Expected Flux Density Research Articles

GMRT Galactic Plane Pulsar and Transient Survey and the discovery of PSR J1838+1523

We report the results of a blind pulsar survey carried out with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 325 MHz. The survey covered about 10\% of the region between Galactic longitude 45$^{\circ} < l <$ 135$^{\circ}$ and Galactic latitude 1$^{\circ} < |b| <$ 10$^{\circ}$ with a dwell time of 1800 s, resulting in the detection of 28 pulsars. One of these, PSR J1838+1523, was previously unknown and has a period of 549 ms and a dispersion measure of 68 pc cm\sups{$-$3}. We also present the timing solution of this pulsar obtained from multi-frequency timing observations carried out with the GMRT and the Ooty Radio Telescope. The measured flux density of this pulsar is 4.3$\pm$1.8 and 1.2$\pm$0.7 mJy at 325 and 610 MHz, respectively. This implies a spectral index of $-$2$\pm$0.8, thus making the expected flux density at 1.4 GHz to be about 0.2 mJy, which would be just detectable in the high frequency pulsar surveys like the Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey. This discovery underlines the importance of low frequency pulsar surveys in detecting steep spectrum pulsars, thus providing complementary coverage of the pulsar population.

Novel motor design for rotating anode x-ray tubes operating in the fringe field of a magnetic resonance imaging system

Using hybrid x-ray∕MR (XMR) systems for image guidance during interventional procedures could enhance the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic, oncologic, cardiovascular, and other disorders. The authors propose a close proximity hybrid system design in which a C-arm fluoroscopy unit is placed immediately adjacent to the solenoid magnet of a MR system with a minimum distance of 1.2 m between the x-ray and MR imaging fields of view. Existing rotating anode x-ray tube designs fail within MR fringe field environments because the magnetic fields alter the electron trajectories in the x-ray tube and act as a brake on the induction motor, reducing the rotation speed of the anode. In this study the authors propose a novel motor design that avoids the anode rotation speed reduction. The proposed design replaces the permanent magnet stator found in brushed dc motors with the radial component of the MR fringe field. The x-ray tube is oriented such that the radial component of the MR fringe field is orthogonal to the cathode-anode axis. Using a feedback position sensor and the support bearings as electrical slip rings, the authors use electrical commutation to eliminate the need for mechanical brushes and commutators. A vacuum compatible prototype of the proposed motor design was assembled, and its performance was evaluated at various operating conditions. The prototype consisted of a 3.1 in. diameter anode rated at 300 kHU with a ceramic rotor that was 5.6 in. in length and had a 2.9 in. diameter. The material chosen for all ceramic components was MACOR, a machineable glass ceramic developed by Corning Inc. The approximate weight of the entire assembly was 1750 g. The maximum rotation speed, angular acceleration, and acceleration time of the motor design were investigated, as well as the dependence of these parameters on rotor angular offset, magnetic field strength, and field orientation. The resonance properties of the authors' assembly were also evaluated to determine its stability during acceleration, and a pulse width modulation algorithm was implemented to control the rotation speed of the motor. At a magnetic flux density of 41 mT orthogonal to the axis of rotation (on the lower end of the expected flux density in the MR suite) the maximum speed of the motor was found to be 5150 revolutions per minute (rpm). The acceleration time necessary to reach 3000 rpm was found to be approximately 10 s at 59 mT. The resonance frequency of the assembly with the anode attached was 1310 rpm (21.8 Hz) which is far below the desired operating speeds. Pulse width modulation provides an effective method to control the speed of the motor with a resolution of 100 rpm. The proposed design can serve as a direct replacement to the conventional induction motor used in rotating anode x-ray tubes. It does not suffer from a reduced rotation speed when operating in a MR environment. The presence of chromic steel bearings in the prototype prevented testing at the higher field strengths, and future iterations of the design could eliminate this shortcoming. The prototype assembly demonstrates proof of concept of the authors' design and overcomes one of the major obstacles for a MR compatible rotating anode x-ray tube.

