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.     

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

We present optical identifications and radio spectra for ten radio sources from two flux-density-complete samples. Radio variability characteristics are presented for four objects. The observations were obtained on the RATAN-600 radio telescope at 0.97–21.7 GHz and the 2.1 m telescope of the Haro Observatory in Cananea, Mexico at 4200–9000 Å. Among the ten objects studied, three are quasars, four are BL Lac objects, two are radio galaxies, and one is a Sy 1 galaxy. Two of the sources identified with BL Lac objects, 0509+0541 and 0527+0331, show rapid variability on time scales of 7–50 days.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.

     

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.     

The active galaxy NGC 3862 in a compact group in the cluster A1367

We study a compact group of 18 galaxies in the cluster A1367 with redshifts z = 0.0208–0.025. The group’s center of activity in the radio is the galaxy NGC 3862, whose radio flux is an order of magnitude stronger than for the other members of the group. We present coordinates derived from the Palomar plate archive together with recessional velocities, and analyze other characteristics of the group’s galaxies. The results of 1400 MHz observations of NGC 3862 with the RATAN-600 radio telescope are presented. These observations indicate that the galaxy’s radio emission is variable.     

Long-term optical and radio monitoring of the quasars S5 0716+714 and 4C 38.41 on various time scales

We present the results of long-term radio and optical monitoring of two radio-loud quasars. The aim of the work was to study the objects?? variability on various time scales and search for correlations between the radio and optical emission. The monitoring was performed in 2002?C2010. The radio observations were carried out using the 22-m telescope of the Crimean AstrophysicalObservatory, 26-m telescope of the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory, and 14-m telescope of the Metsahovi Radio Observatory at 4.8, 8.0, 14.5, 22.2, and 36.8 GHz. The optical observations were obtained in the B, V,R bands using the Zeiss-1000 telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory with a CCD photometer. Light curves of the quasars 4C 38.41 (1633+382) and S5 0716+714 are presented. Radio flares of 4C 38.41 with amplitudes of 0.5?C1.0 Jy at 4.8 and 8 GHz and 1?C3 Jy at 22.2 and 36.8 GHz were detected on time scales of about 100 days. The amplitude of the optical brightness variations varied between 0.5 ^m and 1.5 ^m over about 200 days. The amplitudes of the flux variations for S5 0716+714 for the period of two months were 0.5?C1.6 Jy at centimeter and 1?C7 Jy at millimeter wavelengths. The amplitudes of flares in the optical reached 2 ^m in the B and V filters and 2.5 ^m in the R filter, on time scales of 200 days. The color indices of these objects did not change during the period covered by observations, i.e., the objects did not become bluer when they brightened. The detected delays between the variations atmillimeter and centimeter wavelengths are several days, which is within the interval between observations during the long-term monitoring. The absence of a distinct correlation between the optical and radio brightness variations was probably due to the presence of substantial time delays between the phenomena occurring in these different wavelength ranges.     

Observations of stellar objects at a shell boundary in the star-forming complex in the galaxy IC 1613

The single region of ongoing star formation in the galaxy IC 1613 has been observed in order to reveal the nature of compact emission-line objects at the edges of two shells in the complex, identified earlier in Hα line images. The continuum images show these compact objects to be stars. Detailed spectroscopic observations of these stars and the surrounding nebulae were carried out with an MPFS spectrograph mounted on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The resulting stellar spectra were used to determine the spectral types and luminosity classes of the objects. Of star we identified the only object of this spectral type in IC 1613. The results of optical observations of the multishell complex are compared to 21-cm radio observations. The shells harboring the stars at their boundaries constitute the most active part of the star-forming region. There is evidence that shocks have played an important role in the formation of the shells.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Fast brightness variations of blazars in the radio and optical

