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At least 883 records · Page 49

Far-infrared emission from dusty ellipticals

The incidence of dust lanes in elliptical galaxies has been estimated at approx. 40 percent by Sadler and Gerhard (1985), although the observed fraction is lower because of inclination effects. A similar percentage of ellipticals has been detected by the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) at 100 microns (Knapp et al. 1989); these have far-infrared colors expected for emission from cool dust (S sub 60 micron/S sub 100 micron approx. 1/3). For the far-infrared detected galaxies, neither L sub 100 microns/L sub B nor L sub 60 microns/L sub 100 microns are very dependent on dust content, suggesting that the source of the infrared luminosity is the same in both cases; and hence that dust is responsible even when not detected optically. Despite this indication, L sub 100 microns does not prove to be a good indicator of the quantity of cool interstellar matter in elliptical galaxies, as measured by the mass of neutral hydrogen. There even exist several examples of ellipticals with dust, strong 100 micron flux density and sensitive limits on HI mass (Walsh et al. in preparation). Chief reasons for the lack of correlation include the existence of other important sources of far-IR power in ellipticals, such as nonthermal continuum emission extending from longer wavelengths in flat spectrum radio sources (Golombek, Miley and Neugebauer 1988); and the fact that far-infrared luminosity per unit dust mass is extremely sensitive to the temperature of the ambient radiation field, which is not accurately known. In addition to having their appearance distorted by dust, several ellipticals also show such features as shells, box-shaped isophotes or inner disks. These may be signatures of past mergers, which could also add to the ISM content of the system.

Walsh, Duncan↗

VLBI survey of Rho Ophiuchi - A population of magnetized, diskless young stellar objects

Results are reported of VLBI observations of nine Rho Oph YSOs, which yield positive detections in five cases, with flux densities ranging from 1.2 to 9 mJy at 3.6 cm. In contrast, while simultaneously detected by the VLA at levels of a few mJy, the protostellar outflow source IRAS 16293 and the 'protostar' candidate YLW 15 were overresolved and undetected on the Goldstone-VLA baseline. The radio emission from the young A star VSSG 14 was measured to be circularly polarized, at a level comparable to what had previously been observed for the embedded magnetic B star S1. The brightness temperatures measured for the VLBI-detected TSOs range from about 10 exp 7 to greater than about 8 x 10 exp 7 J, unambiguously establishing that these radio sources are nonthermal, and not the result of circumstellar ionized winds as is probably the case for IRAS 16293 and YLW 15.

Andre, Philippe↗

High-Frequency Observations of Blazars

We report on the results of high-frequency VLBA observations of 42 gamma-ray bright blazars monitored at 22 and 43 GHz between 1993.9 and 1997.6. In 1997 the observations included polarization-sensitive imaging. The cores of gamma-ray blazars are only weakly polarized, with EVPAs (electric-vector position angles) usually within 40 deg of the local direction of the jet. The EVPAs of the jet components are usually within 20 deg of the local jet direction. The apparent speeds of the gamma-ray bright blazars are considerably faster than in the general population of bright compact radio sources. Two X-ray flares (observed with RXTE) of the quasar PKS 1510-089 appear to be related to radio flares, but with the radio leading the X-ray variations by about 2 weeks. This can be explained either by synchrotron self-Compton emission in a component whose variations are limited by light travel time or by the Mirror Compton model.

Marscher, A. P.↗

A Preliminary Detection of Arcminute Scale Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy with the BIMA Array

We have used the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland-Association (BIMA) array outfitted with sensitive cm-wave receivers to expand our search for minute scale anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The interferometer was placed in a compact configuration to obtain high brightness sensitivity on arcminute scales over its 6.6' FWHM field of view. The sensitivity of this experiment to flat band power peaks at a multipole of 1 = 5530 which corresponds to an angular scale of -2'. We present the analysis of a total of 470 hours of on-source integration time on eleven independent fields which were selected based on their low IR contrast and lack of bright radio sources. Applying a Bayesian analysis to the visibility data, we find CMB anisotropy flat band power Q_flat = 6.1(+2.8/-4.8) microKelvin at 68% confidence. The confidence of a nonzero signal is 76% and we find an upper limit of Q_flat < 12.4 microKelvin at 95% confidence. We have supplemented our BIMA observations with concurrent observations at 4.8 GHz with the VLA to search for and remove point sources. We find the point sources make an insignificant contribution to the observed anisotropy.