Z∼ 4 Hα EMITTERS IN THE GREAT OBSERVATORIES ORIGINS DEEP SURVEY: TRACING THE DOMINANT MODE FOR GROWTH OF GALAXIES

We present evidence for unusually strong Halpha emission in galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts in the range of 3.8<z<5.0, over the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) fields. Among 74 galaxies detected in the Spitzer IRAC 3.6 and 4.5um bands, more than 70% of the galaxies show clear excess at 3.6um compared to the expected flux density from stellar continuum only. We provide evidence that this 3.6um excess is due to Halpha emission redshifted into the 3.6um band, and classify these 3.6um excess galaxies to be Halpha emitter (HAE) candidates. The selection of HAE candidates using an excess in broad-band filters is sensitive to objects whose rest-frame H$\alpha$ equivalent width is larger than 350A, star formation rates of 20-500 Msun/yr. The Halpha-to-UV luminosity ratio of HAEs is on average larger than that of local starbursts. Possible reasons for such strong Halpha emission in these galaxies include different dust extinction properties, young stellar population age, continuous star formation history, low metallicity, and top-heavy stellar initial mass function. Although the correlation between UV slope beta and L(Ha)/L(UV) raises the possibility that HAEs prefer a dust extinction curve which is steeper in the UV, the most dominant factor that results in strong Halpha emission appears to be star formation history. The Halpha equivalent widths of HAEs are large despite their relatively old stellar population ages constrained by SED fitting, suggesting that at least 60% of HAEs produce stars at a constant rate. Under the assumption that the cold gas supply is sustained, HAEs are able to produce ~50% of the observed stellar mass density at z~3 that is caught in massive (M*>10^11 Msun) galaxies. This 'strong Halpha phase' of star formation plays a dominant role in early galaxy growth, being a feasible progenitors of massive red galaxies at lower redshifts.

Very Large Array observations of the 8 o’clock arc lens system: radio emission and a limit on the star-formation rate

Context. The 8 o’clock arc is a gravitationally lensed Lyman break galaxy (LBG) at redshift z = 2.73 that has a star-formation rate (SFR) of ~270 M⊙ yr-1 (derived from optical and near-infrared spectroscopy). Taking the magnification of the system (~12) and the SFR into account, the expected flux density of any associated radio emission at 1.4 GHz is predicted to be just 0.1 mJy. However, the lens system is found to be coincident with a radio source detected in the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA) Sky Survey with a flux density of ~5 mJy. If this flux density is attributed to the lensed LBG then it would imply a SFR ~ 11 000 M⊙ yr-1, in contrast with the optical and near-infrared derived value.

Identification of Potential Weak Target Radio Quasars for ASTRO-G In-Beam Phase-Referencing

Abstract We apply an efficient selection method to identify potential weak Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) target quasars simply using optical (SDSS) and low-resolution radio (FIRST) catalogue data. Our search is restricted to within 12 from known compact radio sources that are detectable as phase-reference calibrators for ASTRO-G at 8.4 GHz frequency. These calibrators have estimated correlated flux density $&amp;gt;$20 mJy on the longest ground–space VLBI baselines. The search radius corresponds to the primary beam size of the ASTRO-G antenna. We show that $\sim$20 quasars with at least mJy-level expected flux density can be pre-selected as potential in-beam phase-reference targets for ASTRO-G at 8.4 GHz frequency. Most of them have never been imaged with VLBI. The sample of these dominantly weak sources offers a good opportunity to study their radio structures with unprecedented angular resolution provided by Space VLBI. The method of in-beam phase-referencing is independent from the ability of the orbiting radio telescope to do rapid position-switching manoeuvres between the calibrators and the nearby reference sources, and less sensitive to the satellite orbit determination uncertainties.

