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At least 217 records · Page 12

Optical identifications of radio sources with accurate positions using the United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope (UKST) IIIa-J plates

Several programs are making use of UKST Sky Survey plates to identify southern radio sources. The fine-grain modern plates and accurate radio positions give a much improved identification rate. It seems that it will very soon be possible to determine whether or not there is a quasar redshift cut-off at z of about 4. There is an urgent need for more accurate fundamental reference star positions in the South.

Savage, A.↗

Variable radio source structure on a scale of several minutes of arc

Results are reported for high-frequency (0.75, 1.40, 3.24, 6.63, and 10.63 GHz) flux-density measurements of about 100 radio sources exhibiting low-frequency cutoffs. At least three sources (4C 79.4, 4C 79.15, and PKS 2344+09) showed variable structure on a scale ranging from a fraction of an arcmin to as much as 15 arcmin which appears to change significantly on a time scale of several months. The visual fields of these sources and their companion components are searched for identifiable objects, and complete radio spectra as well as contour maps are presented for some of the sources. It is suggested that the variable structure may result from the existence of several emission centers that are highly variable in flux density but fixed in position.

Ross, H. N.↗

Occultations of stars and radio sources by comets: Predictions and observing prospects

The results that might stem from observations of occultations of stars and radio sources by cometary comae and ion tails are outlined. Taking account of the current orbital accuracy of P/Halley, specific predictions of stellar appulses with that comet, including preliminary topocentric circumstances, are presented. A crude model of the absorption of starlight by grains in a dusty comet supports the notion that stellar extinction may be observable in practice. Some thoughts on observing techniques are set down, discussing the merits of a two-dimensional detector (a CCD camera) and a conventional aperture photometer. The need for accurate photometric observations with time resolution approx. 1 sec is stressed because the interval of greatest extinction will usually be brief. Finally, the efficacy of undertaking accurate relative astrometry of comets during predicted approaches to stars is explored.

Bowell, E.↗

High-resolution VLBA imaging of the radio source Sgr A* at the Galactic Centre

Images of Sgr* A with milliarcsecond resolution obtained by using five telescopes of the partially completed Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in conjunction with a few additional telescopes are presented. The image of Sgr A* at a wavelength of 3.6 cm confirms almost exactly the elliptical Gaussian model that has been proposed on the basis of previous data. The source size at 1.34 cm wavelength is 2.4 +/- 0.2 mas, similar to previous results. At both wavelengths, the radio source is smooth, without detectable fine structure. These observations support the suggestion that the radio emission from Sgr A* is strongly scattered by electron-density fluctuations along the line of sight. On the assumption that the emission is due to a black hole accreting stellar winds from massive stars in the central 0.5 pc, the observations are consistent with a black hole mass of less than about 2 million solar masses.

Lo, K. Y.↗

Numerical models of extragalactic radio sources

When supercomputer-implemented numerical simulations analyzing the nonlinear physics inherent in the hydrodynamic and MHD equations are applied to extragalactic radio sources, many of the complex structures observed on telescopic images are reproduced. Attention is presently given to recently obtained results from 2D and 3D numerical simulations of the formation and evolution of extended radio morphologies; these numerical models allow the exploration of such physical phenomena as the role of magnetic fields in the dynamics and emissivity of extended radio galaxies, intermittent outflow from the cores of active galaxies, fluid-jet instabilities, and the bending of collimated outflows by motion through the intergalactic medium.

Burns, Jack O.↗

A method of mapping compact structure in radio sources using VLBI observations

A two-part technique is described for determining the angular structure of the compact components of radio sources from VLBI observations. With this technique, the source structure is first approximated, using both amplitudes and closure phases, by a model consisting of circularly symmetric Gaussian components located on a grid of positions on the sky. The second part begins by employing this model to predict the visibility phase corresponding to each observed visibility amplitude; these estimated visibility phases are then adjusted to agree with the observed closure phases. The resulting estimates of the visibility phases and the observed visibility amplitudes are then combined in a direct Fourier transform to produce a 'dirty' source map that is deconvolved via the CLEAN procedure on the basis of the point-source response. Some examples based on data generated from test models are provided.

Cotton, W. D.↗

Distorted radio sources in Abell 2255 - Evidence of intergalactic gas 2.5 to 5 megaparsecs from the cluster center

Spectroscopic data are presented for radio galaxies in the A2255 region. The results indicate that the galaxies associated with distorted radio sources 2.5-5 Mpc projected radius from the cluster center are indeed cluster members. This implies the presence of substantial intergalactic gas 10-20 core radii from the cluster center. Reasonable assumptions concerning the gas distribution result in an estimated minimum mass for the A2255 intracluster gas of 4 x 10 to the 14th solar masses.