We present coordinated synchronous observations of Active Galactic Nuclei in the radio and optical, aimed at searching for fast (intraday) flux variations and possible correlations in the flux variations in different wavebands. Our observations were performed with the 22-m radio telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory at 22.2 and 36.8 GHz and the Zeiss-1000 reflector of the Special Astrophysical Observatory in the R filter, using a CCD photometer. We performed five observing runs of 7–10 nights each in 2004–2006. We obtained radio and optical light curves for the variable extragalactic radio sources DA 55, 1633+382, 2134+004, 2145+067, and 2251+158. We detected short-duration flares of DA 55 and 2134+004 in the R band with variations of 0.2 ^m within about 15 minutes. The other sources did not show any considerable flux variations. The radio flux variations of DA 55 and 2134+004 reached 1.5 Jy in about 15 minutes, and those of 2145+067 reached 2 Jy in 2 hours. We observed chaotic flux variations in 2251+158, by 2–2.5 Jy in half an hour. We detected no correlation between the radiation in the optical and radio.     

Phenomenological model for the evolution of radio galaxies such as Cygnus A

A phenomenological model for the evolution of classical radio galaxies such as Cygnus A is presented. An activity cycle of the host galaxy in the radio begins with the birth of radio jets, which correspond to shocks on scales ～1 pc (the radio galaxy B0108+388). In the following stage of the evolution, the radio emission comes predominantly from formations on scales of 10–100 pc, whose physical parameters are close to those of the hot spots of Cygnus A (this corresponds to GHz-peaked spectrum radio sources). Further, the hot spots create radio lobes on scales of 10³–10⁴ pc (compact steep-spectrum radio sources). The fully formed radio galaxies have radio jets, hot spots, and giant radio lobes; the direction of the jets can vary in a discrete steps with time, creating new hot spots and inflating the radio lobes (as in Cygnus A). In the final stage of the evolutionary cycle, first the radio jets disappear, then the hot spots, and finally the radio lobes (similar to the giant radio galaxies DA 240 and 3C 236). A large fraction of radio galaxies with repeating activity cycles is observed. The close connection between Cygnus A-type radio galaxies and optical quasars is noted, as well as similarity in the cosmological evolution of powerful radio galaxies and optical quasars.     

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.     

The KHOLOD experiment: A search for a new population of radio sources

Published data from long-term observations of a strip of sky at declination ?? ?? 5° carried out at 7.6 cm on the RATAN-600 radio telescope are used to estimate some statistical properties of radio sources. Limits on the sensitivity of the survey due to noise imposed by background sources, which dominates the radiometer sensitivity, are refined. The vast majority of noise due to background sources is associated with known radio sources (for example, from the NVSS with a detection threshold of 2.3 mJy) with normal steep spectra (?? = 0.7?C0.8, S ?? ?? ^??? ), which have also been detected in new deep surveys at decimeter wavelengths. When all such objects are removed from the observational data, this leaves another noise component that is observed to be roughly identical in independent groups of observations. We suggest this represents a new population of radio sources that are not present in known catalogs at the 0.6 mJy level at 7.6 cm. The studied redshift dependence of the number of steep-spectrum objects shows that the sensitivity of our survey is sufficient to detect powerful FRII radio sources at any redshift, right to the epoch of formation of the first galaxies. The inferred new population is most likely associated with low-luminosity objects at redshifts z < 1. In spite of the appearance of new means of carrying out direct studies of distant galaxies, searches for objects with very high redshifts among steep and ultra-steep spectrum radio sources remains an effective method for studying the early Universe.     

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.     

The unique BL Lac object S5 0716+714

A cluster of three galaxies has been observed around the unusual object S5 0716+714, which displays a lineless continuum throughout all wavelength intervals (from radio to gammarays) and rapid variability (even within a day). The galaxies have very similar redshifts: 0.264 ± 0.004, 0.257 ± 0.005, and 0.249 ± 0.003. for the first time, our observations with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory equipped with the multimode SCORPIO spectral camera have revealed some evidence for the host galaxy around the object—an elliptically shaped flux excessively extended by 3″–5″ from S5 0716+714.     

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.