Search for Synchrotron Emission from Secondary Leptons in Dense Cold Starless Cores

AbstractWe report radio continuum observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array of two molecular clouds. The impetus for these observations is a search for synchrotron radiation by cosmic-ray secondary electrons/positrons in a region of enhanced density and possibly high magnetic field. We present modelling which shows that there should be an appreciable flux of synchrotron above the more diffuse, galactic synchrotron background.The starless core G333.125–0.562 and infrared source IRAS15596–5301 were observed at 1384 and 2368 MHz. For G333.125–0.562, we find no significant levels of radio emission from this source at either frequency, nor any appreciable polarisation: we place an upper limit on the radio continuum flux from this source of 0.5 mJy beam−1 at both 1384 and 2368 MHz. Due to the higher than expected flux density limits, we also obtained archival ATCA data at 8640 MHz for this cloud and place an upper limit on the flux density of 50 μJy beam−1. Assuming the cosmic ray spectrum is similar to that near the Sun and given the cloud's molecular density and mass, we place an upper limit on the magnetic field of 500 μG.IRAS 15596–5301, with an RMS of 50 μJy beam−1 at 1384 MHz, shows an HII region consistent with optically thin free–free emission already detected at 4800 MHz. We use the same prescription as G333 to constrain the magnetic field from this cloud to be less than 500 μG. We find that these values are not inconsistent with the view that magnetic field values scale with the average density of the molecular cloud.

On the variability of Baltic Sea deepwater mixing

Historical oceanographic data from the period 1964–1997 from two deep subbasins (the Gotland Deep and the Landsort Deep) in the Baltic Sea have been analyzed, by using a budget method on stagnant periods, with respect to vertical diffusion and vertical energy flux density in the deep water. It was found that the rate of deepwater mixing varied with the seasons, with higher rates in fall and winter compared to spring and summer. Further, according to the analyzed data, the downward flux density of energy available for vertical diffusion decreased with increasing depth in the Gotland Deep. In the Landsort Deep, however, the flux density increased somewhat, probably because of topographic concentration of the energy, before decreasing toward the bottom. Moreover, the vertical energy flux densities were compared with the expected flux density from the local wind. It is proposed that in the Gotland Deep, which is outside the coastal boundary layer, the observed deepwater mixing is dominated by the energy input from the wind via inertial currents and internal waves. In the Landsort Deep, however, which is within the coastal boundary layer, the expected flux density of energy from the local wind cannot explain the observed rate of work against the buoyancy forces. It is proposed that the active coastal boundary layer plays a central role in the transfer of energy to mixing processes in the deep water.

Results of a Radio Continuum Survey of Spiral Galaxies at 10.55 GHz

The Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog (Sandage &amp; Tamman, 1981) contains 335 spiral galaxies brighter than BT = 12. A subsample of these galaxies with δ ≥ –25° and total flux densities at 1.49 GHz (Condon, 1987) above 10 mJy were observed at λ2.8 cm using the 100-m radio telescope of the MPIfR Bonn. Depending on the expected flux density and extent of the source two observational methods were used: cross-scanning and mapping. In total, radio flux densities of 192 galaxies have been derived (Niklas et al., 1995). Additionally, a literature search was made in order to get flux densities at other frequencies.

WILL THE NEXT SUPERNOVA IN OUR GALAXY BE DISCOVERED BY A RADIO TELESCOPE

ABSTRACT Given that a large fraction of young supernovae which occur in the Galaxy are probably too much obscured by dust to be detected optically and that little suitable radio monitoring now takes place, the chances of an accidental radio detection are estimated. Using young extragalactic supernovae recently detected at radio wavelengths as a model, the expected flux density of a young supernova occurring on the opposite side of the Milky Way at a distance of 30 kpc is as strong as the half-dozen strongest sources now in the sky. An analysis of the characteristics and programs of the world's radio telescopes then indicates for several reasons that wavelengths in the 2- to 20-cm range are much more likely than others to make such a discovery, typically within 1-2 yr of the appearance of the new source. Older but still active microwave dishes, such as the Kraus-type reflector at Ohio State University, are the best candidates for an accidental discovery.