The Photometric and Spectroscopic Properties of Remnant and Restarted Radio Galaxies in the Lockman Hole Field

Radio galaxies are known to undergo phases of activity, where the stage after the jets have switched off is referred to as the remnant phase. This state can be followed by a restarted phase when the activity reignites. Remnant and restarted radio sources are important for testing models of the evolution of radio active galactic nuclei (AGN) and for understanding the impact the recurrent jet activity has on their host galaxies. Although we now have statistical samples of radio sources in various stages of their life cycle, how this intermittent radio activity is reflected in the optical properties in this sample has not yet been addressed, and is overall a much less studied aspect in the literature. In this work, we use the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) photometry, and SDSS spectra to study these properties in a sample of the remnant, candidate restarted, and active radio galaxies selected using the LOw Frequency ARray at 150 MHz in the Lockman Hole extragalactic field. Within the range of radio luminosities and stellar masses studied in this work, we find no difference between the properties of the host galaxy and of the optical emission lines for objects in different phases of their radio life cycle. The vast majority of our radio sources (either remnant, candidate restarted, or comparison sample) are associated with radiatively inefficient optical AGN and red galaxies dominated by old stellar populations. Thus, the radio and emission-line AGN activity appears to be independent and regulated by different mechanisms. This suggests that, at least for the radio luminosities of our sample, the life cycle of the radio may depend on intrinsic reasons, such as the stability of the accretion disc, more than variation in the accretion rate and fuelling of the central black hole.

The precision analysis of the Chinese VLBI Network in probe delay measurement

We propose a VLBI precision evaluation method for probe delay measurement, so as to investigate the error contributions from different components in the Chinese VLBI Network (CVN). This method takes the idea of traditional closure delay analysis for distant radio sources. It focuses on the VLBI closure delay only and therefore excludes the influence of probe orbit determination, which makes it very suitable to evaluate the capability of VLBI probe delay measurement. In this paper, we first introduce the principles of closure delay analysis. Then the statistical results of typical CE5 (Chinese Chang'e 5 lunar exploration mission) and HX1 (Chinese Mars exploration mission) observations are presented, including the comparison of the closure delay precisions between CE5 and HX1 for four closed baseline triangles in CVN. According to the result, we realize that, the precision discrepancy between CE5 and HX1 in the closure delay analysis is less than that of residual delay after orbit determination, which reflects the precision level of the VLBI delay measurement.

Weathering the Largest Storms in the Universe: Understanding environmental effects on extended radio emission in clusters

<p>This thesis presents an investigation of the habitat of extended radio sources, and the way in which the generation and properties of these radio sources are affected by environmental factors. We begin with a detailed structure analysis of the 0.3 deg² area of the MUSYC-ACES field, generated by applying a density-based clustering method, known as DBSCAN, to our spectroscopic and photometric samples of the field. As a result, we identify 62 over-dense regions across the field. Based on the properties of the detected structures, we classify 13 as clusters, of which 90% are associated with diffuse soft-band X-ray emission. This provides a strong and independent confirmation that both the clustering and classification methodologies are reliable for use in investigation of the environment of the radio sources in the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS). Using an interpolation-based method followed by a new calibration technique of using clusters of similar mass as standard candles, we are able to estimate the local environmental richness for a desired region. This methodology is applied to a sample of AGNs and star forming galaxies in the CDFS to probe whether or not the radio luminosity of the different radio sources is correlated to their environments. As a result, we do not find a significant correlation between the radio luminosity and the environment of star-forming galaxies and radio-quiet AGNs, however, a weak positive dependency is spotted for radio-loud AGNs. This may indicate that over-populated environments trigger or enhance the radio activity processes in the AGNs. We find that star-forming galaxies, unlike radio-loud AGNs, tend to avoid overpopulated environments especially at low redshifts. However, radio-loud AGN are found in both poor and rich environments. As a result, we find neither of these radio sources suitable for tracing the over-dense regions of the Universe, unlike tailed radio galaxies. It is believed that tailed radio galaxies reside in the dense environments of clusters and groups, and therefore, may be the signatures of overdensities in large-scale structure. To evaluate the idea of using tailed radio galaxies as tracers of dense environments, a systematic study of these sources as a function of density is required. For this reason and by using the 1.4 GHz Australia Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS) data, we examined over four deg² area of the ATLAS-CDFS field, which includes the entire CDFS. We present a catalogue of 56 non-linear, extended, and low surface brightness sources including 45 tailed radio galaxies, two relic candidates, and a possible radio halo. We report the detection of the most distant tailed radio galaxy to date, at a redshift of 2.1688. In addition, despite the lack of deep spectroscopic data in the ATLAS field, we find two of the detected tailed radio galaxies are associated with clusters. We find three Head-Tail galaxy candidates in the CDFS field, all of which are located at high redshifts, where the magnitude constraint of our redshift sample prevents any structure detection. One of the primary objectives of this research is to investigate the association between the morphology of tailed radio galaxies and the physical characteristics of the surrounding environment. In order to understand the role of the variety of factors that influence the radio morphology, we constructed a simple model that generates the overall radio structure of the sources in different habitats. We report the results of the simulation of the wide-angle tail radio galaxy PKS J0334-3900, which shows that both the gravitation interactions and a cluster wind are required to generate the observed radio tails. As a result, we find the morphology of the tailed radio galaxies as an invaluable tool to probe environmental characteristics. In a supplementary study, we investigate the role of cluster dynamics on generation and alternation of extended radio sources. We present a comprehensive structure and sub-structure analysis of the Abell 3266 galaxy cluster. Based on the results of the sub-structure test, position and orientation of a radio relic candidate, and morphology of a prominent tailed radio galaxy in the cluster, we propose an ongoing merger scenario for this chaotic cluster environment. Furthermore, we verify our theory by an N-body simulation of a pre-merger cluster and an in-falling group. The results of the simulation supports our merger scenario by explaining both the orientation of the radio relic and the observed morphology of the tailed radio galaxy. While there is a weak correlation between the luminosity of radio-loud AGNs and environmental density, tailed radio galaxies make superior probes of over-dense regions. Thus, overall we find tailed radio galaxies can be used to trace overdensities out to z ~ 2 and probe the details of the environments in which they are found.</p>

