scholarly journals Radio spectral properties of cores and extended regions in blazars in the MHz regime

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (4) ◽  
pp. 5798-5806 ◽  
Author(s):  
D d’Antonio ◽  
M Giroletti ◽  
G Giovannini ◽  
A Maini

ABSTRACT Low-frequency radio surveys allow in-depth studies and new analyses of classes of sources that were previously known and characterized only in other bands. In recent years, low radio frequency observations of blazars have become available as a result of new surveys, such as the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) survey (GLEAM). We search for gamma-ray blazars in a low-frequency (ν < 240 MHz) survey, to characterize the spectral properties of the spatial components. We cross-correlate GLEAM with the fourth catalogue of active galactic nuclei (4LAC) detected by the Fermi satellite. This improves on previous works by using a low-frequency catalogue that is wider and deeper, with a better spectral coverage and the latest and most sensitive gamma-ray source list. Compared with a previous study based on the commissioning survey, the detection rate increased from 35 to 70 per cent. We include data from the Australia Telescope 20-GHz (AT20G) survey in order to extract high-frequency high-angular resolution information about the radio cores of blazars. We find low radio frequency counterparts for 1274 out of 1827 blazars in the range of 72–231 MHz. Blazars have flat spectra at the ∼100-MHz regime, with a mean spectral index α = −0.44 ± 0.01 (assuming Sν ∝ να). Low synchrotron peaked objects have a flatter spectrum than high synchrotron peaked objects. Low frequency radio and gamma-ray emissions show a significant but scattered correlation. The ratio between lobe and core radio emission in gamma-ray blazars is smaller than previously estimated.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 375-375
Author(s):  
Sarah White

AbstractLow-frequency radio emission allows powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN) to be selected in a way that is unaffected by dust obscuration and orientation of the jet axis. It also reveals past activity (e.g. radio lobes) that may not be evident at higher frequencies. Currently, there are too few “radio-loud” galaxies for robust studies in terms of redshift-evolution and/or environment. Hence our use of new observations from the Murchison Widefield Array (the SKA-Low precursor), over the southern sky, to construct the GLEAM 4-Jy Sample (1,860 sources at S151MHz > 4 Jy). This sample is dominated by AGN and is 10 times larger than the heavily relied-upon 3CRR sample (173 sources at S178MHz > 10 Jy) of the northern hemisphere. In order to understand how AGN influence their surroundings and the way galaxies evolve, we first need to correctly identify the galaxy hosting the radio emission. This has now been completed for the GLEAM 4-Jy Sample – through repeated visual inspection and extensive checks against the literature – forming a valuable, legacy dataset for investigating relativistic jets and their interplay with the environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 497 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Annuar ◽  
D M Alexander ◽  
P Gandhi ◽  
G B Lansbury ◽  
D Asmus ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) observations of four active galactic nuclei (AGNs) located within 15 Mpc. These AGNs, namely ESO 121-G6, NGC 660, NGC 3486, and NGC 5195, have observed X-ray luminosities of L2–10 keV,obs ≲ 1039 erg s−1, classifying them as low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN). We perform broad-band X-ray spectral analysis for the AGN by combining our NuSTAR data with Chandra or XMM–Newton observations to directly measure their column densities (NH) and infer their intrinsic power. We complement our X-ray data with archival and new high-angular resolution mid-infrared (mid-IR) data for all objects, except NGC 5195. Based on our X-ray spectral analysis, we found that both ESO 121-G6 and NGC 660 are heavily obscured (NH > 1023 cm−2; L2–10 keV,int ∼ 1041 erg s−1), and NGC 660 may be Compton thick. We also note that the X-ray flux and spectral slope for ESO 121-G6 have significantly changed over the last decade, indicating significant changes in the obscuration and potentially accretion rate. On the other hand, NGC 3486 and NGC 5195 appear to be unobscured and just mildly obscured, respectively, with L2–10 keV,int < 1039 erg s−1, i.e. genuine LLAGN. Both of the heavily obscured AGNs have Lbol > 1041 erg s−1 and λEdd ≳ 10−3, and are detected in high-angular resolution mid-IR imaging, indicating the presence of obscuring dust on nuclear scale. NGC 3486, however, is undetected in high-resolution mid-IR imaging, and the current data do not provide stringent constraints on the presence or absence of obscuring nuclear dust in the AGN.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1695-1706
Author(s):  
G. S. BISNOVATYI-KOGAN