Dawson, K. S.↗

ROSAT Observations of a Complete Nearby Sample of Low Luminosity Radio Galaxies

We are studying the X-ray emission in a sample of nearby radio galaxies. The X-rays probe several important components: (1) the active galactic nuclei; (2) the interstellar medium of the host galaxy; and (3) the intergalactic or intracluster medium through which the jets propagate. The interaction of the radio plasma with the hot ambient gas will allow us to constrain the properties of the environments and the energetics of the radio source propagation. We have made excellent progress reducing the ROSAT new and archival data on our complete sample of nearby radio galaxies. The data reduction has taken longer than originally anticipated because we have identified bubbles of x-ray emission around many of the central galaxies and we have been exploring many different methodologies for assuring the results are robust before we publish and complete our interpretation. We have now begun the final phases of the work, with a draft paper under construction and a planned for submission date of early 2001. This work comprises 1/3 of the thesis work of a graduate student and will be the final phase in the completion of the thesis.

Baum, Stefi↗

High-Frequency Observations of Blazars

We report on the results of high-frequency VLBA observations of 42 gamma ray bright blazars monitored at 22 and 43 GHz between 1993.9 and 1997-6. In 1997 the observations included polarization-sensitive imaging. The cores of gamma ray blazars are only weakly polarized, with EVPAs (electric-vector position angles) usually within 40 degrees of the local direction of the jet. The EVPAs of the jet components are usually within 20 degrees of the local jet direction. The apparent speeds of the gamma ray bright blazars are considerably faster than in the general population of bright compact radio sources. Two X-ray flares (observed with RXTE) of the quasar PKS 1510-089 appear to be related to radio flares, but with the radio leading the X-ray variations by about 2 weeks. This can be explained either by synchrotron self-Compton emission in a component whose variations are limited by light travel time or by the Mirror Compton model.

Marscher, A. P.↗

Direction-Finding Analysis of the 2012 July 6 Type II Solar Radio Burst at Low Frequencies

The 2012 July 6 X1.1 are at S13W59 and a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) with a space speed of 1900 km s1 were associated with type III and type II radio bursts. The metric-to-decametric type II radio burst extended down to 5 MHz. Simultaneously a slowly drifting feature with a harmonic structure was observed by Wind and STEREO radio receivers around and below 1 MHz, above the strong type III radio burst at lower frequencies. The radio direction finding analysis of this lower-frequency interplanetary (IP) type II radio burst indicates that the radio source was located near the nose and possibly towards the southern flank of the CME-driven shock. These results provide an independent confirmation of the previous suggestions that when the metric and IP type II bursts are overlapping, the lower-frequency IP type II radio burst originates near the shock nose, whereas the source of the higher-frequency metric type II burst is closer to the Sun in the shock flank region. These results further support the idea that the coronal and IP type II bursts are produced by the same CME-driven shock.

Makela, Pertti↗

Establishing a celestial VLBI reference frame. 1: Searching for VLBI sources

The Deep Space Network is currently engaged in establishing a new high-accuracy VLBI celestial reference frame. The present status of the task of finding suitable celestial radio sources for constructing this reference frame is discussed. To date, 564 VLBI sources were detected, with 166 of these lying within 10 deg of the ecliptic plane. The variation of the sky distribution of these sources with source strength is examined.

