B2114+022: a distant radio source gravitationally lensed by a starburst galaxy

We have discovered a radio source (B2114+022) with a unique structure during the course of the JVAS gravitational lens survey. VLA, MERLIN, VLBA and MERLIN+EVN radio maps reveal four compact components, in a configuration unlike that of any known lens system, or, for that matter, any of the ∼15 000 radio sources in the JVAS and CLASS surveys. Three of the components are within 0.3 arcsec of each other while the fourth is separated from the group by 2.4 arcsec. The widest separation pair of components have similar radio structures and spectra. The other pair also have similar properties. This latter pair have spectra which peak at ∼5 GHz. Their surface brightnesses are much lower than expected for synchrotron self-absorbed components.
Ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope optical observations show two galaxies ( z =0.3157 and 0.5883) separated by 1.25 arcsec. The lower redshift galaxy has a post-starburst spectrum and lies close to, but not coincident with, the compact group of three radio components. No optical or infrared emission is detected from any of the radio components down to I =25 and H =23 . We argue that the most likely explanation of the B2114+022 system is that the post-starburst galaxy, assisted by the second galaxy, lenses a distant radio source producing the two wide-separation images. The other two radio components are then associated with the post-starburst galaxy. The combination of the angular sizes of these components, their radio spectra and their location with respect to their host galaxy still remains puzzling.     

Discovery of an X-ray-selected radio-loud obscured AGN at z = 1.246

We have discovered an obscured active galaxy at redshift z  = 1.246 identified with the ROSAT X-ray source RX J1011.2+5545. We report on multiwavelength observations of this source and discuss its X-ray, optical and radio properties. This is the first X-ray-selected, obscured active galaxy at high redshift to be shown to be radio-loud, with a radio counterpart exhibiting a classical double-lobe morphology.     

Measurement of the angular correlation function of radio galaxies from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey

We quantify the angular distribution of radio sources in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) by measuring the two-point angular correlation function w ( θ ). By careful consideration of the resolution of radio galaxies into multiple components, we are able to determine both the galaxy angular clustering and the size distribution of giant radio galaxies. The slope of the correlation function for radio galaxies agrees with that for other classes of galaxy,     , with a 3D correlation length     (under certain assumptions). Calibration problems in the survey prevent clustering analysis below     . About 7 per cent of radio galaxies are resolved by NVSS into multiple components, with a power-law size distribution. Our work calls into question previous analyses and interpretations of w ( θ ) from radio surveys.     

The cluster environments of the z ∼ 1 3CR radio galaxies

An analysis of the environments around a sample of 28 3CR radio galaxies with redshifts 0.6< z <1.8 is presented, based primarily upon K -band images down to K ∼20 taken using the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). A net overdensity of K -band galaxies is found in the fields of the radio galaxies, with the mean excess counts being comparable to that expected for clusters of Abell Class 0 richness. A sharp peak is found in the angular cross-correlation amplitude centred on the radio galaxies that, for reasonable assumptions about the luminosity function of the galaxies, corresponds to a spatial cross-correlation amplitude between those determined for low-redshift Abell Class 0 and 1 clusters.
These data are complemented by J -band images also from UKIRT, and by optical images from the Hubble Space Telescope . The fields of the lower redshift ( z ≲0.9) radio galaxies in the sample generally show well-defined near-infrared colour–magnitude relations with little scatter, indicating a significant number of galaxies at the redshift of the radio galaxy; the relations involving colours at shorter wavelengths than the 4000 Å break show considerably greater scatter, suggesting that many of the cluster galaxies have low levels of recent or on-going star formation. At higher redshifts the colour–magnitude sequences are less prominent owing to the increased field galaxy contribution at faint magnitudes, but there is a statistical excess of galaxies with the very red infrared colours ( J − K ≳1.75) expected of old cluster galaxies at these redshifts.
Although these results are appropriate for the mean of all of the radio galaxy fields, there exist large field-to-field variations in the richness of the environments. Many, but certainly not all, powerful z ∼1 radio galaxies lie in (proto)cluster environments.     

