We have conducted a deep survey (rms noise ~=17{mu}Jy) with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 1.4GHz, with a resolution of 6arcsec, of a 1{deg}^2^ region included in the VIRMOS VLT Deep Survey. In the same field we already have multiband photometry down to I_AB_=25, and spectroscopic observations will be obtained during the VIRMOS VLT survey. The homogeneous sensitivity over the whole field has allowed to derive a complete sample of 1054 radio sources (5{sigma} limit). We give a detailed description of the data reduction and of the analysis of the radio observations, with particular care to the effects of clean bias and bandwidth smearing, and of the methods used to obtain the catalogue of radio sources. To estimate the effect of the resolution bias on our observations we have modelled the effective angular-size distribution of the sources in our sample and we have used this distribution to simulate a sample of radio sources. Finally we present the radio count distribution down to 0.08mJy derived from the catalogue. Our counts are in good agreement with the best fit derived from earlier surveys, and are about 50% higher than the counts in the HDF. The radio count distribution clearly shows, with extremely good statistics, the change in the slope for the sub-mJy radio sources.
The authors of this table conducted a deep survey (rms noise ~ 17 microJansky or uJy) with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 1.4 GHz, with a resolution of 6 arcseconds, of a 1 deg<sup>2</sup> region included in the VIRMOS VLT Deep Survey that is centered at RA and Dec (J2000.0) of 02 26 00, -04 30 00, hereafter the VLA-VIRMOS Deep Field, or VLA-VDF. In the same field, they already had multiband photometry down to I<sub>AB</sub> = 25, and spectroscopic observations were to be obtained during the VIRMOS VLT survey. The homogeneous sensitivity over the whole field allowed them to derive a complete sample of 1054 radio sources (5-sigma limit) down to a limit of 0.08 mJy. In their paper, the authors give a detailed description of the data reduction and of the analysis of the radio observations, with particular care to the effects of clean bias and bandwidth smearing, and of the methods used to obtain the catalog of radio sources. To estimate the effect of the resolution bias on their observations, they have modeled the effective angular-size distribution of the sources in their sample and they have used this distribution to simulate a sample of radio sources. Finally, they present the radio count distribution down to 0.08 mJy derived from the catalog. Their counts are in good agreement with the best fit derived from earlier surveys, and are about 50% higher than the counts in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF). The radio count distribution clearly shows, with extremely good statistics, the change in the slope for the sub-mJy radio sources. 19 of the 1054 radio sources were fitted with multiple components. In such cases, the authors list in the catalog an entry for each of the components, identified with a trailing letter (A, B, C or D) in the source name, and an entry for the whole source, identified with a trailing T in the source name. In these cases the total flux was calculated using the task TVSTAT, which allows the integration of the map values over irregular areas, and the sizes are the largest angular sizes. Thus, this catalog contains 1103 entries on 1054 sources, including 49 entries on individual components of composite sources. This table was created by the HEASARC in February 2012 based on <a href="https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/ftp/cats/J/A+A/403/857">CDS Catalog J/A+A/403/857</a> file catalog.dat. This is a service provided by NASA HEASARC .
VLA/VLBA obscured radio-loud active galactic nuclei
Short Name:
J/AJ/151/74
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
This is the second paper directed toward finding new highly redshifted atomic and molecular absorption lines at radio frequencies. To this end, we selected a sample of 80 candidates for obscured radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and presented their basic optical/near-infrared (NIR) properties in Yan et al. 2012AJ....144..124Y. In this paper, we present both high-resolution radio continuum images for all of these sources and H I 21 cm absorption spectroscopy for a few selected sources in this sample. A-configuration 4.9 and 8.5 GHz Very Large Array continuum observations find that 52 sources are compact or have substantial compact components with size <0.5" and flux densities >0.1 Jy at 4.9 GHz. The 36 most compact sources were then observed with the Very Long Baseline Array at 1.4 GHz. One definite and 10 candidate Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs) are newly identified, which is a detection rate of CSOs ~three times higher than the detection rate previously found in purely flux-limited samples. Based on possessing compact components with high flux densities, 60 of these sources are good candidates for absorption-line searches. Twenty-seven sources were observed for H I 21 cm absorption at their photometric or spectroscopic redshifts with only six detections (five definite and one tentative). However, five of these were from a small subset of six CSOs with pure galaxy optical/NIR spectra (i.e., any AGN emission is obscured) and for which accurate spectroscopic redshifts place the redshifted 21 cm line in a radio frequency intereference (RFI)-free spectral "window" (i.e., the percentage of H I 21 cm absorption-line detections could be as high as ~90% in this sample). It is likely that the presence of ubiquitous RFI and the absence of accurate spectroscopic redshifts preclude H I detections in similar sources (only 1 detection out of the remaining 22 sources observed, 13 of which have only photometric redshifts); that is, H I absorption may well be present but is masked by the RFI. Future searches for highly redshifted H I and molecular absorption can easily find more distant CSOs among bright, "blank field" radio sources, but will be severely hampered by an inability to determine accurate spectroscopic redshifts due to their lack of rest-frame UV continuum.
