission-line radio galaxies with redshifts from 0.204 to 0.311 (one also displaying absorption lines), and one object is an absorption-line galaxy with a redshift of 0.214. Radio flux densities have been obtained at six frequencies for all the sources except for two extended objects. The radio spectra of five of the sources can be separated into extended and compact components. Three objects display substantial rapid (on time scales from several days to several weeks) and long-term variability of their flux densities.     

A RATAN-600 Zenith-Field sky survey. Catalog of radio sources

A catalog of radio sources detected in a deep RATAN-600 survey is presented. The catalog was obtained in the region 0^h ≤ RA_2000.0 ≤ 24^h, Dec_2000.0 = 41°30′42″ ± 2′, at the declination of the bright radio source 3C 84. There were nine sessions of multi-wavelength observations at wavelengths λ = 1–55 cm, and more than 300 daily scans were accumulated at each wavelength. This is the first stage in the reduction of an extensive database accumulated by the Cosmological Gene Project. The RATAN-600 Zenith Field (RZF) catalog was obtained at the central wavelength of 7.6 cm, and contains 437 radio sources, virtually all of which have been identified with NVSS objects. Most of the flux densities for the catalog sources are above the 5σ level. Noise from faint (mainly new) background sources at a level of about 0.8 mJy has been detected. The minimum flux density of the catalog, 2.5 mJy, is comparable to the flux-density linit of the NVSS catalog. The catalog is more than 80% complete for sources with flux densities >3 mJy.     

The search for giant radio galaxies in the PS 102 survey

The possibility of selecting extended radio sources that are potential candidates for giant radio galaxies among objects in the Pushchino catalog at 102 MHz is considered. The method used is based on the analysis of objects in a α ₁–α ₂ diagram, where α ₁ and α ₂ are two-frequency spectral indices (S _ν ～ ν ^?α ), formally calculated using 102–365 and 365–1400 MHz data, based on the identifications of Pushchino radio sources with objects of the Texas (365 MHz) and Green Bank (1400 MHz) catalogs. The calculated spectra are abnormally steep at 102–365 MHz and flat or even inverted at 365–1400 MHz, due to the fact that the 365-MHz flux densities of extended radio sources measured with the Texas radio interferometer are appreciably underestimated. Ten objects among the fifteen Pushchino radio sources selected using this criterion proved to be already known large radio galaxies. The possibility of improving the efficiency of the method by using larger samples and applying some additional criteria selecting candidate giant radio galaxies is considered.     

Optical identifications and spectra of radio sources

We present classifications, optical identifications, and radio spectra for eight radio sources from three flux-density-complete samples in the following declination ranges: 4°–6° (B1950), S _3.9 > 200 mJy; 10°–12°30′ (J2000), S _4.85 > 200 mJy; 74°?75° (J2000), S _4.85 > 100 mJy. For all these samples, the right ascensions are 0^h–24^h and the Galactic latitudes, |b| > 15°. Our optical observations at 4000–7500 ° were made with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory; we also observed at 0.97–21.7 GHz with the RATAN-600 radio telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. We classify four of the objects as quasars and four as galaxies. Five of the radio sources have power-law spectra at 0.97–21.7 GHz, while two objects have flat spectra. The quasar J2358+0430 virtually did not vary during 23 years.     

Spectral characteristics of faint radio sources of the KHOLOD survey

Radio sources detected at 3.94 GHz in RATAN-600 observations made in 1980–1981 (the KHOLOD Survey) have been identified with objects from the NVSS catalog down to 5 mJy at 1.4 GHz, and their spectral indices have been estimated. Of the 1311 NVSS objects in the KHOLOD survey region, 836 are present in both catalogs. The average flux density of the common objects is 40 mJy, and the median flux density is 14 mJy. The average spectral indices of these objects for four flux-density intervals were calculated. The average spectral index grows with flux density. The fraction of objects with inverted spectra is 2–4%, and the average flux density of these sources is about 10 mJy. Optical identifications of the NVS S objects in the KHOLOD survey region have been carried out to R=20.5^m using the Palomar plates. About 20% of the radio sources are identified with optical objects in all the radio flux-density intervals.     