Weathering the Largest Storms in the Universe: Understanding environmental effects on extended radio emission in clusters

<p>This thesis presents an investigation of the habitat of extended radio sources, and the way in which the generation and properties of these radio sources are affected by environmental factors. We begin with a detailed structure analysis of the 0.3 deg² area of the MUSYC-ACES field, generated by applying a density-based clustering method, known as DBSCAN, to our spectroscopic and photometric samples of the field. As a result, we identify 62 over-dense regions across the field. Based on the properties of the detected structures, we classify 13 as clusters, of which 90% are associated with diffuse soft-band X-ray emission. This provides a strong and independent confirmation that both the clustering and classification methodologies are reliable for use in investigation of the environment of the radio sources in the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS). Using an interpolation-based method followed by a new calibration technique of using clusters of similar mass as standard candles, we are able to estimate the local environmental richness for a desired region. This methodology is applied to a sample of AGNs and star forming galaxies in the CDFS to probe whether or not the radio luminosity of the different radio sources is correlated to their environments. As a result, we do not find a significant correlation between the radio luminosity and the environment of star-forming galaxies and radio-quiet AGNs, however, a weak positive dependency is spotted for radio-loud AGNs. This may indicate that over-populated environments trigger or enhance the radio activity processes in the AGNs. We find that star-forming galaxies, unlike radio-loud AGNs, tend to avoid overpopulated environments especially at low redshifts. However, radio-loud AGN are found in both poor and rich environments. As a result, we find neither of these radio sources suitable for tracing the over-dense regions of the Universe, unlike tailed radio galaxies. It is believed that tailed radio galaxies reside in the dense environments of clusters and groups, and therefore, may be the signatures of overdensities in large-scale structure. To evaluate the idea of using tailed radio galaxies as tracers of dense environments, a systematic study of these sources as a function of density is required. For this reason and by using the 1.4 GHz Australia Telescope Large Area Survey (ATLAS) data, we examined over four deg² area of the ATLAS-CDFS field, which includes the entire CDFS. We present a catalogue of 56 non-linear, extended, and low surface brightness sources including 45 tailed radio galaxies, two relic candidates, and a possible radio halo. We report the detection of the most distant tailed radio galaxy to date, at a redshift of 2.1688. In addition, despite the lack of deep spectroscopic data in the ATLAS field, we find two of the detected tailed radio galaxies are associated with clusters. We find three Head-Tail galaxy candidates in the CDFS field, all of which are located at high redshifts, where the magnitude constraint of our redshift sample prevents any structure detection. One of the primary objectives of this research is to investigate the association between the morphology of tailed radio galaxies and the physical characteristics of the surrounding environment. In order to understand the role of the variety of factors that influence the radio morphology, we constructed a simple model that generates the overall radio structure of the sources in different habitats. We report the results of the simulation of the wide-angle tail radio galaxy PKS J0334-3900, which shows that both the gravitation interactions and a cluster wind are required to generate the observed radio tails. As a result, we find the morphology of the tailed radio galaxies as an invaluable tool to probe environmental characteristics. In a supplementary study, we investigate the role of cluster dynamics on generation and alternation of extended radio sources. We present a comprehensive structure and sub-structure analysis of the Abell 3266 galaxy cluster. Based on the results of the sub-structure test, position and orientation of a radio relic candidate, and morphology of a prominent tailed radio galaxy in the cluster, we propose an ongoing merger scenario for this chaotic cluster environment. Furthermore, we verify our theory by an N-body simulation of a pre-merger cluster and an in-falling group. The results of the simulation supports our merger scenario by explaining both the orientation of the radio relic and the observed morphology of the tailed radio galaxy. While there is a weak correlation between the luminosity of radio-loud AGNs and environmental density, tailed radio galaxies make superior probes of over-dense regions. Thus, overall we find tailed radio galaxies can be used to trace overdensities out to z ~ 2 and probe the details of the environments in which they are found.</p>

