Observations Of Radio Sources Research Articles

Powerful Radio Sources in the Southern Sky. I. Optical Identifications

Since the early sixties, our view of radio galaxies and quasars has been drastically shaped by discoveries made thanks to observations of radio sources listed in the Third Cambridge Catalog and its revised version (3CR). However, the largest fraction of data collected to date on 3CR sources was performed with relatively old instruments, rarely repeated and/or updated. Importantly, the 3CR contains only objects located in the Northern Hemisphere, thus having limited access to new and innovative astronomical facilities. To mitigate these limitations, we present a new catalog of powerful radio sources visible from the Southern Hemisphere, extracted from the GLEAM 4 Jy (G4Jy) catalog and based on equivalent selection criteria as the 3CR. This new catalog, named G4Jy-3CRE, where the E stands for “equivalent,” lists a total of 264 sources at decl. below −5° and with 9 Jy limiting sensitivity at ∼178 MHz. We explored archival radio maps obtained with different surveys and compared them with optical images available in the Pan-STARRS, DES, and DSS databases to search for optical counterparts of their radio cores. We compared mid-infrared counterparts, originally associated in the G4Jy, with the optical ones identified here, and we present results of a vast literature search carried out to collect redshift estimates for all G4Jy-3CRE sources resulting in a total of 145 reliable z measurements.

Methodology for the observation of radio sources using Ku‐band compact radio telescopes

AbstractGiven the rise of satellite television, radio telescopes in the Ku‐band (12–18 GHz) constitute a potential alternative to introduce low‐scale astronomical observatories and amateur astronomers to radio astronomy. In this paper, we show a methodology for the calibration of Ku‐band radio telescopes and the evaluation of the techniques used for the observation of celestial bodies in this frequency range. To reduce the pointing error, we present a method of observation through matrix windows around the Sun. By observing the solar transits, our methodology allows to determine the system temperature, the beamwidth, the gain, the effective area, and the efficiency of the radio telescope. In addition, we developed the Compact Radio Telescope (CRT) software, designed to perform the calibration, and carry out observations. We tested our methodology with the Ku‐band radio telescope of the Observatorio Astronómico of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira (OAUTP), Colombia. After observing the Sun and the Moon, we obtained a brightness temperature of 8,600 ± 800 K and 240 ± 50 K, and radiation fluxes of 2,970,000 ± 690,000 Jy and 55,000 ± 10,000 Jy, respectively. These observations demonstrated the usefulness of our methodology and CRT software in the calibration of compact Ku‐band radio telescopes for the observation of celestial bodies in radio waves.

IVIA - Ibero-American VLBI Initiative -Progress on the Brazilian side.

IVIA is a joint initiative of at least 8 Latin-American countries plus Portugal and Spain to make good use of large telecommunications antennas that are out of service in these countries, because most international communications are now using submarine cables. The first step will be to refurbish the antennas and then to start doing single dish observations of radiosources. In a second step the antennas will be equipped with VLBI (Very Long Base Interferometry) equipment, to establish a VLBI network. This project will be able to effectively promote scientific integration in Ibero-America. The work is starting in several countries; here we present several scientific cases for the use of the antennas, and we report on the first Brasilian activities.

High-redshift radio galaxies: a potential new source of 21-cm fluctuations

ABSTRACT Radio sources are expected to have formed at high redshifts, producing an excess radiation background above the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at low frequencies. Their effect on the redshifted 21-cm signal of neutral hydrogen is usually neglected, as it is assumed that the associated background is small. Recently, an excess radio background has been proposed as a possible explanation for the unusually strong 21-cm signal reported by EDGES. As a result, the implications of a smooth and extremely strong excess radio background on both the sky-averaged 21-cm signal and its fluctuations have been considered. Here, we take into account the inhomogeneity of the radio background created by a population of high-redshift galaxies and show that it adds a new type of 21-cm fluctuations to the well-known contributions of density, velocity, Ly α coupling, heating, and reionization. We find that a population of high-redshift galaxies even with a moderately enhanced radio efficiency (unrelated to the EDGES result) can have a significant effect on the 21-cm power spectrum and global signal. For models that can explain the EDGES data, we show that the 21-cm power spectrum at z ∼ 17 is enhanced by up to two orders of magnitude compared to the CMB-only standard case, with a significantly modified shape and time evolution due to radio fluctuations. These fluctuations are within reach of upcoming radio interferometers. We also find that these models can be significantly constrained by current and future observations of radio sources.

