Engineering topics

Condon, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Condon, J. J..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2012

The First Hyper-Luminous Infrared Galaxy Discovered by WISE

We report the discovery by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer of the z = 2.452 source WISEJ181417.29+341224.9, the first hyperluminous source found in the WISE survey. WISE 1814+3412 is also the prototype for an all-sky sample of approximately 1000 extremely luminous "W1W2-dropouts" (sources faint or undetected by WISE at 3.4 and 4.6 micrometers and well detected at 12 or 22 micrometers). The WISE data and a 350 micrometers detection give a minimum bolometric luminosity of 3.7 x 10(exp 13) solar luminosity, with approximately 10(exp 14) solar luminosity plausible. Followup images reveal four nearby sources: a QSO and two Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) at z = 2.45, and an M dwarf star. The brighter LBG dominates the bolometric emission. Gravitational lensing is unlikely given the source locations and their different spectra and colors. The dominant LBG spectrum indicates a star formation rate approximately 300 solar mass yr(exp -1), accounting for less than or equal to 10 percent of the bolometric luminosity. Strong 22 micrometer emission relative to 350 micrometer implies that warm dust contributes significantly to the luminosity, while cooler dust normally associated with starbursts is constrained by an upper limit at 1.1 mm. Radio emission is approximately 10? above the far-infrared/radio correlation, indicating an active galactic nucleus is present. An obscured AGN combined with starburst and evolved stellar components can account for the observations. If the black hole mass follows the local MBH-bulge mass relation, the implied Eddington ratio is approximately greater than 4. WISE 1814+3412 may be a heavily obscured object where the peak AGN activity occurred prior to the peak era of star formation.

Eisenhardt, Peter R.↗

NASA NTRS1995

RE J1255+266: Detection of an extremely bright EUV transient

During a pointed ROSAT observation in the direction of the Coma cluster of galaxies an exceptionally bright EUV source, RE J1255+266, was detected serendipitously. The source is located close to the Galactic North Pole, at b(sub II) is approximately or equal to 89 deg. Its observed EUV flux (62 - 110 eV) at the time of the detection was of order 7 x 10(exp -9) ergs/sq cm, making RE J1255+266 temporarily one of the brightest EUV sources on the sky. The EUV flare of RE J1255+266 has a light curve with a decay time of about 0.86 days. With respect to earlier non-detections, the source brightened by a factor of approximately 7000. Such a behavior has not been observed before. Thus, it is unclear what type of source RE J1255+266 might be. Up to now no positive identification with any known source could be obtained. Emission at the position of the source was previously only detected in the 1987 Green Bank radio continuum survey. Simultaneous observations with Compton Gamma Ray Observatory/Burst and Transient Source Experiment (CGRO/BATSE) resulted in non-detections of the source in the 8 - 50 keV energy range.

Dahlem, M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Results of a five-year program of multifrequency monitoring of low-frequency variable radio sources

We present the results of a detailed multifrequency monitoring program of low-frequency variable radio sources. This consists of light curves at 318, 430, 606, 880, and 1400 MHz over a 5 year period. The observations were carried out with the Arecibo 305 m radiotelescope and the Green Bank 91 m radio telescope. The spectral characteristics of the variations confirm the general picture that at least two mechanisms are responsible. The first is clearly intrinsic evolution of synchrotron-emitting components as it is manifested by variations that appear first and most strongly at high frequencies, subsequently drifting to lower frequencies with diminished amplitude. The more common type of low-frequency variability, however, dominates at frequencies below approximately 800 MHz, while the variations near 1 GHz are often quite weak. This spectral property is strong evidence that these variations are interstellar refractive scintillation.

