Extragalactic sources with very asymmetric radio structure: VLA and MERLIN observations

As part of our study to understand the nature of extragalactic radio sources which are very asymmetric in the surface brightness of the two lobes, often with radio emission on only one side of the nucleus, we have observed a large number of them with high angular resolution and good surface brightness sensitivity at radio frequencies. In this paper we present VLA and MERLIN observations of 15 such sources. We discuss their observed structures and spectra, and possible explanations for their morphologies. We report evidence of a possible correlation between the hot-spot brightness ratio and the degree of core prominence, used as a Statistical measure of source orientation, suggesting that relativistic beaming of the hot-spot emission does play a significant role in the observed brightness asymmetry. To explain the apparently one-sided sources within the relativistic beaming framework, the velocities required are in the range of 0.2 to 0.8c. We discuss the possibility that the lobe which is seen to the south of the jet in 3C273 is the counter-lobe seen in projection. We also draw-attention to a number of one-sided sources with very weak cores, and discuss their possible nature.     

An Examination of Candidate AGN Counterparts to Unidentified EGRET Sources

Radio observations of candidate active galactic nucleus counterparts to eight EGRET sources with |b| > 9^∘ are examined, and several new identifications suggested. Preference is given to the use of all-sky, flux-density limited surveys in searching for counterparts and attention is drawn to the importance of not relying exclusively on spectral indices inferred from single-dish observations.     

Collimation of extragalactic radio jets in compact steep-spectrum and larger sources

We study the collimation of radio jets in the high-luminosity Fanaroff–Riley class II sources by examining the dependence of the sizes of hotspots and knots in the radio jets on the overall size of the objects for a sample of compact steep-spectrum (CSS) and larger-sized objects. The objects span a wide range in overall size from about 50 pc to nearly 1 Mpc. The mean size of the hotspots increases with the source size during the CSS phase, which is typically taken to be about 20 kpc, and the relationship flattens for the larger sources. The sizes of the knots in the compact as well as the larger sources are consistent with this trend. We discuss possible implications of these trends. We find that the hotspot closer to the nucleus or core component tends to be more compact for the most asymmetric objects where the ratio of separations of the hotspots from the nucleus r _d>2. These highly asymmetric sources are invariably CSS objects, and their location in the hotspot size ratio–separation ratio diagram is possibly the result of their evolution in an asymmetric environment. We also suggest that some sources, especially of lower luminosity, exhibit an asymmetry in the collimation of the oppositely directed radio jets.     

Wide-field imaging and polarimetry for the biggest and brightest in the 20-GHz southern sky

We present the wide-field imaging and polarimetry at  ν= 20 GHz  of seven most extended, bright  ( S _total≥ 0.50 Jy)  , high-frequency selected radio sources in the southern sky with declinations  δ < −30°  . Accompanying the data are brief reviews of the literature for each source. The results presented here aid in the statistical completeness of the Australia Telescope 20-GHz Survey: the Bright Source Sample. The data are of crucial interest for future cosmic microwave background missions as a collection of information about candidate calibrator sources. We were able to obtain data for seven of the nine sources identified by our selection criteria. We report that Pictor A is thus far the best extragalactic calibrator candidate for the Low Frequency Instrument of the Planck European Space Agency mission due to its high level of integrated polarized flux density  (∼0.50 ± 0.06 Jy)  on a scale of 10 arcmin. Six out of the seven sources have a clearly detected compact radio core in our images, with either a null detection or less than 2 per cent detection of polarized emission from the nuclei. Most sources with detected jets have magnetic field alignments running in a longitudinal configuration, however, PKS 1333−33 exhibits transverse fields and an orthogonal change in field geometry from nucleus to jets.     