Common-clock very long baseline interferometry using a coherent optical fiber link

Among the most powerful techniques for the exploration of the Universe is very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), which is based on the simultaneous observation of radio sources in the sky with arrays of distant ground-based antennas. One of the effects currently limiting its ultimate sensitivity is the phase-instability of the reference clocks adopted at each antenna. This term can be made negligible delivering the same clock signal to multiple telescope sites using optical fibers. We realized such an infrastructure by disseminating a coherent optical frequency signal to two distant radio telescopes using a 1739-km-long fiber. We performed a 24 h geodetic VLBI campaign in which the same clock reference was used at both telescopes and analyzed it using standard VLBI procedures. The results were consistent with the expectations, confirming that the proposed approach is feasible and configures as a novel tool for studying the role of clocks, troposphere, and systematic effects in the ultimate VLBI resolution.

On Detecting the Fourth Gyrofrequency Harmonic in Microwave Emission Spectra above Sunspots

Spectral polarization observations of radio sources above sunspots are regularly carried out with the RATAN-600 radio telescope (RATAN is a Russian acronym for the Radio Astronomical Telescope of the Academy of Sciences). The in-depth studies of the spectra reveal new effects. In this paper, we analyze the manifestation of radio emission of the fourth gyrofrequency harmonic in microwave spectra obtained with 1-percent frequency resolution in a range of 3–18 GHz. Registration of the extraordinary mode in the short-wavelength range of the spectrum is compared to the model calculations of the second-to-fifth gyrofrequency harmonics against a background of the thermal bremsstrahlung emission of flocculi, surrounding the spot structure of an active region. The brightening of the extraordinary mode in the short-wavelength spectral range and the kinks in the intensity spectra of emission are analyzed. The interpretation of the RATAN-600 observational data with probable diagnostics of the emission of the fourth gyrofrequency harmonic is considered as examples.

Radio Galaxy Zoo: compact and extended radio source classification with deep learning

Machine learning techniques have been increasingly useful in astronomical applications over the last few years, for example in the morphological classification of galaxies. Convolutional neural networks have proven to be highly effective in classifying objects in image data. The current work aims to establish when multiple components are present, in the astronomical context of synthesis imaging observations of radio sources. To this effect, we design a convolutional neural network to differentiate between different morphology classes using sources from the Radio Galaxy Zoo (RGZ) citizen science project. In this first step, we focus on exploring the factors that affect the performance of such neural networks, such as the amount of training data, number and nature of layers and the hyperparameters. We begin with a simple experiment in which we only differentiate between two extreme morphologies, using compact and multiple component extended sources. We found that a three convolutional layer architecture yielded very good results, achieving a classification accuracy of 97.4% on a test data set. The same architecture was then tested on a four-class problem where we let the network classify sources into compact and three classes of extended sources, achieving a test achieving a test accuracy of 93.5%. The best-performing convolutional neural network setup has been verified against RGZ Data Release 1 where a final test accuracy of 94.8% was obtained, using both original and augmented images. The use of sigma clipping does not offer a significant benefit overall, except in cases with a small number of training images.

Polarization of extragalactic radio sources: CMB foregrounds and telescope calibration issues

Radio source observations play important roles in polarimetric cosmological studies. On the one hand, they constitute the main foregrounds for cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation on scales smaller than 30 arcmin up to 100 GHz, on the other they can be used as targets for validation of products of polarimetric experiments dedicated to cosmology. Furthermore, extragalactic high-redshift sources have been used for cosmic polarization rotation (CPR) investigation. In this paper, we will discuss the support to cosmological studies from ground-based polarimetric observations in the radio and millimetric wavelength bands. Most of the limits to accuracy improvements arise from systematic effects and low calibration quality. We will discuss some details of interferometric calibration procedures and show some of the perspectives that the Atacama large millimeter array (ALMA) could offer for CPR studies.