Mitchell, K. J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Compact radio sources in the starburst galaxy M82 and the Sigma-D relation for supernova remnants

We have obtained an 8.4 GHz Very Large Array (VLA) A-array map of the starburst galaxy M82 with a resolution Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) approximately 0.182 sec. About 50 compact radio sources in the central region of M82 were detected with a peak surface brightness approximately greater than 10(exp -17) W/Hz/sq m/sr. Comparison with previous observations shows that most sources are declining in flux. Three previously visible sources have faded into the background of our map (approximately less than 0.2 mJy/beam), while a few sources, including the second and third brightest radio sources in M82, may have increased slightly in flux over the last decade. No new radio supernova was found. The birth rate of the compact radio sources is estimated to be 0.11 + or - 0.05/yr. We attribute the population of such bright, small supernova remnants (SNRs) in M82 to the high pressure in the central region that can truncate the mass loss during a red supergiant phase or allow dense ionized clouds to be present. The compact radio sources obey a Sigma(radio surface brightness) - D(diameter) relation which is remarkably similar to that followed by supernova remnants in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds and by two of the strongest known extragalactic radio supernovae: SN 1986J and SN 1979C. A least-squares fit to the SNR data gives: Sigma(sub 8.4 GHz) (W/Hz/sq m/sr) = 4.4 x 10(exp -16) D(sub pc)(exp -3.5 +/- 0.1) covering seven orders of magnitude in Sigma. Possible selection effects are discussed and a theoretical discussion of the correlation is presented.

Huang, Z. P.↗

NASA NTRS1993

The 'Taffy' galaxies UGC 12914/5

The interacting spiral galaxy pair UGC 12914/5 was mapped with the 'VLA' for a 1.49 GHz atlas of the IRAS Bright Galaxy Sample. Half of the flux from UGC 12914/5 arises from the gap between UGC 12914 and UGC 12915, across which the radio contours are drawn like filaments of taffy. The bright radio continuum connecting UGC 12914 with UGC 12915 is a synchrotron source which therefore probably contains both cosmic rays and magnetic fields. It is suggested that the filaments were stripped from UGC 12914 and UGC 12915 as their stellar disks interpenetrated during a recent encounter; this implies that the radio bridge is a relic whose properties contain information about direct collisions of galaxies with gaseous disks. New maps have been made of the radio continuum and H I line emission from UGC 12914/5 in order to verify the stripping hypothesis.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Blue galaxies identified with submilliJansky radio sources in the 1300 + 3034 field

We have obtained deep B and R CCD frames in order to optically identify sub-mJy radio sources discovered in a deep 1.49 GHz VLA survey field centered at alpha (1950) = 13h00m37s, delta(1950) = + 30 deg 34 arcmin. B and R photometry is presented for 37 optical identifications. Using spectral evolution models, we conclude that galaxies brighter than B about 25 identified with sub-mJy radio sources are much bluer than giant elliptical galaxies, but are similar to starburst galaxies with absolute magnitude M(v) = about -23-20 and redshifts in the range 2 = about 0.1-0.8. This population of blue galaxies is the same as that found by Thuan and Condon (1987) in the 0852 + 1716 field using different techniques (optical and near-infrared photometry), suggesting that this population of starburst galaxies at intermediate redshifts is universal.

Thuan, Trinh X.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Radio properties of extragalactic IRAS sources

The present study identifies extragalactic sources from the IRAS Faint Source Catalog by position coincidence with radio sources stronger than 25 mJy and lying north of +5 deg on the Green Bank 4.85 GHz sky maps. Published VLA maps, new 4.86 GHz VLA maps made with 15-arcsec resolution, and accurate optical positions are used to confirm 122 of these candidate identifications. Normal and starburst spiral galaxies were found to comprise about 97 percent of the FIR flux-limited sample. Radio-loud 'monsters' with q less than 2.25 dominate the radio emission from about 2 percent of the FIR source sample, and radio-quiet monsters are responsible for the FIR emission from less than about 1 percent of the FIR sample. All of the radio-identified sources are optically identified, mostly with relatively bright nearby galaxies. No evidence was found for any new populations of high-redshift FIR sources, nonthermal sources with steep FIR/optical spectra, or dust-shrouded sources visible only at FIR and radio wavelengths.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Compact starbursts in ultraluminous infrared galaxies

The 40 ultraluminous galaxies in the IRAS Bright Galaxy Sample of sources stronger than S = 5.24 Jy at lambda = 60 microns were mapped with approximately 0.25 arcsec resolution at 8.44 GHz. Twenty-five contain diffuse radio sources obeying the FIR-radio correlation; these are almost certainly starburst galaxies. Fourteen other galaxies have nearly blackbody FIR spectra with color temperatures between 60 and 80 K so their (unmeasured) FIR angular sizes must exceed approximately 0.25 arcsec, yet they contain compact (but usually resolved) radio sources smaller than this limit. The unique radio and FIR properties of these galaxies can be modeled by ultraluminous nuclear starbursts so dense that they 67 are optically thick to free-free absorption at about 1.49 GHz and dust absorption at about 25 microns. Only one galaxy (UGC 08058 = Mrk 231) is a dominated by a variable radio source too compact to be an ultraluminous starburst; it must be powered by a 'monster'.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Correlations between the far-infrared, radio, and blue luminosities of spiral galaxies