Intraday polarization variability outside the VLBI core of the active galactic nucleus 0716+714

Rapid ('intraday') cm-wavelength variations in both total and polarized flux density have been observed in a number of strong extragalactic radio sources. It is difficult to explain these variations purely as propagation effects, but if they are intrinsic to the sources, implausibly high brightness temperatures are required. We discuss here rapid polarization variability during our λ =6 cm global very long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the active galactic nucleus 0716+714. Measurements made with the Very Large Array (VLA) during the VLBI observations indicate a ≃50° swing in the position angle χ of the VLA core polarization in 12 hours. Corresponding variations were observed only for short VLBI baselines, so that they could not have occurred in the VLBI core (the only feature detected in our VLBI polarization map). The fact that the variations appear both in the VLA data and in the VLBI data for short baselines makes it difficult to explain them as instrumental effects. This leads us to conclude that the rapid variations occurred outside the area covered by our VLBI map; we estimate that the variability occurred in some compact feature roughly 25 milliarcseconds from the nucleus. It is clear that compact structures on a wide range of scales must be taken into account in studies of intraday variability in AGN.     

A Polarization Study of Radio Galaxies and Quasars selected from the Molonglo Complete Sample

We present total intensity and linear polarization observations made with the Very Large Array at λλ20 and 6 cm of a representative sample of 42 radio galaxies and quasars selected from the Molonglo complete sample. The sources have been chosen to be of large size to probe the depolarizing medium on these scales using our present data and later with observations at lower frequencies with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. The λ20 and 6 cm data are of similar resolutions and show that depolarization between these two wavelengths is seen largely only in those lobes which are within about 300 kpc of the parent galaxy. Examination of the depolarization of the lobes with arm-length asymmetry shows that depolarization is observed predominantly for the lobe which is closer to the nucleus. There is also a trend for the lobe closer to the nucleus to be brighter, consistent with the scenario that the nearer lobe is interacting with a denser environment which is responsible for the higher depolarization and greater dissipation of energy. We have also examined the depolarization asymmetry of the lobes on opposite sides of the nucleus for galaxies and quasars. This shows that the depolarization asymmetry for quasars is marginally higher than that for galaxies. The depolarization properties of our sample are possibly determined by an asymmetric environment as well as the effects of orientation.     

Properties of OH Megamaser Galaxies in the Radio Continuum. II. Data Analysis

The properties of OH megamaser galaxies in the radio continuum are discussed. Many radio sources in OH megamaser galaxies exhibit relatively flat (α ≥ −0.5) radio spectra between frequencies of 1.49 and 8.44 GHz along with high brightness temperatures (T_b ≥ 10⁴ K). In these galaxies the line and radio continuum fluxes are not correlated. The continuum radio emission of OH megamasers is predominantly nonthermal and is associated either with an active nucleus or with compact star formation. The thermal component of the radio emission from these galaxies can be neglected. The observed flat radio spectra and high brightness temperatures imply the existence of an active galactic nucleus, although some megamasers may be associated with compact star formation.__________Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 281–290 (May 2005).     

Evidence of a link between the evolution of clusters and their AGN fraction

We discuss the optical properties, X-ray detections and active galactic nucleus (AGN) populations of four clusters at   z ∼ 1  in the Subaru–XMM Deep Field (SXDF). The velocity distribution and plausible extended X-ray detections are examined, as well as the number of X-ray point sources and radio sources associated with the clusters. We find that the two clusters that appear virialized and have an extended X-ray detection contain few, if any, AGN, whereas the two pre-virialized clusters have a large AGN population. This constitutes evidence that the AGN fraction in clusters is linked to the clusters' evolutionary stage. The number of X-ray AGN in the pre-virialized clusters is consistent with an overdensity of a factor of ∼200; the radio AGN appear to be clustered with a factor of 3 to 6 higher. The median K -band luminosities of   L_K = 1.7 ± 0.7 L *  for the X-ray sources and   L_K = 2.3 ± 0.1 L *  for the radio sources support the theory that these AGN are triggered by galaxy interaction and merging events in sub-groups with low internal velocity distributions, which make up the cluster environment in a pre-virialization evolutionary stage.     

Star formation in southern Seyfert galaxies

We have produced radio maps, using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, of the central regions of six southern type 2 Seyfert galaxies (NGC 1365, 4945, 6221, 6810, 7582 and Circinus) with circumnuclear star formation, to estimate the relative contribution of star formation activity compared to activity from the active galactic nucleus (AGN). The radio morphologies range from extended diffuse structures to compact nuclear emission, with no evidence, even in the relatively compact sources, for synchrotron self-absorption. In each case the radio to far-infrared (FIR) ratio has a value consistent with star formation, and in all but one case the radio to [Fe  II ] ratio is also consistent with star formation. We derive supernova rates and conclude that, despite the presence of a Seyfert nucleus in these galaxies, the radio, FIR and [Fe  II ] line emissions are dominated by processes associated with the circumnuclear star formation (i.e. supernova remnants and H  II regions) rather than with the AGN.     

