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We construct the average radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of highly star-forming galaxies (HSFGs) up to z ~ 4. Infrared and radio luminosities are bound by a tight correlation that is defined by the so-called q parameter. This infrared-radio correlation provides the basis for the use of radio luminosity as a star-formation tracer. Recent stacking and survival analysis studies find q to be decreasing with increasing redshift. It was pointed out that a possible cause of the redshift trend could be the computation of rest-frame radio luminosity via a single power-law assumption of the star-forming galaxies' (SFGs) SED. To test this, we constrained the shape of the radio SED of a sample of HSFGs. To achieve a broad rest-frame frequency range, we combined previously published Very Large Array observations of the COSMOS field at 1:4 GHz and 3 GHz with unpublished Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations at 325MHz and 610MHz by employing survival analysis to account for non-detections in the GMRT maps. We selected a sample of HSFGs in a broad redshift range (z ? [0:3; 4]; SFR = 100 M yr-1) and constructed the average radio SED. By fitting a broken power-law, we find that the spectral index changes from a1 = 0:42-0:06 below a rest-frame frequency of 4:3 GHz to a2 = 0:94 ± 0:06 above 4:3 GHz. Our results are in line with previous low-redshift studies of HSFGs ( SFR > 10 M yr-1) that show the SED of HSFGs to differ from the SED found for normal SFGs ( SFR < 10 M yr-1). The difference is mainly in a steeper spectrum around 10 GHz, which could indicate a smaller fraction of thermal free-free emission. Finally, we also discuss the impact of applying this broken power-law SED in place of a simple power-law in K-corrections of HSFGs and a typical radio SED for normal SFGs drawn from the literature. We find that the shape of the radio SED is unlikely to be the root cause of the q-z trend in SFGs.

In this paper we analyze AGN activity signatures in the rich nearby galaxy cluster Abell 1795 aiming to confirm and characterize the long-term feedback history in the system. We combine radio observations at 610 and 235 MHz from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) with 3.4 Msec X-ray data from the Chandra Observatory. Extracting radial temperature profiles, as well as X-ray and radio surface brightness profiles in three directions showing major morphological disturbances, we highlight the signatures of activity in the system. For the first time we observe radio emission corresponding to the NW X-ray depression, which provides evidence in favor of the classification of the depression as a cavity. We identify two other X-ray cavities situated NW and SW of the AGN. While the central radio emission corresponding to the inner cavities shows a flatter spectral index, the radio extensions associated with the farthest X-ray cavities consist of aged plasma. All observed signatures both in radio and X-ray are consistent with several consecutive episodes of AGN activity, which gave rise to the observed morphology NW and SW from the core. In the southern region, we confirm the cooling wake hypothesis for the origin of the long tail. The deep X-ray data also allows us to distinguish significant distortions in the tail's inner parts, which we attribute to the activity of the AGN.

Modern astronomical data processing requires complex software pipelines to process ever growing datasets. For radio astronomy, these pipelines have become so large that they need to be distributed across a computational cluster. This makes it difficult to monitor the performance of each pipeline step. To gain insight into the performance of each step, a performance monitoring utility needs to be integrated with the pipeline execution. In this work we have developed such a utility and integrated it with the calibration pipeline of the Low Frequency Array, LOFAR, a leading radio telescope. We tested the tool by running the pipeline on several different compute platforms and collected the performance data. Based on this data, we make well informed recommendations on future hardware and software upgrades. The aim of these upgrades is to accelerate the slowest processing steps for this LOFAR pipeline. The pipeline_collector suite is open source and will be incorporated in future LOFAR pipelines to create a performance database for all LOFAR processing.