Preston, R. A.↗

NGC 2024: Far-infrared and radio molecular observations

Far infrared continuum and millimeter wave molecular observations are presented for the infrared and radio source NGC 2024. The measurements are obtained at relatively high angular resolution, enabling a description of the source energetics and mass distribution in greater detail than previously reported. The object appears to be dominated by a dense ridge of material, extended in the north/south direction and centered on the dark lane that is seen in visual photographs. Maps of the source using the high density molecules CS and HCN confirm this picture and allow a description of the core structure and molecular abundances. The radio molecular and infrared observations support the idea that an important exciting star in NGC 2024 has yet to be identified and is centered on the dense ridge about 1' south of the bright mid infrared source IRS 2. The data presented here allows a presentation of a model for the source.

Thronson, H. A., Jr.↗

NEW CONSTRAINTS ON THE GALACTIC HALO MAGNETIC FIELD USING ROTATION MEASURES OF EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES TOWARD THE OUTER GALAXY

We present a study of the Milky Way disk and halo magnetic field, determined from observations of Faraday rotation measure (RM) toward 641 polarized extragalactic radio sources in the Galactic longitude range 100 Degree-Sign -117 Degree-Sign , within 30 Degree-Sign of the Galactic plane. For |b| < 15 Degree-Sign , we observe a symmetric RM distribution about the Galactic plane. This is consistent with a disk field in the Perseus arm of even parity across the Galactic mid-plane. In the range 15 Degree-Sign < |b| < 30 Degree-Sign , we find median RMs of -15 {+-} 4 rad m{sup -2} and -62 {+-} 5 rad m{sup -2} in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres, respectively. If the RM distribution is a signature of the large-scale field parallel to the Galactic plane, then this suggests that the halo magnetic field toward the outer Galaxy does not reverse direction across the mid-plane. The variation of RM as a function of Galactic latitude in this longitude range is such that RMs become more negative at larger |b|. This is consistent with an azimuthal magnetic field of strength 2 {mu}G (7 {mu}G) at a height 0.8-2 kpc above (below) the Galactic plane between the local and the Perseus spiral arm. We propose that the Milky Way could possess spiral-like halo magnetic fields similar to those observed in M51.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

An upper limit to the low-energy X-ray flux from beta Persei

A region of the sky including the binary system Algol (beta Persei) was observed with a one-dimensional, grazing-incidence X-ray telescope sensitive in the energy range from 0.5 to 4.0 keV. No statistically significant flux was detected above that attributable to the diffuse and cosmic-ray induced backgrounds. This result allows an upper limit of .02 billionths of an erg/sq cm sec keV at 1.6 keV to be set for the X-ray emission from this source at the epoch of observation. The absence of detectable low-energy X-rays is consistent with a thermal radio source, on condition that no flares occurred at the time of observation.

Kifune, T.↗

Very long baseline interferometric observations made with an orbiting radio telescope

An orbiting spacecraft and ground observatories have been used to obtain interferometric observations of cosmic radio sources. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) was used as the orbiting observatory in conjunction with two 64-meter radio telescopes at ground observatories, one in Australia and one in Japan. The quasars 1730-130 (NRAO 530), 1510-089, and 1741-038 were observed at a frequency of 2.3 gigahertz, and a maximum projected baseline of 1.4 earth diameters was achieved. All quasar observations for which valid data were acquired resulted in detected fringes. Many of the techniques proposed for a dedicated very long baseline interferometry observatory in space were used successfully in this experiment.

Levy, G. S.↗

G0.18-0.04 - Interaction of thermal and nonthermal radio structures in the arc near the galactic center

Using a high-resolution radio-continuum image made at a frequency of 4.8 GHz, the radio source G0.18-0.04 located at the intersection of the galactic center Arc with the galactic plane is discussed. In this direction, the radio Arc is composed of a set of linear, nonthermal filamentary structures superimposed on a narrow, sickle-shaped, thermal feature which crosses them. The radio image suggests a physical interaction between the thermal and nonthermal structures. It is argued that the magnetic field is dynamically important and that its strength is estimated to be very large (0.001 G). Furthermore, it is suggested that the ionization of G0.18-0.04 is caused by collisional ionization rather than ultraviolet photons from massive stars. The discussion presents possible ways in which some of the energy of the relativistc particles or the magnetic field in the nonthermal filaments might be extracted to ionize ambient gas in the galactic plane.