A search for compact decametric radio sources in supernova remnants using the interplanetary scintillation technique

Interplanetary scintillation observations of eleven supernova remnants and the pulsar J1939+2134, around which the existence of a supernova remnant remains obscure, were carried out with the largest in the world decameter radio telescope UTR-2 at 20, 25 and 30 MHz to determine if any of them contain compact radio sources with the angular size θ<5″. The sample included the young Galactic remnants and the other powerful SNRs. The interplanetary scintillations of the compact radio source in the Crab Nebula associated with the well-known pulsar J0534+2200 and the pulsar J1939+2134 were observed. Apart from the Crab Nebula, we have not detected a compact radio source in supernova remnants with the angular size θ<5″ and the flux density more than 10 Jy. The observations do not confirm the existence of the low frequency compact source in Cassiopeia A that has remained controversial.     

Intermittent jet activity in the radio galaxy 4C 29.30?

We present radio observations at frequencies ranging from 240 to 8460 MHz of the radio galaxy 4C 29.30 (J0840+2949) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Effelsberg telescope. We report the existence of weak extended emission with an angular size of ∼520 arcsec (639 kpc) within which a compact edge-brightened double-lobed source with a size of 29 arcsec (36 kpc) is embedded. We determine the spectrum of the inner double from 240 to 8460 MHz and show that it has a single power-law spectrum with a spectral index of ∼0.8. Its spectral age is estimated to be ≲33 Myr. The extended diffuse emission has a steep spectrum with a spectral index of ∼1.3 and a break frequency ≲240 MHz. The spectral age is ≳200 Myr, suggesting that the extended diffuse emission is due to an earlier cycle of activity. We re-analyse archival X-ray data from Chandra and suggest that the X-ray emission from the hotspots consists of a mixture of non-thermal and thermal components, the latter being possibly due to gas which is shock heated by the jets from the host galaxy.     

Morphology and surface brightness evolution of z∼1.1 radio galaxies

We use K '-band (2.1-μm) imaging to investigate the angular size and morphology of 10 6C radio galaxies, at redshifts 1≤ z ≤1.4. Two radio galaxies appear to be undergoing mergers, another contains, within a single envelope, two intensity peaks aligned with the radio jets, while the other seven appear consistent with being normal ellipticals in the K band.
Intrinsic half-light radii are estimated from the areas of each radio galaxy image above a series of thresholds. The 6C galaxy radii are found to be significantly smaller than those of the more radio-luminous 3CR galaxies at similar redshifts. This would indicate that the higher mean K -band luminosity of the 3CR galaxies reflects a difference in the size of the host galaxies, and not solely a difference in the power of the active nuclei.
The size–luminosity relation of the z ∼1.1 6C galaxies indicates a 1.0–1.6 mag enhancement of their rest frame R -band surface brightness relative to either local ellipticals of the same size or FRII radio galaxies at z <0.2. The 3CR galaxies at z ∼1.1 show a comparable enhancement in surface brightness. The mean radius of the 6C galaxies suggests that they evolve into ellipticals of L ∼ L * luminosity, and is consistent with their low-redshift counterparts being relatively small FRII galaxies ∼25 times lower in radio luminosity, or small FRI galaxies ∼1000 times lower in radio luminosity. Hence the 6C radio galaxies appear to undergo as much optical and radio evolution as the 3CR galaxies.     

The disc-dominated host galaxy of FR-I radio source B2 0722+30

We present new observational results that conclude that the nearby radio galaxy B2 0722+30 is one of the very few known disc galaxies in the low-redshift Universe that host a classical double-lobed radio source. In this paper, we use H  i observations, deep optical imaging, stellar population synthesis modelling and emission-line diagnostics to study the host galaxy, classify the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and investigate environmental properties under which a radio-loud AGN can occur in this system. Typical for spiral galaxies, B2 0722+30 has a regularly rotating gaseous disc throughout which star formation occurs. Dust heating by the ongoing star formation is likely responsible for the high infrared luminosity of the system. The optical emission-line properties of the central region identify a Low Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Region (LINER)-type nucleus with a relatively low [O  iii ] luminosity, in particular when compared with the total power of the Fanaroff & Riley type-I radio source that is present in this system. This classifies B2 0722+30 as a classical radio galaxy rather than a typical Seyfert galaxy. The environment of B2 0722+30 is extremely H  i -rich, with several nearby interacting galaxies. We argue that a gas-rich interaction involving B2 0722+30 is a likely cause for the triggering of the radio AGN and/or the fact that the radio source managed to escape the optical boundaries of the host galaxy.     

