We present an Integral Field Unit survey of 73 galaxy clusters and groups with the VIsible Multi Object Spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope. We exploit the data to determine the H{alpha} gas dynamics on kpc scales to study the feedback processes occurring within the dense cluster cores. We determine the kinematic state of the ionized gas and show that the majority of systems (~2/3) have relatively ordered velocity fields on kpc scales that are similar to the kinematics of rotating discs and are decoupled from the stellar kinematics of the brightest cluster galaxy. The majority of the H{alpha} flux (>50 per cent) is typically associated with these ordered kinematics and most systems show relatively simple morphologies suggesting they have not been disturbed by a recent merger or interaction. Approximately 20 per cent of the sample (13/73) have disturbed morphologies which can typically be attributed to active galactic nuclei activity disrupting the gas. Only one system shows any evidence of an interaction with another cluster member. A spectral analysis of the gas suggests that the ionization of the gas within cluster cores is dominated by non-stellar processes, possibly originating from the intracluster medium itself.
The completeness of sample is especially important for the research of quasar and using data in one wavelength, such as in radio, infrared, optical or X-ray selection, to make candidate selection always suffers significant selection effect to some extent. Fortunately, some large area surveys have become increasingly prevalent across all wavelengths over the past decade, such as SDSS, NVSS, FIRST, RASS, etc. These surveys make it possible to select candidates in multiple wavelengths and the resulting sample is more complete.
CCD images of the fields of 115 radio sources from the 1Jy, S4 and S5 catalogues are presented. New optical counterparts have been found for a total of 34 sources, a large fraction of which had as yet only been described as empty fields on Sky Survey Plates. Of the 54 radio sources with previously published identifications, 50 optical counterparts have been confirmed while for 4 sources new identifications are proposed. R band magnitudes, derived from the CCD images, are provided for all but a few identified optical counterparts. The fields at the positions of 27 radio sources are still empty down to a limiting magnitude of at least m_R_=22mag, requiring much deeper optical as well as additional infrared images for establishing their optical counterparts.
We investigated the connection between the mid-infrared (MIR) and optical spectral characteristics in a sample of 82 Type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs), observed with Infrared Spectrometer on Spitzer (IRS) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS, DR12). We found several interesting correlations between optical and MIR spectral properties: (i) as starburst significators in MIR increase, the equivalent widths (EWs) of optical lines H{beta}NLR and FeII, increase as well; (ii) as MIR spectral index increases, EW([OIII]) decreases, while fractional contribution of AGN (RAGN) is not connected with EW([OIII]); (iii) The log([OIII]5007/H{beta}NLR) ratio is weakly related to the fractional contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (RPAHs). We compare the two different MIR and optical diagnostics for starburst contribution to the overall radiation (RPAH and Baldwin, Philips & Terlevich diagram, respectively). The significant differences between optical and MIR starburst diagnostics were found. The starburst influence to observed correlations between optical and MIR parameters is discussed.
OH megamasers (OHMs) are rare, luminous molecular masers that are typically observed in (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies and serve as markers of major galaxy mergers. In blind emission line surveys such as the Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (ALFALFA) survey for neutral hydrogen (HI), OHMs at z~0.2 can mimic z~0.05 HI lines. We present the results of optical spectroscopy of ambiguous HI detections in the ALFALFA 40 per cent data release detected by the Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) but with uncertain optical counterparts. The optical redshifts, obtained from observations at the Apache Point Observatory, revealed five new OHMs and identified 129 HI optical counterparts. 60 candidates remain ambiguous. The new OHMs are the first detected in a blind spectral line survey. The number of OHMs in ALFALFA is consistent with predictions from the OH luminosity function. Additionally, the mid-infrared magnitudes and colours of the OHM host galaxies found in a blind survey do not seem to differ from those found in previous targeted surveys. This validates the methods used in previous IR-selected OHM surveys and indicates there is no previously unknown OHM-producing population at z~0.2. We also provide a method for future surveys to separate OH megamasers from 99 per cent of HI line emitters without optical spectroscopy by using WISE infrared colours and magnitudes. Since the fraction of OHMs found in flux-limited HI surveys is expected to increase with the survey's redshift, this selection method can be applied to future flux-limited high-redshift hydrogen surveys.
A number of flat spectrum radio sources have been observed in optical spectroscopy; most of the sources are either classified as BL Lacertae objects or have been described as BL Lac candidates.
The analysis of blazars' parameters from BZCAT leads to a conclusion that they do not have the same properties. The preliminary criterion to include an object in the catalog was the strong radio emission; however, two type of radio sources were selected: BL Lacertae (BLL) objects and Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ). As a number of properties are typical of blazars (strong radio emission, optical variability, continuum optical spectra, polarization, high luminosity, etc.), using the optical data, we investigate them to clarify which property plays the most significant role in their classification as blazars. We found that 60% of blazars have optical variability. We use a technique developed based on POSS1 and POSS2 photometry and group the variability into extreme, strong, medium, and low classes. In the optical range, 51 blazars have powerful variability (extreme variables), and 126 are high variables. In addition, 63% of blazars have detected radiation in X-ray and 28% have detected radiation in gamma rays. We give the average statistical characteristics of blazars based on our analysis and calculations.