Color redshifts and the age of the stellar population of distant RC radio galaxies

BV RI data are presented for the majority of steep-spectrum objects in the RC catalog with m _R <23.5^m. Previously developed programs are applied to these data to estimate the redshifts and ages of the stellar systems of the host galaxies. Applying this program to the color data (BV RI JHK) for distant radio galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts indicates that this approach provides accurate estimates of the redshifts of such radio galaxies, close to those obtained using field galaxies (～20%). The age estimates are much less trustworthy, but a lower limit to the ages of objects that are not very distant (z<1.5) can be determined with certainty. We have identi fied several galaxies whose formal ages exceed the age of the Universe at the corresponding z in simple Cold Dark Matter models for the Universe. The possibility of using such objects to elucidate the role of “dark energy” is discussed. This paradox disappears in models with cosmological constants (Λ terms) equal to 0.6–0.8.     

Identification of sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

The arrival directions of extensive air showers with energies 4×10¹⁹<E≤3×10²⁰ eV detected by the AGASA, Yakutsk, Haverah Park, and Fly’s Eye arrays are analyzed in order to identify possible sources of cosmic rays with these energies. We searched for active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, and X-ray pulsars within 3-error boxes around the shower-arrival directions and calculated the probabilities of objects being in the 3 error boxes by chance. These probabilities are small in the case of Seyfert galaxies with redshifts z<0.01 and BL Lac objects, corresponding to P>3σ (σ is the parameter of Gaussian distribution). The Seyfert galaxies are characterized by moderate luminosities (L<10⁴⁶ erg/s) and weak radio and X-ray emission. We also analyzed gamma-ray emission at energies E>10¹⁴ eV recorded by the Bolivian and Tian Shan arrays. The source identifications suggest that the gamma rays could have been produced in interactions of cosmic rays with the microwave background radiation and subsequent electromagnetic cascades in intergalactic space. We estimate the strength of intergalactic magnetic fields outside galaxy clusters to be B≤8.7×10^?10 G.     

Radio Sources in the Central Section of the RZF Catalog. Search for Objects with Ultra-Steep Spectra

Results of reducing and selecting data from the Ratan Zenith Field (RZF) are presented. A deep survey in the region 0^h ≤ R.A. ≤ 24^h, 40.5° ≤ DEC ≤ 42.5° carried out on the RATAN-600 radio telescope was used. Within +2′ of the center of the survey region, 448 objects were detected, 69 of them with ultra-steep spectra (USS). The SDSS digital optical survey (DR12), NVSS radio maps, and the FIRST catalogs have been used to cross-identify 208 radio sources from the RZF catalog, obtained as part of the “Genetic Code of the Universe” project. The characteristics of these objects are studied, and the distribution of the SDSS galaxies in a two-color diagram is obtained. Photometric redshifts and radio luminosities at 3940 and 1400 MHz are determined for 27 objects with spectral indices α < −1.1 (S ∝ ν^α) for which magnitudes in various filters are presented in the SDSS. In the sample of USS objects, 12 galaxies have redshifts z < 0.5, are detected at wavelength λ = 7.6 cm, and have relatively high radio luminosities (type FR II or intermediate type FR I–FR II). Only one radio galaxy proved to be a rare nearby galaxy with relatively low radio luminosity L_{1400 MHz} = 1.51 × 10²⁴ W/Hz (type FR I). Two objects are candidate GHz-Peaked Spectrum objects.

     

Instantaneous spectra for a complete sample of radio sources in the declination range 74°–75°

We present the results of observations of a complete sample of radio sources with the RATAN-600 radio telescope at 0.97, 2.3, 3.9, 7.7, 11.1, and 21.7 GHz. The sample was extracted from the GB6 catalog at 4.85 GHz, and contains all the sources at declinations 74°–75° (J2000) with flux densities S _4.85 > 100 mJy. We have obtained optical identifications for 67% of the radio sources with flat spectra and 30% of those with steep spectra.     

Deep RATAN-600 surveys at the declination of SS 433 carried out in 1987–2000 at 7.6 and 2.7 cm

We discuss the results of deep surveys of a ±10′ strip of the sky, centered on the declination of SS 433, carried out on the Northern sector of the RATAN-600 telescope at 2.7 and 7.6 cm in 1987–2000. The survey objects are cross-identified with sources in the NVSS catalog and the corresponding two-frequency spectral indices determined. We find a decrease in the mean spectral index in the transition from objects with flux densities S ₂₁ ≥ 30 mJy to those with 15 < S ₂₁ < 30 mJy. The constructed log N — logS relation at 2.7 cm has a slope of 3/2 at flux densities ≥300 mJy and flattens at weaker flux densities. The 1.4 GHz (NVSS), 3.94 GHz (RATAN-600), and 11.11 GHz (RATAN-600) data are used to estimate the number of objects per square degree at a wavelength of 1 cm.     