Radio Morphology of Red Geysers

We present 150 MHz, 1.4 GHz, and 3 GHz radio imaging (LoTSS, FIRST, and VLASS) and spatially resolved ionized gas characteristics (SDSS IV-MaNGA) for 140 local (z < 0.1) early-type red geyser galaxies. These galaxies have a low star formation activity (with a star formation rate, SFR, ∼ 0.01 M ⊙ yr−1), but show unique extended patterns in spatially resolved emission-line maps that have been interpreted as large-scale ionized winds driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN). In this work, we confirm that red geysers host low-luminosity radio sources (L 1.4GHz ∼ 1022 WHz −1). Out of 42 radio-detected red geysers, 32 are spatially resolved in LoTSS and FIRST, with radio sizes varying between ∼5–25 kpc. Three sources have radio sizes exceeding 40 kpc. A majority display a compact radio morphology and are consistent with either low-power compact radio sources (FR0 galaxies) or radio-quiet quasars. They may be powered by small-scale AGN-driven jets that remain unresolved at the current 5″ resolution of radio data. The extended radio sources, not belonging to the “compact” morphological class, exhibit steeper spectra with a median spectral index of −0.67, indicating the dominance of lobed components. The red geysers hosting extended radio sources also have the lowest specific SFRs, suggesting they either have a greater impact on the surrounding interstellar medium or are found in more massive halos on average. The degree of alignment of the ionized wind cone and the extended radio features are either 0° or 90°, indicating possible interaction between the interstellar medium and the central radio AGN.

CHILES VERDES: Radio Variability at an Unprecedented Depth and Cadence in the COSMOS Field

Although it is well established that some extragalactic radio sources are time-variable, the properties of this radio variability, and its connection with host galaxy properties, remain to be explored—particularly for faint sources. Here we present an analysis of radio variable sources from the CHILES Variable and Explosive Radio Dynamic Evolution Survey (CHILES VERDES)—a partner project of the 1.4 GHz COSMOS H i Large Extragalactic Survey. CHILES VERDES provides an unprecedented combination of survey depth, duration, and cadence, with 960 hr of 1–2 GHz continuum VLA data obtained over 209 epochs between 2013 and 2019 in a 0.44 deg2 section of the well-studied extragalactic deep field, COSMOS. We identified 18 moderate-variability sources (showing 10%–30% flux density variation) and 40 lower-variability sources (2%–10% flux density variation). They are mainly active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with radio luminosities in the range of 1022–1027 W Hz−1, based on cross-matching with COSMOS multiwavelength catalogs. The moderate-variability sources span redshifts z = 0.22–1.56, have mostly flat radio spectra (α > −0.5), and vary on timescales ranging from days to years. The lower-variability sources have similar properties, but generally have higher radio luminosities than the moderate-variability sources, extending to z = 2.8, and have steeper radio spectra (α < −0.5). No star-forming galaxy showed statistically significant variability in our analysis. The observed variability likely originates from scintillation on short (∼week) timescales, and Doppler-boosted intrinsic AGN variability on long (month–year) timescales.

A Novel Method for Estimating the Ambient Medium Density Around Distant Radio Sources from Their Observed Radio Spectra

The dynamical evolution and radiative properties of luminous radio galaxies and quasars of the FR II type, are well understood. As a result, through the use of detailed modeling of the observed radio emission of such sources, one can estimate various physical parameters of the systems, including the density of the ambient medium into which the radio structure evolves. This, however, requires rather comprehensive observational information, i.e., sampling the broadband radio continua of the targets at several frequencies, and imaging their radio structures with high resolution. Such observations are, on the other hand, not always available, especially for high-redshift objects. Here, we analyze the best-fit values of the source physical parameters, derived from extensive modeling of the largest currently available sample of FR II radio sources, for which good-quality multiwavelength radio flux measurements could be collected. In the analyzed data set, we notice a significant and nonobvious correlation between the spectral index of the nonthermal radio emission continuum, and density of the ambient medium. We derive the corresponding correlation parameters, and quantify the intrinsic scatter by means of Bayesian analysis. We propose that the discovered correlation could be used as a cosmological tool to estimate the density of ambient medium for large samples of distant radio galaxies. Our method does not require any detailed modeling of individual sources, and relies on limited observational information, namely, the slope of the radio continuum between the rest-frame frequencies 0.4 and 5 GHz, possibly combined with the total linear size of the radio structure.