A 408-MHz variability study of two fields in the region 6h30m, +45°

Variability in 408-MHz flux density, over a 1-yr interval between 1995 and 1996, has been investigated using the DRAO Synthesis Telescope for a complete sample of 322 sources with S _408 MHz > 80 mJy at galactic latitude b  = 15°; four sources are found to show significant flux density variations. These results, taken with those from a similar study at b  = 58°, indicate that 408-MHz variability over a time-scale of 1 yr is more uncommon than has previously been thought; variations at a level >10 per cent could have been detected in a statistically complete sample of about 150 of these sources and none was found. Variability over a period of 18 yr has also been investigated by comparing the DRAO data with those from the B3 catalogue for 182 sources with S _408 MHz > 200 mJy; five variables are found. Large flux density variations over a period of 18 yr are much more common than over 1 yr, with roughly one source in 15 showing variations at the 15 per cent level or greater. The statistics are not good enough to show any conclusive evidence for a dependence of variability on galactic latitude. Roughly half of the variable sources have spectra that are steep at high frequencies and flatten at low frequencies; the other half have flat radio spectra over the entire frequency range. Simultaneous observations at 1420 MHz, also with the DRAO Synthesis Telescope, have been used to investigate variability at this frequency as well, and indicate that over a period of 1 yr roughly half of the flat-spectrum sources vary at the 5 per cent level or greater.     

The 18-cm light curves of the luminous radio supernova candidates in Arp 220

We present multi-epoch observations of Arp 220 with the VLBA and focus on the continuum emission from the luminous radio supernovae (RSNe) whose 1.6-GHz light curves are shown. The supernovae seem to be generally stable or only slowly decaying in flux with time, a result which deviates from the model of Type IIn RSNe. Hints of new eruptions confirm that they are indeed new sources and not supernova remnants, which could be several hundred years old. The slow decay of the sources for which monitoring data were available forces us to reconsider the starburst model for Arp 220 and adopt a more modest value of 0.7 yr⁻¹ for the supernova rate based on these new eruptions. The starburst efficiency should also be modified accordingly which gives rise to the issue of an active nucleus once more. The question is raised whether it is the starburst which creates this active nucleus, something which could affect the evolution of starburst galaxies as a group.     

Methanol masers and their environment at high resolution

We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to make high-resolution images of the 6.7-GHz 5₁ → 6₀A⁺ maser transition of methanol towards 33 sources in the Galactic plane. Including the results from 12 methanol sources in the literature, we find that 17 out of 45 sources have curved or linear morphology. Most of the 17 have a velocity gradient along the line, which is consistent with masers lying in an edge-on circumstellar disc surrounding a massive star. We also made simultaneous continuum observations of the sources at 8.6 GHz, in order to image any associated H  ii region. 25 of the sources are associated with an ultracompact H  ii region, with a detection limit of ∼0.5 mJy beam⁻¹. We argue that the methanol sources without an associated H  ii region represent less massive embedded stars, not an earlier stage in the lifetime of the star, as previously suggested.     

Compact radio sources variable at 151 MHz – II. High-resolution observations of an unbiased sample

High‐resolution observations, made with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 330 MHz, 1.4 GHz and 8.4 GHz and with the Ryle Telescope at 15 GHz, are presented of a sample of 23 sources which are variable at 151 MHz, concluding the observations of an unbiased sample of 40 such sources. The 8.4 GHz emission of almost all of the sources is dominated by structure on a scale ≲0.1 arcsec – the spectra of these compact components are such that they will also dominate the emission at 151 MHz; the number of sources for which this is not the case is consistent with the number of spurious variables expected to be found in the sample. About two-thirds of the sources have the self-absorbed, or flat, spectra expected from their size. The majority (∼75 per cent) of the sources belong to the compact steep-spectrum (CSS) class, but are generally more compact than other CSS sources; the CSS variables also appear to exhibit more spectral ageing than typical CSS sources, which may indicate a difference in the nature of the sources.     