FIR-radio luminosity correlations are presently derived for two statistically complete samples spanning a wide luminosity range. While observed correlations are tight, they are not linear; the observed scattering is mostly intrinsic. An empirical correction to the radio luminosities, based on observed blue luminosities, makes the corrected FIR-radio correlation linear and eliminates most of the residual variance. A two-component model that is consistent with the improved correlation is proposed for the heating luminosity within galaxies. The first, radio-loud component contains young massive stars that heat the dust, while contributing to the cool cirrus dust-heating interstellar radiation field. The second, radio-quiet component is made up of less massive older stars.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

UGC galaxies stronger than 25 mJy at 4.85 GHz

UGC galaxies in the declination band +5 to +75 deg were identified by position coincidence with radio sources stronger than 25 mJy on the Green Bank 4.85 GHz sky maps. Candidate identifications were confirmed or rejected with the aid of published aperture-synthesis maps and new 4.86 GHz VLA maps having 15 or 18 arcsec resolution, resulting in a sample of 347 nearby radio galaxies plus five new quasar-galaxy pairs. The radio energy sources in UGC galaxies were classified as 'starbursts' or 'monsters' on the basis of their infrared-radio flux ratios, infrared spectral indices, and radio morphologies. The rms scatter in the logarithmic infrared-radio ratio q is not more than 0.16 for starburst galaxies selected at 4.85 GHz. Radio spectral indices were obtained for nearly all of the UGC galaxies, and S0 galaxies account for a disproportionate share of the compact flat-spectrum (alpha less than 0.5) radio sources. The extended radio jets and lobes produced by monsters are preferentially, but not exclusively, aligned within about 30 deg of the optical minor axes of their host galaxies. The tendency toward minor-axis ejection appears to be independent of radio-source size and is strongest for elliptical galaxies.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A 1.49 GHz atlas of the IRAS Bright Galaxy Sample

The VLA has been used in its A-, B-, C-, and D-configurations to make 1.49 GHz maps of sources in both the original and revised IRAS Bright Galaxy Samples of strong extragalactic sources selected at a wavelength of 60 microns. Integrated 1.49 GHz flux densities were obtained from the lowest resolution maps, and maps were made with higher resolution so that nearly all of the radio sources have been at least partially resolved. Only NGC 1377 was not detected at 1.49 GHz. An atlas of contour maps, a table of total flux densities plus other radio source parameters, and references to published radio maps are given. Since the infrared and radio continuum brightness distributions of IR-selected galaxies are usually similar, these high-resolution radio maps can be used as substitutes for the unavailable IR maps to indicate the sizes and precise locations of the IR-emitting regions.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A 1.4 GHz source survey in an area without nearby rich galaxy clusters

The paper reports on 1.4 GHz continuum observations for 56 contiguous VLA fields, using the D configuration, in a region devoid of nearby, rich galaxy clusters (at z less than 0.4). 354 continuum sources are tabulated, with fluxes down to about 1.5 mJy, in an area of about 12 sq deg. Only about seven of the 354 radio sources are associated with known rich galaxy clusters at z greater than 0.4 (tabulated by Gunn, Hoessel, and Oke, 1986). Source positions are compared with those from an optical catalog and mild correlations on angular scales of order 1 arcmin are found. This suggests some association of radio sources with galaxy groups (sizes of order 200 kpc) at redshifts of order z = 0.1, even though there are no rich galaxy clusters in this redshift range.