Chandra imaging of the complex X-ray core of the Perseus cluster

We report subarcsec-resolution X-ray imaging of the core of the Perseus cluster around the galaxy NGC 1275 with the Chandra X-ray Observatory . The ROSAT -discovered holes associated with the radio lobes have X-ray bright rims which are cooler than the surrounding gas and not a result of shocks. The holes themselves may contain some hotter gas. We map strong photoelectric absorption across the northern lobe and rim owing to a small infalling irregular galaxy, known as the high-velocity system. Two outer holes, one of which was previously known, are identified with recently found spurs of low-frequency radio emission. The spiral appearance of the X-ray cooler gas and the outer optical parts of NGC 1275 may be due to angular momentum in the cooling flow.     

J0041+3224: a new double–double radio galaxy

We report the discovery of a double–double radio galaxy (DDRG), J0041+3224, with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and subsequent high-frequency observations with the Very Large Array (VLA). The inner and outer doubles are aligned within ∼4° and are reasonably collinear with the parent optical galaxy. The outer double has a steeper radio spectrum compared to the inner one. Using an estimated redshift of 0.45, the projected linear sizes of the outer and inner doubles are 969 and 171 kpc, respectively. The time-scale of interruption of jet activity has been estimated to be ∼20 Myr, similar to other known DDRGs. We have compiled a sample of known DDRGs, and have re-examined the inverse correlation between the ratio of the luminosities of the outer to the inner double and the size of the inner double, l _in. Unlike the other DDRGs with   l _in≳ 50 kpc  , the inner double of J0041+3224 is marginally more luminous than the outer one. The two DDRGs with   l _in≲  few kpc have a more luminous inner double than the outer one, possibly due to a higher efficiency of conversion of beam energy as the jets propagate through the dense interstellar medium. We have examined the symmetry parameters and found that the inner doubles appear to be more asymmetric in both its armlength and its flux density ratios compared to the outer doubles, although they appear marginally more collinear with the core than the outer double. We discuss briefly the possible implications of these trends.     

GMRT Low Radio Frequency Study of the Wolf Rayet Galaxy NGC 4214 and Detection of a Distant Galaxy

In this paper, we present the first low frequency (< 1.4 GHz) radio continuum study of a Wolf Rayet galaxy NGC 4214 using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT). We detect diffuse extended emission from the galaxy disk at 325 MHz and find that the radio emission closely follows the ultraviolet emission mapped by GALEX. The galaxy is undergoing continuous star formation which can explain the diffuse emission. We suggest that the diffuse radio continuum emission and X-ray emission detected in the northern part of NGC 4214 is associated with a background galaxy, 2MASX J12153795+3622218.     

Optical and radio studies of radio sources

We present the classification of optical identifications and radio spectra of six radio sources from a complete (in flux density) sample in the declination range 10° to 12°30′ (J2000.0). The observations were carried out with the 6-m Special Astrophysical Observatory telescope (Russia) in the wavelength range 3600–10000 Å, the 2.1-m GHAO telescope (Mexico) in the range 4200–9000 Å, and the RATAN-600 radio telescope in the frequency range 0.97–21.7 GHz. Three of the six objects under study are classified as quasars, one is a BL Lac object, one is an absorption-line radio galaxy, and one is an emission-line radio galaxy. Five objects have flat radio spectra, and one object has a power-law radio spectrum. All of the radio sources identified as quasars or BL Lac objects show variable radio flux densities. The spectra of three objects were separated into extended and compact components.     