Extragalactic sources with one-sided radio structure

A list has been compiled of 49 extragalactic sources, most of them identified with quasars, that appear to have a one-sided (D₂ type) radio structure characterized by a single outer component displaced from a compact central (nuclear) component coincident with the optical object. The observed properties of a subsample of 28 D₂ quasars that have an overall angular size larger than 5 arcsec are briefly discussed and compared with those of normal (D1 type) double quasars. It is found that the central components in most D₂ sources account for more than half the total flux density at high frequencies in contrast to the D₁ quasars which generally have less than 20 per cent of their total flux density in a central component. This makes it very unlikely that D₂ sources are just those D1s in which there is a large intrinsic difference in the flux densities or separations of the two outer components. The observed properties of D₂ sources are easier to understand in the relativistic beaming interpretation in which their axes are inclined at smaller angles with the line of sight compared to D₁ sources.     

A sharper view of the outer Galaxy at 1420 and 408 MHz from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey – I. Revisiting the KR catalogue and new Gigahertz Peaked Spectrum sources

Arcminute-resolution radio continuum images at 408 and 1420 MHz from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (CGPS) have been used to re-examine radio sources listed in the Kallas & Reich catalogue. This catalogue is of particular interest to Galactic studies as it lists both extended and compact radio sources found in the second Galactic quadrant. We have determined the nature (extended versus compact, Galactic versus extragalactic) of all of these bright radio sources. A number of large H  ii regions with no optical counterparts are highlighted along with a sample of large radio galaxies. Many sources previously thought to be extended Galactic objects are shown to be point sources. A sample of point sources with flat or rising spectra between 408 and 1420 MHz has been compiled, and within this sample likely Gigahertz Peaked Spectrum sources have been identified.     

Density gradients in Galactic ultra-compact H ii regions

We have used recent radiative transfer solutions for cavity-centred shells to investigate the prevalence of density gradients in Galactic ultra-compact H  ii regions. We find that an analysis of 5 and 1.4 GHz data, taken from the recent compilation of Giveon et al., implies that ∼76 per cent of sources may have appreciable density gradients. It would also seem that the central cavities of these sources must be relatively small, with radii no greater than ∼20 per cent of those of the outer shells. The remainder of these sources are presumably homogenous, have much larger cavities, or possess reverse density gradients (densities which increase with increasing radius). A good fraction of the H  ii regions also appear to have high brightness temperatures, implying mean electron temperatures  〈 T _e〉  of the order of  ≈1.3 × 10⁴ K  . This value is higher than has been determined for other such sources.     

Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of Galactic Centre low-mass X-ray binaries

We have performed simultaneous X-ray and radio observations of 13 Galactic Centre low-mass X-ray binaries in 1998 April using the Wide Field Cameras on board BeppoSAX and the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the latter simultaneously at 4.8 and 8.64 GHz. We detect two Z sources, GX 17+2 and GX 5−1, and the unusual 'hybrid' source GX 13+1. Upper limits, which are significantly deeper than previous non-detections, are placed on the radio emission from two more Z sources and seven atoll sources. Hardness–intensity diagrams constructed from the Wide Field Camera data reveal GX 17+2 and GX 5−1 to have been on the lower part of the horizontal branch and/or the upper part of the normal branch at the time of the observations, and the two non-detected Z sources, GX 340+0 and GX 349+2, to have been on the lower part of the normal branch. This is consistent with the previous empirically determined relation between radio and X-ray emission from Z sources, in which radio emission is strongest on the horizontal branch and weakest on the flaring branch. For the first time we have information on the X-ray state of atoll sources, which are clearly radio-quiet relative to the Z sources, during periods of observed radio upper limits. We place limits on the linear polarization from the three detected sources, and use accurate radio astrometry of GX 17+2 to confirm that it is probably not associated with the optical star NP Ser. Additionally we place strong upper limits on the radio emission from the X-ray binary 2S 0921−630, disagreeing with suggestions that it is a Z-source viewed edge-on.     