Condon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The infrared-to-radio ratio within NGC 5236 (M83) and NGC 6946

A detailed comparison of the distribution of 60-micron IR and 20-cm radio continuum emission within NGC 5236 (M83) and NGC 6946 is presented. In the disks of both galaxies, a slow decrease of the 60-micron-to-20-cm ratio with increasing radius is observed. Values of this ratio within the central regions are enhanced by roughly a factor of 3 with respect to the outer disks, whereas the corresponding enhancement in radio surface brightness is at least a factor of 20. The 100-micron-to-20-cm ratio shows a similar but shallower gradient. To account for these observations, it is suggested that spiral galaxies are characterized by an IR disk with a shorter scale length than that of the radio continuum disk, the latter being smeared as a result of cosmic-ray propagation.

Bicay, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Radio variability of the blazar AO 0235 + 164

The high-redshift blazar A0 0235 + 164 exhibits flux-density variations which are primarily of the less common variety in which low-frequency flux-density variations track the high-frequency variations but are delayed and of smaller amplitude. Observational results based on five years of monitoring are presented which are correlated over at least a factor of 50 frequency range in the sense expected for an expanding synchrotron component: outbursts propagating toward lower frequencies with diminishing amplitudes. A simple, semiempirical jet model is developed which accounts reasonably well for the radio properties of the object. The predictions of the model are compared with observations, examining the radio flux-density histories, the radio spectral evolution, the radio structure, and evidence for relativistic bulk motion.

O'Dell, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A very deep IRAS survey at the north ecliptic pole

The data from approximately 20 hours observation of the 4- to 6-square degree field surrounding the north ecliptic pole have been combined to produce a very deep IR survey at the four IRAS bands. Scans from both pointed and survey observations were included in the data analysis. At 12 and 25 microns the deep survey is limited by detector noise and is approximately 50 times deeper than the IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC). At 60 microns the problems of source confusion and Galactic cirrus combine to limit the deep survey to approximately 12 times deeper than the PSC. These problems are so severe at 100 microns that flux values are only given for locations corresponding to sources selected at 60 microns. In all, 47 sources were detected at 12 microns, 37 at 25 microns, and 99 at 60 microns. The data-analysis procedures and the significance of the 12- and 60-micron source-count results are discussed.

Houck, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Multifrequency light curves of low-frequency variable radio sources

Light curves for the low-frequency variable sources AO 0235 + 16, NRAO 140, PKS 1117 + 14, DA 406, CTA 102, and 3C 454.3, obtained in monthly observations at 318, 430, and 606 MHz using the 305-m telescope at Arecibo and in bimonthly observations at 880 MHz and 1.4 GHz using the 91-m Green Bank transit telescope during 1980-1983, are presented and analyzed. AO 0235 + 16 is found to have basically canonical variability which is attributed to relativistically moving evolving synchrotron components; but in the other sources, strong simultaneous variations at 318, 430, and 606 MHz are observed to be greatly diminished in amplitude at 880 MHz and 1.4 GHz, confirming the existence of the intermediate-frequency gap at about 1 GHz proposed by Spangler and Cotton (1981). The possibility that a second variability mechanism is active in these sources is explored.

Altschuler, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The spectral evolution of low-frequency variable radio sources

The dynamic spectra of several low frequency extragalactic radio sources are presented. The observations were made at 318, 430, 606, 880, and 1400 MHz at several different radio observatories around the U.S. Two outbursts were observed in AO 0235 + 16 at 1.4 GHz, followed by a diminished variation at the lower frequencies. The dynamic frequencies of NRAO 140, PKS 1117 + 14, DA 406, CTA 102, and 3C 454.3 do not fit the same pattern. These radio sources displayed the following characteristics: (1) departure from straight or curved spectra at the frequencies of variation; (2) no obvious frequency drifting; and (3) negligible variation at 1.4 GHz. Possible explanations for this behavior are briefly discussed.

Dennison, B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

318-MHz variability of complete samples of extragalactic radio sources

It is found by a low-frequency variability survey, involving two- and three-epoch, 318-MHz observations of extragalactic sources in samples complete to 3 Jy at 1400 MHz and 1 Jy at 5000 MHz, that steep-spectrum sources do not seem to vary while all flat-spectrum sources exhibit low-frequency variability greater than 8% over about 5 yr. It is also found that the flat-spectrum sources with inverted spectra show the largest fractional variations, and that there is a correlation between the incidence of low-frequency variability and the determination that a source is an optically violent variable. These statistical properties are consistent with models which invoke radio and optical emission relativistic beaming.

Dennison, B.↗