Yusef-Zadeh, Farhad↗

A gravitational lens candidate with an unusually red optical counterpart

The properties of the strong radio source MG0414 + 0534 are described. It is found to display many of the properties expected in a gravitational lens system. At radio wavelengths and 0.5-arcsec resolution, MG0414 + 0534 is made up of four compact components whose unusual configuration and relative flux densities are similar to those found in confirmed four-image gravitational lens systems. At optical wavelengths three objects are detected, consistent with there being optical objects at the positions of the radio components, given the lower optical resolution. The radio and optical centroid positions agree within the astrometric errors, and the relative ordering of the fluxes is the same. The colors and radiooptical spectral indices are similar, but there are differences larger than the photometric errors and the measured variability (about 30 percent). Extinction by dust might simultaneously explain the unusually red color and the absence of light from a lens.

Hewitt, J. N.↗

Far-infrared sources in the vicinity of the supernova remnant W28

The W28 supernova remnant molecular cloud complex has been surveyed in the 40-250 micron spectral range with a three-sigma sensitivity of 100-165 Jy per beam. Only two sources have been found. One, located near the center of the SNR, has a luminosity of 54,000 solar luminosities and can be identified with the thermal radio source G6.6-0.1. The energizing source is probably an O-type ZAMS star. The second source, which is near the boundary of the SNR at a sharp gradient of OH absorption, has a luminosity of 6000 solar luminosities and has no radio counterpart. It is best explained as a B1 ZAMS star or a pre-main sequence object presumably formed from the impact of an expanding SNR with a molecular cloud. No far-IR emission is observed at the position of the CO molecular cloud, which seems to have been impacted by the SNR.

Odenwald, S. F.↗

A multisource limb flare observed at multiple radio wavelengths

A flare with several radio sources occurred on the solar limb at 2155 UT on 1989 June 20. It was observed by the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). The VLA data consisted of images at 1.4 GHz, while OVRO provided spectral and spatial information over the range 1-15 GHz. We develop a new gyrosynchrotron model to analyze the sources observed at flare peak. This model differs from many previous ones in that it contains spatial variations of both the magnetic field and accelerated particle density. It uses a new gyrosynchrotron approximation which is valid at very low harmonics of the gyrofrequency. For the first time we find that the cause of the change of microwave source size with frequency in the event studied was due primarily to the spatial variation of the accelerated electron density. This is contrary to the common assumption that the variation in size is due to a nonuniform magnetic field. We also investigate a polarized source which brightened later in the flare, finding that it could have been due to plasma radiation or gyrosynchrotron emission.

Kucera, T. A.↗

An anomalous component of Neptune radio emission - Implications for the auroral zone

The Voyager planetary radio astronomy experiment detected a bursty, narrow-band radio emission originating in Neptune's magnetosphere. The time of occurrence of nearly all of the episodes of this bursty radio emission can be explained on the basis of a radio source located just above and to the east of the south magnetic offset tilted dipole (OTD) tip (Farrell et al., 1990). However, several episodes of bursty emission do not occur at the usual frequency and planetaray rotation phase for emissions of this type. The occurrences of these rarely seen anomalous episodes are shifted systematically in planetary longitude so as to be consistent with a source of emission to the southwest of the southern magnetic OTD pole. Owing to the proximity of these sources to the magnetic polar region, they are associated with an active auroral region. Therefore, at least from the standpoint of the radio emission, the picture that emerges is of an auroral zone with two emission hot spots approximately diametrically east and west of the south magnetic pole. The possibility of a complete radio-active auroral oval is discussed.

Desch, M. D.↗