VLA XMM Large Scale Structure Field 74-MHz Source Catalog
Short Name:
VLAXL74MHZ
Date:
21 Feb 2025
Publisher:
NASA/GSFC HEASARC
Description:
The XMM Large Scale Structure survey (XMM-LSS) is an X-ray survey aimed at studying the large scale structure of the Universe. The XMM-LSS field (centered at RA (J2000) = 02<sup>h</sup> 24<sup>m</sup> 00.27<sup>s</sup>, Dec (J2000) = -04<sup>o</sup> 09' 47.6") is currently being followed up using observations across a wide range of wavelengths, and in their paper the authors present the observational results of a low frequency radio survey of the XMM-LSS field using the Very Large Array at 74 and 325 MHz. This survey will map out the locations of the extragalactic radio sources relative to the large scale structure as traced by the X-ray emission. This is of particular interest because radio galaxies and radio-loud AGN show strong and complex interactions with their small and larger scale environment, and different classes of radio galaxies are suggested to lie at different places with respect to the large scale structure. For the phase calibration of the radio data, the authors used standard self-calibration at 325 MHz and field-base calibration at 74 MHz. Polyhedron-based imaging as well as mosaicking methods were used at both frequencies. At 74 MHz, the resolution was 30 arcseconds, the median 5-sigma sensitivity was ~ 162 mJy/beam and 666 sources were detected over an area of 132 square degrees. At 325 MHz, the resolution was 6.7 arcseconds, the median 5-sigma sensitivity was 4 mJy/beam, and 847 sources were detected over an area of 15.3 square degrees. At 325 MHz, a region of diffuse radio emission which is a cluster halo or relic candidate was detected. The observations were conducted using the VLA in July 2003 in the A-configuration (most extended) and in June 2002 in the B-configuration. This table contains the VLA 74-MHz source list, comprising 617 single sources and 108 components of 51 multiple sources, for a total of 725 entries. (Notice that, in Section 4.3 of the reference paper, somewhat different numbers are given, i.e., the authors quote 615 single sources). For the multiple sources, each component (A, B, etc.) is listed separately, in order of decreasing brightness. This table was created by the HEASARC in March 2012 based on <a href="https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/ftp/cats/J/A+A/456/791">CDS Catalog J/A+A/456/791</a> file tablea2.dat. This is a service provided by NASA HEASARC .
VLA XMM Large Scale Structure Field 325-MHz Source Catalog
Short Name:
VLAXL325MH
Date:
21 Feb 2025
Publisher:
NASA/GSFC HEASARC
Description:
The XMM Large Scale Structure survey (XMM-LSS) is an X-ray survey aimed at studying the large scale structure of the Universe. The XMM-LSS field (centered at RA (J2000) = 02<sup>h</sup> 24<sup>m</sup> 00.27<sup>s</sup>, Dec (J2000) = -04<sup>o</sup> 09' 47.6") is currently being followed up using observations across a wide range of wavelengths, and in their paper the authors present the observational results of a low frequency radio survey of the XMM-LSS field using the Very Large Array at 74 and 325 MHz. This survey will map out the locations of the extragalactic radio sources relative to the large scale structure as traced by the X-ray emission. This is of particular interest because radio galaxies and radio-loud AGN show strong and complex interactions with their small and larger scale environment, and different classes of radio galaxies are suggested to lie at different places with respect to the large scale structure. For the phase calibration of the radio data, the authors used standard self-calibration at 325 MHz and field-base calibration at 74 MHz. Polyhedron-based imaging as well as mosaicking methods were used at both frequencies. At 74 MHz, the resolution was 30 arcseconds, the median 5-sigma sensitivity was ~ 162 mJy/beam and 666 sources were detected over an area of 132 square degrees. At 325 MHz, the resolution was 6.7 arcseconds, the median 5-sigma sensitivity was 4 mJy/beam, and 847 sources were detected over an area of 15.3 square degrees. At 325 MHz, a region of diffuse radio emission which is a cluster halo or relic candidate was detected. The observations were conducted using the VLA in July 2003 in the A-configuration (most extended) and in June 2002 in the B-configuration. This table contains the VLA 325-MHz source list, comprising 605 single sources and 615 components of 237 multiple sources, for a total of 1220 entries. (Notice that, in Section 4.1 of the reference paper, somewhat different numbers are given, i.e., the authors quote 621 single sources and 226 multiple sources). For the multiple sources, each component (A, B, etc.) is listed separately, in order of decreasing brightness. This table was created by the HEASARC in March 2012 based on <a href="https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/ftp/cats/J/A+A/456/791">CDS Catalog J/A+A/456/791</a> file tablea1.dat. This is a service provided by NASA HEASARC .