PKS 1117+146: a new large compact symmetric object

We present 23-GHz MERLIN observations of the high-luminosity radio galaxy PKS 1117+146. The radio image obtained from these data shows, for the first time, a central weak component (designated C) that we identify as the core of the radio galaxy, and two outer components (designated N and S) which are the hotspots of the extended lobes observed at lower frequencies. Extended emission in components C and S is an indication of a possible jet connecting the core to the strongest component. The overall optical and radio properties of PKS 1117+146 are consistent with the source being classified as a compact symmetric object (CSO). We discuss this hypothesis, which would make PKS 1117+146 the largest CSO known so far.     

H i in extremely metal deficient galaxies – III. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations of blue compact galaxy HS 0822+3542

We present the results of Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope H  i 21-cm line observations of the extremely metal deficient (XMD) blue compact galaxy (BCG) HS 0822+3542. HS 0822+3542 is the smallest known XMD galaxy; from Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) imaging, it has been suggested that it actually consists of two still smaller (∼100 pc sized) ultra-compact dwarfs that are in the process of merging. The brighter of these two putative ultra-compact dwarfs has an ocular appearance, similar to that seen in galaxies that have suffered a penetrating encounter with a smaller companion. From our H  i imaging, we find that the gas distribution and kinematics in this object are similar to that of other low-mass galaxies, albeit with some evidence for tidal disturbance. On the other hand, the H  i emission has an angular size ∼25 times larger than that of the putative ultra-compact dwarfs. The optical emission is also offset from the centre of the H  i emission. HS 0822+3542 is located in the nearby Lynx–Cancer void, but has a nearby companion low surface brightness dwarf galaxy SAO 0822+3545. In light of all this, we also consider a scenario where the optical emission from HS 0822+3542 comes not from two merging ultra-compact dwarfs but from multiple star-forming regions in a tidally disturbed galaxy. In this model, the ocular appearance of the brighter star-forming region could be the result of triggered star formation.     

The AGN and gas disc in the low surface brightness galaxy PGC 045080

We present radio observations and optical spectroscopy of the giant low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy PGC 045080 (or 1300+0144). PGC 045080 is a moderately distant galaxy having a highly inclined optical disc and massive H  i gas content. Radio continuum observations of the galaxy were carried out at 320, 610 MHz and 1.4 GHz. Continuum emission was detected and mapped in the galaxy. The emission appears extended over the inner disc at all three frequencies. At 1.4 GHz and 610 MHz it appears to have two distinct lobes. We also did optical spectroscopy of the galaxy nucleus; the spectrum did not show any strong emission lines associated with active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity but the presence of a weak AGN cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, comparison of the Hα flux and radio continuum at 1.4 GHz suggests that a significant fraction of the emission is non-thermal in nature. Hence we conclude that a weak or hidden AGN may be present in PGC 045080. The extended radio emission represents lobes/jets from the AGN. These observations show that although LSB galaxies are metal poor and have very little star formation, their centres can host significant AGN activity. We also mapped the H  i gas disc and velocity field in PGC 045080. The H  i disc extends well beyond the optical disc and appears warped. In the H  i intensity maps, the disc appears distinctly lopsided. The velocity field is disturbed on the lopsided side of the disc but is fairly uniform in the other half. We derived the H  i rotation curve for the galaxy from the velocity field. The rotation curve has a flat rotation speed of ∼190 km s⁻¹.     

High-resolution observations and mass modelling of the CLASS gravitational lens B1152+199

We present a series of high-resolution radio and optical observations of the CLASS gravitational lens system B1152+199 obtained with the Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network, Very Long Baseline Array and Hubble Space Telescope . Based on the milliarcsecond-scale substructure of the lensed radio components and precise optical astrometry for the lensing galaxy, we construct models for the system and place constraints on the galaxy mass profile. For a single galaxy model with surface mass density  Σ(r)∝r^{− β}   , we find that  0.95 β 1.21  at 2 σ confidence. Including a second deflector to represent a possible satellite galaxy of the primary lens leads to slightly steeper mass profiles.     