Aim. A fraction of galaxy clusters host diffuse radio sources whose origins are investigated through multi-wavelength studies of cluster samples. We investigate the presence of diffuse radio emission in a sample of seven galaxy clusters in the largely unexplored intermediate redshift range (0.3 < z < 0.44). Methods. In search of diffuse emission, deep radio imaging of the clusters are presented from wide band (1.1-3.1 GHz), full resolution (~5 arcsec) observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The visibilities were also imaged at lower resolution after point source modelling and subtraction and after a taper was applied to achieve better sensitivity to low surface brightness diffuse radio emission. In case of non-detection of diffuse sources, we set upper limits for the radio power of injected diffuse radio sources in the field of our observations. Furthermore, we discuss the dynamical state of the observed clusters based on an X-ray morphological analysis with XMM-Newton. Results. We detect a giant radio halo in PSZ2 G284.97-23.69 (z = 0.39) and a possible diffuse source in the nearly relaxed cluster PSZ2 G262.73-40.92 (z = 0.421). Our sample contains three highly disturbed massive clusters without clear traces of diffuse emission at the observed frequencies. We were able to inject modelled radio haloes with low values of total flux density to set upper detection limits; however, with our high-frequency observations we cannot exclude the presence of RH in these systems because of the sensitivity of our observations in combination with the high z of the observed clusters.

No Abstract Available

Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) observations at 144 MHz have revealed large-scale radio sources in the unrelaxed galaxy cluster Abell 1132. The cluster hosts diffuse radio emission on scales of ~650 kpc near the cluster centre and a head-tail (HT) radio galaxy, extending up to 1 Mpc, south of the cluster centre. The central diffuse radio emission is not seen in NRAO VLA FIRST Survey, Westerbork Northern Sky Survey, nor in C & D array VLA observations at 1.4 GHz, but is detected in our follow-up Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations at 325 MHz. Using LOFAR and GMRT data, we determine the spectral index of the central diffuse emission to be a =-1.75 ± 0.19 (S a va).We classify this emission as an ultra-steep spectrum radio halo and discuss the possible implications for the physical origin of radio haloes. The HT radio galaxy shows narrow, collimated emission extending up to 1 Mpc and another 300 kpc of more diffuse, disturbed emission, giving a full projected linear size of 1.3Mpc - classifying it as a giant radio galaxy (GRG) and making it the longest HT found to date. The head of the GRG coincides with an elliptical galaxy (SDSS J105851.01+564308.5) belonging to Abell 1132. In our LOFAR image, there appears to be a connection between the radio halo and the GRG. The turbulence that may have produced the halo may have also affected the tail of the GRG. In turn, the GRG may have provided seed electrons for the radio halo.

Despite the progress that has been made in understanding radio relics, there are still open questions regarding the underlying particle acceleration mechanisms. In this paper, we present deep 1-4 GHz Very Large Array (VLA) observations of CIZA J2242.8+5301 (z = 0.1921), a double radio relic cluster characterized by small projection on the plane of the sky. Our VLA observations reveal, for the first time, the complex morphology of the diffuse sources and the filamentary structure of the northern relic. We discover new, faint, diffuse radio emission extending north of the main northern relic. Our Mach number estimates for the northern and southern relics, based on the radio spectral index map obtained using the VLA observations and existing LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope data, are consistent with previous radio and X-ray studies (MRN = 2.58 ± 0.17 and MRS = 2.10 ± 0.08). However, color-color diagrams and models suggest a flatter injection spectral index than the one obtained from the spectral index map, indicating that projection effects might be not entirely negligible. The southern relic consists of five "arms." Embedded in it, we find a tailed radio galaxy that seems to be connected to the relic. A spectral index flattening, where the radio tail connects to the relic, is also measured. We propose that the southern relic may trace AGN fossil electrons that are reaccelerated by a shock, with an estimated strength of M = 2.4. High-resolution mapping of other tailed radio galaxies also supports a scenario where AGN fossil electrons are revived by the merger event and could be related to the formation of some diffuse cluster radio emission.