Development of a Magnetic Loop Antenna for the Detection of Jovian Radiowaves at 20.1 MHz

Radio waves coming from the planet Jupiter are electromagnetic phenomena generated by synchrotron emission mechanism, due to the interaction of Jovian magnetic field with charged particles produced by the satellite Io. These radio waves fall directly upon the ionosphere affecting earth’s radio communications. At the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Technology of Pereira (OAUTP) the research group in Astro-engineering Alfa Orion, developed a magnetic loop antenna designed to resonate at 20.1 MHz, which coupled with the receptor and the software from NASA’s Radio Jove project enabled the observation of radio sources A, B, C, IoA, IoB and IoC from Jupiter, allowing the construction of a database for the study of the Jovian activity in radio waves.

Creation and development of the software complex for scheduling observations in the RadioAstron project

In preparation for launching the space radio telescope as a component of the ground-space radio interferometer (the RadioAstron project) software was developed for scheduling observations of radio sources. A set of instruments was produced for solving various tasks of modeling the space mission in the context of radio interferometry with super-long bases when a radio telescope is launched into space. The software structure and applications are described that allow scheduling observations of sources by means of a ground-space radio interferometer.

A HISTORY OF RADIO ASTRONOMY POLARISATION MEASUREMENTS

While intensity of electromagnetic radiation (radio, infrared, light, or X-ray) gives us primary information about the distribution of the baryonic matter in the Universe, polarisation is a parameter that enables us to investigate many additional details. Polarisation at radio frequencies gives us details of emission processes since the non-thermal synchrotron process dominates at low radio frequencies in emission regions. In addition, polarised radio sources can be used as probes of the intervening interstellar medium through which the radio waves are propagated. Faraday rotation effects are observed and in conjunction with known thermal emission can be used to determine magnetic fields. The Zeeman effect, a direct method of determining magnetic fields, depends on the observation of the circular polarisation components of a spectral line. In this paper I describe the early polarisation observations of radio sources, but in addition I follow the developments through to the present day.

HELIOGRAPH OF THE UTR-2 RADIO TELESCOPE. III. OBSERVATIONS

The third part of our work describing the UTR-2 array based heliograph shows that every pixel of a signal received from the corresponding antenna pattern beam is the cross-correlation dynamic spectrum (time-frequency-intensity) measured in real time with the digital spectrum processor. This new generation heliograph gives the solar corona images in the frequency range 8 − 33 MHz with the frequency resolution 4 kHz, time resolution to 1 ms, and dynamic range 90 dB. The heliographic observations of radio sources and solar corona made in summer of 2010 are demonstrated.

Accurate galactic 21-cm H I measurements with the NRAO Green Bank Telescope

Aims: We devise a data reduction and calibration system for producing highly-accurate 21-cm H I spectra from the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) of the NRAO. Methods: A theoretical analysis of the all-sky response of the GBT at 21 cm is made, augmented by extensive maps of the far sidelobes. Observations of radio sources and the Moon are made to check the resulting aperture and main beam efficiencies. Results: The all-sky model made for the response of the GBT at 21 cm is used to correct for "stray" 21-cm radiation reaching the receiver through the sidelobes rather than the main beam. This reduces systematic errors in 21-cm measurements by about an order of magnitude, allowing accurate 21-cm H I spectra to be made at about 9' angular resolution with the GBT. At this resolution the procedures discussed here allow for measurement of total integrated Galactic H I line emission, W, with errors of 3 K km s^-1, equivalent to errors in optically thin N_HI of 5 x 10^18 cm^-2.

HELIOGRAPH OF THE UTR-2 RADIO TELESCOPE. I. GENERAL SCHEME

The broadband analog-digital heliograph based on the UTR-2 radio telescope is described in detail. This device operates by employing the parallel-series principle when five equi-spaced array pattern beams which scan the given radio source (e.g. solar corona) are simultaneously shaped. As a result, the obtained image presents a frame of 5 x 8 pixels with the space resolution 25' x 25' at 25 MHz. Each pixel corresponds to the signal from the appropriate pattern beam. The most essential heliograph component is its phase shift module for fast sky scanning by pencil-shape antenna beams. Its design, as well as its switched cable lengths calculation procedure, are presented, too. Each heliogram is formed in the actual heliograph just by using this phase shifter. Every pixel of a signal received from the corresponding antenna pattern beam is the cross-correlation dynamic spectrum (time-frequency-intensity) measured in real time with the digital spectrum processor. This new generation heliograph gives the solar corona images in the frequency range 8-32 MHz with the frequency resolution 4 kHz, time resolution to 1 ms, and dynamic range about 90 dB. The heliographic observations of radio sources and solar corona made in summer of 2010 are demonstrated as examples.