Hintzen, P.↗

The problem of spiral galaxies and satellite radio sources

Regions 2-deg x 2-deg in area centered on four spiral galaxies were scanned with the Goldstone 64-m antenna in search of satellite radio sources at 2295 MHz. Four control regions of equal area but free of galaxies brighter than 13th magnitude were also scanned. No significant excess in the number density of sources with flux densities greater than 0.10 Jy relative to the control fields was found. A detailed comparison is made between the results of this program and the results of previous investigators. In particular, attention is directed to the potentially important implications of an investigation by Tovmasyan (1968), who searched a large number of spirals and found evidence that a small percentage of them apparently have radio satellites located up to 20 arcmin from the central galaxy. Fifteen sources selected from Tovmasyan's list of 43 satellite sources were measured. The present results confirm his positions and relative flux densities for each of the sources.

Arp, H.↗

Measurements of distributed polarized radio sources from spinning spacecraft - Effect of a tilted axial antenna ISEE-3 application and results

An analysis is presented of the system response of a satellite receiver-antenna system to locate a radio source when the satellite is tilted on its axis. The satellite is spin stabilized but experiences a tilt due to either a mechanical misalignment or a shift in the electrical axis caused by parasitic currents in other spacecraft structures. The shorter the antenna, the more significant the effects. Numerical techniques are developed for obtaining the Stokes parameters and the angular parameters of a uniform conical source sensed by a linear antenna in order to derive the average power response of a synthesized dipole to a point on a distributed polarized source. Relative gains are calculated along the antenna at different angles to the source. The techniques are applied to sample ISEE-3 satellite data for Type III solar radio bursts which were sensed by an axial and an equatorial antenna. The two antennas permit localization of the source and quantification of the polarization and angular extent of the source. The resulting high precision in calculations of all three source parameters commends use of the model in analyses of data from the planned ULYSSES mission.

Fainberg, J.↗

X-ray emission from E and S0 galaxies with compact nuclear radio sources

The imaging proportional counter on the Einstein Observatory has been used to search for X-ray emission from 13 nearby E and S0 galaxies with compact nuclear radio sources. Five galaxies with X-ray luminosity of about 10 to the 41st ergs/s were detected, and one of them was resolved. These galaxies and a few similar ones observed by others are compared to a sample of radio-quiet E and S0 galaxies. The radio-emitting galaxies have consistently greater X-ray luminosities per unit of optical luminosity than most radio-quiet galaxies. Possible emission mechanisms and models for the resolved source, for the most powerful source, and for the class of E/S0 galaxies with active nuclei are discussed.

Dressel, L. L.↗

A new method of measuring radio source parameters of a partially polarized distributed source from spacecraft observations

An experimental system is analyzed which is designed to determine the angular and polarization properties of low frequency radio sources from measurements made on a spinning spacecraft. The system has been optimized to provide high accuracies for sources at high as well as low elevation angles. Theoretical expressions are derived for the response of this system to a partially polarized point source. Integrations are then carried out to get the system response to a uniform circular distributed source. Data processing techniques are derived so that computer simulations can be carried out to investigate the accuracy of this technique. It is shown that using 24 measurements of a partially polarized source (with Q = U = V = 0.5), taken in one spacecraft rotation, the resulting rms errors in angular position are less than one degree and the errors in determining the Stokes parameters are generally 1-10% for a wide range of source elevations.

Manning, R.↗

Millimeter-wave spectra and variability of bright, compact radio sources

Observations at 2.7 mm and at 1.5 cm were used to study the millimeter spectra and variability of 176 bright, compact radio sources. More than 20 percent of the flat-spectrum sources, but none of the steep-spectrum sources, were seen to vary at 1.5 cm by at least 30 percent over ten months. This is consistent with the hypothesis that flat-spectrum sources are compact and possibly beamed, while steep-spectrum sources are not. These data can also be used to choose sources for VLBI observations and for calibration of millimeter-wave observations.

Edelson, R. A.↗

The earth as a radio source - Terrestrial kilometric radiation

Based on Imp 6 and 8 satellite observation data, a comprehensive study of terrestrial kilometric radiation is presented. In the light of these data, the earth appears to be a very intense planetary radio source, with a total power output comparable to the decametric radio emission from Jupiter. Terrestrial kilometric (i.e., about 50-500 kHz) radiation seems to originate from low altitudes in the auroral region.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Observations of the radio source G6.6-0.1 positionally coincident with the W28 SNR

This paper reports scaled-array continuum and H76-alpha line observations of the radio source G6.6-0.1 which is positioned at the center of the W28 SNR. The source exhibits a bright core surrounded by extended emission which appears organized into arcs and wisps. G6.6-0.1 is interpreted as a compact H II region with a unique morphology.

Andrews, M. D.↗

An unusually strong Einstein ring in the radio source PKS1830 - 211

High-resolution radio images of PKS1830 - 211 are obtained to study the possibility that the double structure is a gravitationally lensed object. The VLBI observations, taken from interferometric radiotelescope networks, reveal an elliptical ring that connects two bright spots of similar composition. Because the lens and the lensed object are closely aligned, and because of the structure of the two spots, the source is concluded to be a radio Einstein ring. The source is found to be close to the galactic plane, and the lens and the lensed object are extragalactic. The source is also found to be unusually bright, suggesting that it is aligned with a bright background source or amplified by some mechanism related to a source that is not so bright.

Jauncey, D. L.↗