Extended, steep-spectrum radio synchrotron sources are pre-dominantly found in massive galaxy clusters as opposed to groups. LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey images have revealed a diffuse, ultra-steep-spectrum radio source in the low-mass cluster Abell 1931. The source has a fairly irregular morphology with the largest linear size of about 550 kpc. The source is only seen in LOFAR observations at 143 MHz and Giant Metre Radio Telescope observations at 325 MHz. The spectral index of the total source between 143 and 325 MHz is a 143325 = -2.86 ± 0.36. The source remains invisible in Very Large Array (1-2 GHz) observations as expected given the spectral index. Chandra X-ray observations of the cluster revealed a bolometric luminosity of LX =(1.65±0.39)×1043 erg s-1 and a temperature of 2.92-0.87+1.89 keV which implies a mass of around ~1014 M?. We conclude that the source is a remnant radio galaxy that has shut off around 200 Myr ago. The brightest cluster galaxy, a radio-loud elliptical galaxy, could be the source for this extinct source. Unlike remnant sources studied in the literature, our source has a steep spectrum at low radio frequencies. Studying such remnant radio galaxies at low radio frequencies is important for understanding the scarcity of such sources and their role in feedback processes.

Diffuse synchrotron radio emission from cosmic ray electrons is observed at the centre of a number of galaxy clusters. These sources can be classified either as giant radio haloes, which occur in merging clusters, or as mini haloes, which are found only in cool-core clusters. In this paper, we present the first discovery of a cool-core cluster with an associated mini halo that also shows ultra-steep-spectrum emission extending well beyond the core that resembles radio halo emission. The large-scale component is discovered thanks to LOFAR observations at 144 MHz. We also analyse GMRT observations at 610 MHz to characterize the spectrum of the radio emission. An X-ray analysis reveals that the cluster is slightly disturbed, and we suggest that the steep-spectrum radio emission outside the core could be produced by a minor merger that powers electron re-acceleration without disrupting the cool core. This discovery suggests that, under particular circumstances, both a mini halo and giant halo could co-exist in a single cluster, opening new perspectives for particle acceleration mechanisms in galaxy clusters.

Context. Radio loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) are episodic in nature, cycling through periods of activity and quiescence. The study of this duty cycle has recently gained new relevance because of the importance of AGN feedback for galaxy evolution. Aims. In this work we investigate the duty cycle of the radio galaxy B2 0258+35, which was previously suggested to be a restarted radio galaxy based on its morphology. The radio source consists of a pair of kpc-scale jets embedded in two large-scale lobes (~240 kpc) with relaxed shape and very low surface brightness, which resemble remnants of a past AGN activity. Methods. We have combined new LOFAR data at 145 MHz and new Sardinia Radio Telescope data at 6600 MHz with available WSRT data at 1400 MHz to investigate the spectral properties of the outer lobes and derive their age. Results. Interestingly, the spectrum of both the outer northern and southern lobes is not ultra-steep as expected for an old ageing plasma with spectral index values equal to a1451400 = 0.48 ± 0.11 and a14006600 = 0.69 ± 0.20 in the outer northern lobe, and a1451400 = 0.73 ± 0.07 in the outer southern lobe. Moreover, despite the wide frequency coverage available for the outer northern lobe (145-6600 MHz), we do not identify a significant spectral curvature (SPC ~ 0.2 ± 0.2). Conclusions. While mechanisms such as in-situ particle reacceleration, mixing or compression can temporarily play a role in preventing the spectrum from steepening, in no case seem the outer lobes to be compatible with being very old remnants of past activity as previously suggested (with age ? 80 Myr). We conclude that either the large-scale lobes are still fuelled by the nuclear engine or the jets have switched off no more than a few tens of Myr ago, allowing us to observe both the inner and outer structure simultaneously. Our study shows the importance of combining morphological and spectral properties to reliably classify the evolutionary stage of low surface brightness