Faraday Rotation Response to Coronal Mass Ejection Structure

We present the results from modeling the coronal mass ejection (CME) properties that have an effect on the Faraday rotation (FR) signatures that may be measured with an imaging radio antenna array such as the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). These include the magnetic flux rope orientation, handedness, magnetic-field magnitude, velocity, radius, expansion rate, electron density, and the presence of a shock/sheath region. We find that simultaneous multiple radio source observations (FR imaging) can be used to uniquely determine the orientation of the magnetic field in a CME, increase the advance warning time on the geoeffectiveness of a CME by an order of magnitude from the warning time possible from in-situ observations at L 1, and investigate the extent and structure of the shock/sheath region at the leading edge of fast CMEs. The magnetic field of the heliosphere is largely “invisible” with only a fraction of the interplanetary magnetic-field lines convecting past the Earth; remote sensing the heliospheric magnetic field through FR imaging from the MWA will advance solar physics investigations into CME evolution and dynamics.

Monitoring of interplanetary and ionosphere scintillations at frequency 110 MHz

Abstract Large Phased Array of the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute is the most sensitive in the world at the metre waveband. It allows simultaneous observation of two independent diagrams each consisting of 16 beams. We are planning to introduce a program of monitoring interplanetary and ionospheric scintillation using observations of radio sources by one multi-beam diagram. The methods of observations and data reduction are discussed. We present the first results of seven day test observations for a strip of the sky in a region with declinations between 28° and 32° by using an eight-beam diagram.

Study of the power beam pattern of RATAN-600 during the deep RZF survey (1998–2003)

This paper proposes a method for constructing an experimental power beam pattern (PB) of RATAN-600 based on the sample of NVSS sources observed in the process of a deep sky survey near local zenith. The data obtained from observations of radio sources at λ7.6 cm in nine bands of the survey (the 2002 and 2003 sets) are used to construct vertical PB of the telescope at rather large offsets from the central horizontal section of the PB (±36′). The experimental PBs obtained using different methods are compared and the root-mean-square deviations of the experimental PB from the corresponding computed PB are determined. The stability of the power beam pattern in its central part (±6′) during the RATAN-600 Zenith Field (RZF) survey (1998–2003) and the accuracies of the fluxes of the sources observed within the framework of this survey and included into the RZF catalog are estimated [1].

Coronal Faraday rotation of occulted radio signals

Faraday rotation (FR) observations of radio sources near solar conjunction yield information on the coronal magnetic field at heliospheric distances not reached by in situ exploration. Measurements of FR yield the rotation measure (RM), a wavelength independent quantity defined as the integral along the raypath of the product of the electron density times the raypath-parallel component of the magnetic field. Independent observations or models of the coronal electron density are required in order to extract information about the magnetic field. The radio sounding sources can be either artificial (spacecraft) or natural, but they must be at least partially linearly polarized. The most extensive campaign of coronal radio sounding polarization measurements using a spacecraft was the Helios Faraday Rotation Experiment, which was conducted over the duration of the Helios 1 (1974–1984) and Helios 2 (1976–1980) missions. Other coronal FR experiments have been carried out using natural continuum sources recently a...

High-resolution observations of radio sources with 0.6 < z<= 1.0

‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.’ Copyright Blackwell Publishing / RAS. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10763.x [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]

Deep RATAN-600 Surveys at the Declination of SS433 Carried Out in 1987-2000 at 7.6 and 2.7 cm

AbstractNew interest have appeared recently in observations of radio sources at the shortest radio wavelengths in connection with planned searches CMB radiation. A high sensitivity 2.7 cm receiver was installed at RATAN-600 in 1989. We discuss the results of deep surveys (“Cold”) of a ±10' strip of the sky centered on the declination of SS 433 covering an interval of 11h in R.A. carried out with the RATAN-600 telescope at 2.7 and 7.6 cm in 1987–2000.