We present the analysis of the radio jet evolution of the radio galaxy 3C 120 during a period of prolonged {gamma}-ray activity detected by the Fermi satellite between 2012 December and 2014 October. We find a clear connection between the {gamma}-ray and radio emission, such that every period of {gamma}-ray activity is accompanied by the flaring of the millimeter very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) core and subsequent ejection of a new superluminal component. However, not all ejections of components are associated with {gamma}-ray events detectable by Fermi. Clear {gamma}-ray detections are obtained only when components are moving in a direction closer to our line of sight. This suggests that the observed {gamma}-ray emission depends not only on the interaction of moving components with the millimeter VLBI core, but also on their orientation with respect to the observer. Timing of the {gamma}-ray detections and ejection of superluminal components locate the {gamma}-ray production to within ~0.13pc from the millimeter VLBI core, which was previously estimated to lie about 0.24pc from the central black hole. This corresponds to about twice the estimated extension of the broad line region, limiting the external photon field and therefore suggesting synchrotron self Compton as the most probable mechanism for the production of the {gamma}-ray emission. Alternatively, the interaction of components with the jet sheath can provide the necessary photon field to produced the observed {gamma}-rays by Compton scattering.
The canonical methods for gravitational wave detection are ground- and space- based laser interferometry, pulsar timing, and polarization of the cosmic microwave background. But as has been suggested by numerous investigators, astrometry offers an additional path to gravitational wave detection. Gravitational waves deflect light rays of extragalactic objects, creating apparent proper motions in a quadrupolar (and higher-order modes) pattern. Astrometry of extragalactic radio sources is sensitive to gravitational waves with frequencies between roughly 10^-18^ and 10^-8^Hz (H_0_ and 1/3yr^-1^), overlapping and bridging the pulsar timing and CMB polarization regimes. We present a methodology for astrometric gravitational wave detection in the presence of large intrinsic uncorrelated proper motions (i.e., radio jets). We obtain 95% confidence limits on the stochastic gravitational wave background using 711 radio sources, {Omega}_GW_<0.0064, and using 508 radio sources combined with the first Gaia data release: {Omega}_GW_<0.011. These limits probe gravitational wave frequencies 6x10^-18^Hz<~f<~1x10^-9^Hz. Using a WISE-Gaia catalog of 567721 AGN, we predict a limit expected from Gaia alone of {Omega}_GW_<0.0006, which is significantly higher than was originally forecast. Incidentally, we detect and report on 22 new examples of optical superluminal motion with redshifts 0.13-3.89.
A catalog containing milli-arcsecond-accurate positions of 1332 extragalactic radio sources distributed over the northern sky is presented - the Very Long Baseline Array Calibrator Survey (VCS1). The positions have been derived from astrometric analysis of dual-frequency 2.3 and 8.4 GHz VLBA snapshot observations; in a majority of cases, images of the sources are also available. These radio sources are suitable for use in geodetic and astrometric experiments, and as phase-reference calibrators in high-sensitivity astronomical imaging. The VCS1 is the largest high-resolution radio survey ever undertaken and triples the number of sources available to the radio astronomy community for VLBI applications. In addition to the astrometric role, this survey can be used in active galactic nuclei, Galactic, gravitational lens, and cosmological studies.
We used the Very Long Baseline Array and the European VLBI Network to perform phase-referenced very long baseline interferometry observations of the three most powerful maser transitions associated with the high-mass star-forming region G28.87+0.07: the 22.2GHz H_2_O, 6.7GHz CH_3_OH, and 1.665GHz OH lines. We also performed Very Large Array (VLA) observations of the radio continuum emission at 1.3 and 3.6cm and Subaru observations of the continuum emission at 24.5{mu}m. Two centimeter-continuum sources are detected and one of them (named hot molecular core (HMC)) is compact and placed at the center of the observed distribution of H_2_O, CH_3_OH, and OH masers. The bipolar distribution of line-of-sight velocities and the pattern of the proper motions suggest that the water masers are driven by a (proto)stellar jet interacting with the dense circumstellar gas. The same jet could both excite the centimeter-continuum source named HMC (interpreted as free-free emission from shocked gas) and power the molecular outflow observed at larger scales--although one cannot exclude that the free-free continuum is rather originating from a hypercompact H II region. At 24.5{mu}m, we identify two objects separated along the north-south direction, whose absolute positions agree with those of the two VLA continuum sources. We establish that ~90% of the luminosity of the region (~2x10^5^L_{sun}_) is coming from the radio source HMC, which confirms the existence of an embedded massive young stellar object exciting the masers and possibly still undergoing heavy accretion from the surrounding envelope.
The radio properties of blazars detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have been observed contemporaneously by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). In total, 232 sources were observed with the VLBA. Ninety sources that were previously observed as part of the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS) have been included in the sample, as well as 142 sources not found in VIPS. This very large, 5GHz flux-limited sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provides insights into the mechanism that produces strong {gamma}-ray emission. In particular, we see that {gamma}-ray emission is related to strong, uniform magnetic fields in the cores of the host AGN. Included in this sample are non-blazar AGNs such as 3C84, M82, and NGC 6251. For the blazars, the total VLBA radio flux density at 5GHz correlates strongly with {gamma}-ray flux. The LAT BL Lac objects tend to be similar to the non-LAT BL Lac objects, but the LAT flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) are significantly different from the non-LAT FSRQs. Strong core polarization is significantly more common among the LAT sources, and core fractional polarization appears to increase during LAT detection.