We present the 25 square-degree GMRT-XXL-N 610 MHz radio continuum survey, conducted at 50 cm wavelength with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) towards the XXL Northern field (XXL-N). We combined previously published observations of the XMM-Large Scale Structure (XMM-LSS) field, located in the central part of XXL-N, with newly conducted observations towards the remaining XXL-N area, and imaged the combined data-set using the Source Peeling and Atmospheric Modeling (SPAM) pipeline. The final mosaic encompasses a total area of 30:4 square degrees, with rms <150 µJy beam-1 over 60% of the area. The rms achieved in the inner 9.6 square degree area, enclosing the XMM-LSS field, is about 200 µJy beam-1, while that over the outer 12.66 square degree area (which excludes the noisy edges) is about 45 µJy beam-1. The resolution of the final mosaic is 6.5 arcsec. We present a catalogue of 5434 sources detected at =7 × rms. We verify, and correct the reliability of, the catalog in terms of astrometry, flux, and false detection rate. Making use of the (to date) deepest radio continuum survey over a relatively large (2 square degree) field, complete at the flux levels probed by the GMRT-XXL-N survey, we also assess the survey's incompleteness as a function of flux density. The radio continuum sensitivity reached over a large field with a wealth of multi-wavelength data available makes the GMRTXXL- N 610 MHz survey an important asset for studying the physical properties, environments and cosmic evolution of radio sources, in particular radio-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN).

We present LOw Frequency Array 120–168 MHz images of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 1240 that hosts double radio relics. In combination with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope 595–629 MHz and Very Large Array 2–4 GHz data, we characterized the spectral and polarimetric properties of the radio emission. The spectral indices for the relics steepen from their outer edges towards the cluster centre and the electric field vectors are approximately perpendicular to the major axes of the relics. The results are consistent with the picture that these relics trace large-scale shocks propagating outwards during the merger. Assuming diffusive shock acceleration, we obtain shock Mach numbers of M=2.4 and 2.3 for the northern and southern shocks, respectively. For M≲3 shocks, a pre-existing population of mildly relativistic electrons is required to explain the brightness of the relics due to the high (>10 per cent) particle acceleration efficiency required. However, for M≳4 shocks the required efficiency is ≳1 per cent and ≳0.5 per cent, respectively, which is low enough for shock acceleration directly from the thermal pool. We used the fractional polarization to constrain the viewing angle to ≥53 ± 3° and ≥39 ± 5° for the northern and southern shocks, respectively. We found no evidence for diffuse emission in the cluster central region. If the halo spans the entire region between the relics (∼1.8 Mpc) our upper limit on the power is P1.4 GHz=(1.4±0.6)×1023W Hz−1 which is approximately equal to the anticipated flux from a cluster of this mass. However, if the halo is smaller than this, our constraints on the power imply that the halo is underluminous.

We report the discovery of the most distant radio galaxy to date, TGSS J1530+1049 at a redshift of z = 5.72, close to the presumed end of the Epoch of Reionization. The radio galaxy was selected from the TGSS ADR1 survey at 150 MHz for having an ultra-steep spectral index, a1.4 GHz150 MHz = -1.4 and a compact morphology obtained using VLA imaging at 1.4 GHz. No optical or infrared counterparts for the radio source were found in publicly available sky surveys. Follow-up optical spectroscopy at the radio position using GMOS on Gemini North revealed the presence of a single emission line. We identify this line as Lyman alpha at z = 5.72, because of its asymmetric line profile, the absence of other optical/UV lines in the spectrum, and a high equivalent width. With an Lya luminosity of 5.7 × 1042 erg s-1 and an FWHM of 370 km s-1, TGSS J1530+1049 is comparable to 'non-radio' Lyman alpha emitters (LAEs) at a similar redshift. However, with a radio luminosity of log L150MHz = 29.1 W Hz-1 and a deconvolved physical size 3.5 kpc, its radio properties are similar to other known radio galaxies at z > 4. Subsequent J and K band imaging using LUCI on the Large Binocular Telescope resulted in non-detection of the host galaxy down to 3s limits of J > 24.4 and K > 22.4 (Vega). The K band limit is consistent withz > 5 from the K-z relation for radio galaxies and helps rule out low redshifts. The stellar mass limit derived using simple stellar population models is Mstars < 1010.5 M?. Its relatively low stellar mass and small radio and Lya sizes suggest that TGSS J1530+1049 may be a radio galaxy in an early phase of its evolution.