Spectra,optical identifications,and statistics of a complete sample of radio sources at declinations 10°–12°30′

The results of 0.97, 2.3, 3.9, 7.7, 11.1, and 21.7 GHz observations of a complete sample of radio sources obtained on the RATAN-600 radio telescope are presented. The sample is comprised of sources from the 4.85-GHz MGB survey, and contains all sources at declinations 10°–12°30′ (J2000) with Galactic latitudes |b|>15° and flux densities S_4.85>200 mJy. Optical identifications have been obtained for about 86% of the radio sources with flat spectra and 59% of those with steep spectra. The spectra of the flat-spectrum sources have been decomposed into extended and compact components.     

Spectroscopy of “Big Trio” objects using the “Scorpio” spectrograph of the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory

We present the results of spectroscopy of 71 objects with steep and ultra-steep spectra (α < −0.9, S ∝ ν ^α) from the “Big Trio” (RATAN-600-VLA-BTA) project, performed with the “Scorpio” spectrograph on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russian Academy of Sciences). Redshifts were determined for these objects. We also present several other parameters of the sources, such as their R magnitudes, maximum radio sizes in seconds of arc, flux densities at 500, 1425, and 3940 MHz, radio luminosities at 500 and 3940 MHz, and morphology. Of the total number of radio galaxies studied, four have redshifts 1 ≤ z < 2, three have 2 ≤ z < 3, one has 3 ≤ z < 4, and one has z = 4.51. Thirteen sources have redshifts 0.7 < z < 1 and 15 have 0.2 < z < 0.7.Of all the quasars studied, five have redshifts 0.7 < z < 1, seven have 1 ≤ z < 2, four have 2 ≤ z < 3, and one has z = 3.57. We did not detect any spectral lines for 17 objects.     

Objects from a cross-identification of the IRAS and low-frequency Texas radio catalogs

A cross-identification of objects in the low-frequency (365 MHz) Texas radio catalog and in IRAS catalogs at four infrared wavelengths has yielded a list of 715 objects for further studies. Objects with steep spectra for which the difference in the centers of gravity of the radio and infrared sources was less than 3″ were selected from this list. Seventeen of the objects have been observed at six wavelengths using the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Spectra of nine objects from the initial list for which there were candidate optical counterparts were obtained using the 2.1-m telescope of the INAOE. The results of these observations are discussed. The presence of steep spectral indices for the radio sources is confirmed. The possible optical counterparts include interacting galaxies, an infrared galaxy, two emission-line galaxies, and a candidate BL Lac object. Optical images of the optical counterparts are presented together with radio and optical spectra.     

Spectral characteristics and variability of radio sources near the north celestial pole

We present the results of our observations of compact extragalactic radio sources near the north celestial pole (+75° ≤ δ ≤ +88°) obtained on the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Our sample consists of 51 radio sources with spectra that are either flat or inverted (growing toward shorter wavelengths) and with flux densities at 1.4 GHz S _ν ≥ 200 mJy. We observed the sources at 1–21.7 GHz. Multi-frequency instantaneous spectra are presented for 1999–2007. We observed 33 of our sample source daily for 30 days in August 2007. As a result, we revealed 15 objects exhibiting rapid variations on time scales of a day. The multi-frequency instantaneous spectra of these sources indicate that radio flux variations on one-day timescales are characteristic of objects of various spectral types. More than half the sources exhibiting rapid variations demonstrate a growth in the variability amplitude with increasing frequency. For some of the objects, the variability amplitude is virtually independent of frequency.     

Classification of optical identifications of radio sources from complete samples

Classifications of the optical counterparts and radio spectra of nine radio sources are presented. The observations were carried out using the 2.1-m optical telescope in Cananea (Mexico) at 4200–9000 Å and the RATAN-600 radio telescope at 0.97–21.7 GHz. Five objects have been classified as quasars (three have redshifts z>2), two as BL Lac objects, one as an elliptical galaxy, and one as an absorption-line galaxy.