Modelling the first probable two-plane lens system B2114+022: reproducing two compact radio cores A and D

We test possible lensing scenarios of the JVAS system B2114+022, in which two galaxies at different redshifts ('G1' at z ₁=0.3157 and 'G2' at z ₂=0.5883) are found within 2 arcsec of quadruple radio sources. For our investigation, we use possible lensing constraints derived from a wealth of data on the radio sources obtained with VLA, MERLIN, VLBA and EVN as well as HST imaging data on the two galaxies, which were presented recently in Augusto et al. In the present study, we focus on reproducing the widest separated, observationally similar radio components A and D as lensed images. We first treat G2 (which is the more distant one from the geometric centre) as a shear term, and then consider two-plane lensing explicitly including G2's potential at the z ₂ plane as the first case of two-plane lens modelling. Our modelling results not only support the hypothesis that the system includes gravitationally lensed images of a higher-redshift extragalactic object, but they also show that the explicit inclusion of G2's potential at the second lens plane is necessary in order to fit the data with astrophysically plausible galaxy parameters. Finally, we illustrate a natural consequence of a two-plane lens system, namely the prediction of distortion as well as shift and stretching of G2's isophotes by G1's potential, which can in principle be measured by subtracting out G1's light distribution in an image of high signal-to-noise ratio and good angular resolution, especially a multicolour one.     

Near-infrared imaging of the host galaxies of BL Lacertae objects

Near-infrared images have been obtained of nine BL Lacertae objects in order to investigate their host galaxy properties. From numerical modelling of the data we find that five of the nine BL Lacs have contributions from extended galaxy emission in their profiles. Tentative morphologies were derived for two of the BL Lacs, namely B2 0752+258, for which a disc morphology is slightly preferred, and S4 0954+65, for which an elliptical morphology is preferred. From our modelling we derive host galaxy absolute magnitudes of M_H =−25.6±0.5 for B2 0752+258, and M_H =−26.3±0.8 for S4 0954+65. We also find an average K -band absolute K -corrected host galaxy magnitude, for the BL Lacs, of 〈 M_K 〉=−26.3±0.6 asssuming an elliptical galaxy model, and 〈 M_K 〉=−26.1±0.9 assuming a disc galaxy model. The derived absolute magnitudes are similar to those found for the putative parent population of FRI radio galaxies, predicted by unified schemes. For those BL Lacs in which host galaxies have been previously detected at optical wavelengths we derive rest frame colours which are generally consistent with those of 'normal' galaxies. However, for TEX 0836+182 we find a rather blue colour which, together with the elongated morphology, may be indicative of interaction or spiral structure. Our results suggest that the host galaxies of BL Lacs are indeed similar to those of FRI radio galaxies, adding further weight to the unification scenario. In our present infrared frames of relatively modest resolution, we do not find that infrared observations are any more or less effective than optical observations at revealing the underlying host galaxy.     

CGCG 292-057: A Near-Distance Merger Galaxy with Double–Double Radio Lobes and X-shape Structure

J1159+5820 is an extended radio galaxy with a quite unusual morphology, featuring two pairs of radio lobes. Such sources, called double–double radio galaxies, constitute a very rare class of extragalactic radio sources. Furthermore, the extended radio structure of this source shows an X-shape form. According to a much likely scenario, such a morphology is due to interrupting nuclear activity in its central active galactic nucleus. Interestingly, the host of this source is a near-distance bright galaxy named CGCG 292-057, which is clearly disturbed, with tidal features and shells as plausible signs of a recent merger.     

Radio galaxies with signatures of merging from the list of giant radio galaxy candidates based on NVSS data

Eight radio sources with signatures of interacting galaxies have been detected within the framework of the project aimed at expanding the list of giant radio galaxies based on NVSS data. The objects have a nontrivial structure in the radio band: four sources exhibit an S-shape, three sources exhibit an X-shape typical of sources at the final stage of radio galaxy merging, and one radio galaxy has a double nucleus. Using the CATS, NED, and SkyView databases, we have made the optical and radio identifications of these objects and constructed their continuum radio spectra.