Many quasars and active galactic nuclei are connected with long, thin jets. When observed with high angular resolution, these jets show a structure with bright knots separated by relatively dark regions. We consider magnetic collimation, connected with torsional oscillations of a cylinder with elongated magnetic field, and periodically distributed initial rotation around the cylinder axis. The stabilizing azimuthal magnetic field is created here by torsional oscillations. An approximate, simplified model is developed. The parameters for which jets may be stabilized by torsional oscillations are estimated quantitatively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S304) ◽  
pp. 225-226
Author(s):  
Daniel Asmus ◽  
Sebastian F. Hönig ◽  
Poshak Gandhi ◽  
Alain Smette ◽  
Wolfgang J. Duschl

AbstractWe present the largest mid-infrared (MIR) atlas of active galactic nuclei at sub-arcsec spatial scales containing 253 objects with a median redshift of 0.016. It comprises all available ground-based high-angular resolution MIR observations performed to date with 8-meter class telescopes and includes 895 photometric measurements. All types of AGN are present in the atlas, which also includes 80 per cent of the 9-month BAT AGN sample. Therefore, this atlas and its subsamples are very well-suited for AGN unification studies. A first application of the atlas is the extension of the MIR–X-ray luminosity correlation for AGN.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 988-989
Author(s):  
D.L. Jones ◽  
K.W. Weiler

AbstractThe radio sky at frequencies of several MHz and below is essentially unexplored with high angular resolution due to refraction and opacity in the Earth’s ionosphere. An interferometer array in space providing arcminute resolution images would allow a wide range of problems in solar, planetary, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy to be attacked. These include the evolution of solar and planetary radio bursts, interplanetary and interstellar scintillation, the distribution of low energy cosmic rays and diffuse ionized hydrogen in our galaxy, the determination of spectral turnover frequencies and magnetic field strengths in galactic and extragalactic radio sources, searches for “fossil” radio galaxies which are no longer detectable by high frequency surveys, and searches for new sources of coherent radio emission. In addition, it is likely that unexpected objects and emission processes will be discovered by such an instrument, as has often happened when high resolution observations first become possible in a new spectral region. The Moon can provide shielding from terrestrial interference (and from the Sun half of the time) and consequently the lunar farside surface offers an ideal site of a low frequency radio array.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 517-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Murata ◽  
Nanako Mochizuki ◽  
Hirofumi Saito ◽  
Hisashi Hirabayashi ◽  
Makoto Inoue ◽  
...  

AbstractThe first dedicated space-VLBI project, the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP), commenced with the successful launch of radio-astronomical satellite HALCA in 1997. Plans for a second generation space-VLBI project have been made by a working group over a number of years. This project, VSOP-2, has now been approved by Japan's space agency, JAXA, as the ASTRO-G project. It is planned for the spacecraft to observe in the 8, 22 and 43 GHz bands with cooled receivers for the two higher bands, which include important maser lines. It will have a maximum angular resolution at 43 GHz (7 mm) of about 40 micro-arcseconds. Although the VSOP project mainly observed continuum emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN), VSOP-2/ASTRO-G is expected to enable a variety of high angular resolution maser line observations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A74 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Retana-Montenegro ◽  
H. J. A. Röttgering ◽  
T. W. Shimwell ◽  
R. J. van Weeren ◽  
I. Prandoni ◽  
...  