Blind and non-blind source detection in WMAP 5-yr maps

We have analysed the efficiency in source detection and flux density estimation of blind and non-blind detection techniques exploiting the MHW2 filter applied to the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP ) 5-yr maps. A comparison with the AT20G bright source sample, with a completeness limit of 0.5 Jy and accurate flux measurements at 20 GHz, close to the lowest frequency of WMAP maps, has allowed us to assess the completeness and the reliability of the samples detected with the two approaches, as well as the accuracy of flux and error estimates, and their variations across the sky. The uncertainties on flux estimates given by our procedure turned out to be about a factor of 2 lower than the rms differences with AT20G measurements, consistent with the smoothing of the fluctuation field yielded by map filtering. Flux estimates were found to be essentially unbiased except that, close to the detection limit, a substantial fraction of fluxes are found to be inflated by the contribution of underlying positive fluctuations. This is consistent with expectations for the Eddington bias associated to the true errors on flux density estimates. The blind and non-blind approaches are found to be complementary: each of them allows the detection of sources missed by the other. Combining results of the two methods on the WMAP 5-yr maps, we have expanded the non-blindly generated New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source (NEWPS) catalogue that was based on WMAP 3-yr maps. After having removed the probably spurious objects not identified with known radio sources, the new version of the NEWPS catalogue, NEWPS_5yr comprises 484 sources detected with a signal-to-noise ratio  SNR ≥ 5  .     

Polarization observations of the radio cores of AGN — I. A sample of quasars

We present total-intensity and linear-polarization observations at a single epoch for a sample of 11 quasars and one BL Lac object. The data were taken with the VLA A array at λλ 20, 18, 6 and 2 cm. We examine the variation of the degree of polarization, p , and polarization position angle, PA, with wavelength, and attempt to determine the rotation measure, RM, of the cores in these sources. The degree of polarization does not exhibit any systematic variation with wavelength, the median values ranging from 2.3 to 3.5 per cent at the different wavelengths. The variation of PA with λ² is not linear over the entire wavelength range. However, for most sources the λλ 20-, 18- and 6-cm PAs do follow such a linear relationship, yielding a median |RM| of about 15 rad m⁻². In contrast, the λλ 6- and 2-cm observations give a median |RM| of about 129 rad m⁻². The long-wavelength emission is likely to originate from a spatially different part of the milliarcsec-scale jet from the λ 2-cm emission, which could turn over at a higher frequency and is likely to be more compact and located closer to the quasar nucleus. We have attempted to obtain linear fits over the entire wavelength range allowing for n  π ambiguities in the PAs, but the fits are not statistically significant. The low values of RM for these core-dominated sources suggest that either the radio emission from the jet intercepts few of the emission-line clouds and their confining medium, or the clouds have a small filling factor and are possibly magnetically confined.     

The Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey – II. Gravitational lens candidate selection and follow-up

We report the final results of the search for gravitationally lensed flat-spectrum radio sources found in the combination of CLASS (Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey) and JVAS (Jodrell Bank VLA Astrometric Survey). VLA (Very Large Array) observations of 16 503 sources have been made, resulting in the largest sample of arcsec-scale lens systems available. Contained within the 16 503 sources is a complete sample of 11 685 sources which have two-point spectral indices between 1.4 and 5 GHz flatter than −0.5, and 5-GHz flux densities  ≥30 mJy  . A subset of 8958 sources form a well-defined statistical sample suitable for analysis of the lens statistics. We describe the systematic process by which 149 candidate lensed sources were picked from the statistical sample on the basis of possessing multiple compact components in the 0.2-arcsec resolution VLA maps. Candidates were followed up with 0.05-arcsec resolution MERLIN and 0.003-arcsec VLBA observations at 5 GHz and rejected as lens systems if they failed well-defined surface brightness and/or morphological tests. To illustrate the candidate elimination process, we show examples of sources representative of particular morphologies that have been ruled out by the follow-up observations. 194 additional candidates, not in the well-defined sample, were also followed up. Maps for all the candidates can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/research/gravlens/index.html . We summarize the properties of each of the 22 gravitational lens systems in JVAS/CLASS. 12 are double-image systems, nine are four-image systems and one is a six-image system. 13 constitute a statistically well-defined sample giving a point-source lensing rate of  1:690 ± 190  . The interpretation of the results in terms of the properties of the lensing galaxy population and cosmological parameters will be published elsewhere.