We have conducted a deep survey (with a central rms of 55 μJy) with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) at 120–168 MHz of the Boötes field, with an angular resolution of 3.98″ × 6.45″, and obtained a sample of 10 091 radio sources (5σ limit) over an area of 20 deg2. The astrometry and flux scale accuracy of our source catalog is investigated. The resolution bias, incompleteness and other systematic effects that could affect our source counts are discussed and accounted for. The derived 150 MHz source counts present a flattening below sub-mJy flux densities, that is in agreement with previous results from high- and low- frequency surveys. This flattening has been argued to be due to an increasing contribution of star-forming galaxies and faint active galactic nuclei. Additionally, we use our observations to evaluate the contribution of cosmic variance to the scatter in source counts measurements. The latter is achieved by dividing our Boötes mosaic into 10 non-overlapping circular sectors, each one with an approximate area of 2 deg2. The counts in each sector are computed in the same way as done for the entire mosaic. By comparing the induced scatter with that of counts obtained from depth observations scaled to 150 MHz, we find that the 1σ scatter due to cosmic variance is larger than the Poissonian errors of the source counts, and it may explain the dispersion from previously reported depth source counts at flux densities S <  1 mJy. This work demonstrates the feasibility of achieving deep radio imaging at low-frequencies with LOFAR.


1998 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 37-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.P. Krichbaum ◽  
A. Kraus ◽  
K. Otterbein ◽  
S. Britzen ◽  
A. Witzel ◽  
...  

AbstractWe report new results from high frequency (22-86 GHz) VLBI monitoring observations of selected blazars. These Gamma-bright sources show pronounced correlated flux density variations over the full electromagnetic spectrum (radio to Gamma-ray bands). From our high-angular resolution images (0.1-0.2 mas), we find increasing evidence for a tight correlation between this activity and the production of new jet components. Here we present results for the 3 sources PKS 0528+134, 3C 273, & 0836+710.


1989 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 535-536
Author(s):  
V. S. Artyukh

Self-absorption of synchrotron radiation in compact radio sources gives rise to a low-frequency cutoff in their spectra. To study this effect it is necessary to observe the radio sources at meter wavelengths with angular resolution < 1″. Such observations of compact radio sources located in active galactic nuclei lead to estimates of magnetic field strengths and relativistic electron number densities in the AGNs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (1) ◽  
pp. 923-940
Author(s):  
R Chhetri ◽  
A Kimball ◽  
R D Ekers ◽  
E K Mahony ◽  
E M Sadler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Past studies of compact active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the dominant population at high radio frequencies, selected them using flat spectral index criteria. This biases the sample due to the steepening of AGN spectra at high radio frequencies. We improve upon this by selecting 3610 compact AGNs using their angular size information ($\lesssim$0.15 arcsec scale) from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz (AT20G) high-angular resolution catalogue. We cross-match these against the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer AllWISE catalogue and present a catalogue with 3300 (91 per cent) matches, 91 (3 per cent) rejects, and 219 (6 per cent) non-detections that are excellent high-redshift candidates. Of the matched compact AGNs, 92 per cent exhibit QSO mid-infrared colours (W1−W2 &gt; 0.5). Therefore, our sample of high frequency compact sources has a very high rate of identification with mid-infrared QSOs. We find counterparts for 88 per cent of 387 compact steep-spectrum (CSS) sources in the AT20G survey, 82 ± 5 per cent of which exhibit QSO mid-infrared colours and have moderate redshifts (zmedian = 0.82), while those dominated by host galaxy colours in mid-infrared have lower redshifts (zmedian = 0.13). The latter classified into late- and early-type galaxies using their mid-infrared colours shows a majority (68 ± 4 per cent) have colours characteristic of late-type galaxies. Thus, we find that a larger fraction of these CSS sources are embedded in hosts with higher gas densities than average early-type galaxies. We compare mid-infrared colours of our AGNs against those reported for AGNs primarily selected using non-radio techniques. This shows that mid-infrared SED of high frequency selected compact radio AGN is comparatively less red, possibly due to contributions from their hosts.


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