Ultrasteep spectrum (USS) radio sources are good tracers of powerful radio galaxies at z > 2. Identification of even a single bright radio galaxy at z > 6 can be used to detect redshifted 21 cm absorption due to neutral hydrogen in the intervening intergalactic medium. Here we describe a new sample of high-redshift radio galaxy (HzRG) candidates constructed from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey First Alternative Data Release survey at 150 MHz. We employ USS selection (a = -1.3) in ~10 000 deg2, in combination with strict size selection and non-detections in all-sky optical and infrared surveys. We apply flux density cuts that probe a unique parameter space in flux density (50mJy < S150 < 200 mJy) to build a sample of 32 HzRG candidates. Follow-up Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) observations at 1.4 GHz with an average beam size of 1.3 arcsec revealed ~ 48 per cent of sources to have a single radio component. P-band (370 MHz) imaging of 17 of these sources revealed a flattening radio SED for 10 sources at low frequencies, which is expected from compact HzRGs. Two of our sources lie in fields where deeper multiwavelength photometry and ancillary radio data are available and for one of these we find a best-fitting photo-z of 4.8 ± 2.0. The other source has zphot = 1.4 ± 0.1 and a small angular size (3.7 arcsec), which could be associated with an obscured star-forming galaxy or with a 'dead' elliptical. One USS radio source not part of the HzRG sample but observed with the VLA none the less is revealed to be a candidate giant radio galaxy with a host galaxy photo-z of 1.8 ± 0.5, indicating a size of 875 kpc.

Aims. We show how the XXL multiwavelength survey can be used to shed light on radio galaxies and their environment. Methods. Two prominent radio galaxies were identified in a visual examination of the mosaic of XXL-North obtained with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 610 MHz. Counterparts were searched for in other bands. Spectroscopic redshifts from the GAMA database were used to identify clusters and/or groups of galaxies, estimate their masses with the caustic method, and quantify anisotropies in the surrounding galaxy distribution via a Fourier analysis. Results. Both radio galaxies are of FR I type and are hosted by early-type galaxies at a redshift of 0.138. The first radio source, named the Exemplar, has a physical extent of ~400 kpc; it is located in the cluster XLSSC 112, which has a temperature of ~2 keV, a total mass of ~1014 Mo, and resides in an XXL supercluster with eight known members. The second source, named the Double Irony, is a giant radio galaxy with a total length of about 1.1 Mpc. Its core coincides with a cataloged point-like X-ray source, but no extended X-ray emission from a surrounding galaxy cluster was detected. However, from the optical data we determined that the host is the brightest galaxy in a group that is younger, less virialized, and less massive than the Exemplar's cluster. A friends-of-friends analysis showed that the Double Irony's group is a member of the same supercluster as the Exemplar. There are indications that the jets and plumes of the Double Irony have been deflected by gas associated with the surrounding galaxy distribution. Another overdensity of galaxies (the tenth) containing a radio galaxy was found to be associated with the supercluster. Conclusions. Radio Galaxies can be used to find galaxy clusters/groups that are below the current sensitivity of X-ray surveys.

The radio spectral index is a powerful probe for classifying cosmic radio sources and understanding the origin of the radio emission. Combining data at 147 MHz and 1.4 GHz from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) and the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS), we produced a large-area radio spectral index map of ~80 per cent of the sky (Dec. > - 40 deg), as well as a radio spectral index catalogue containing 1396 515 sources, of which 503 647 are not upper or lower limits. Almost every TGSS source has a detected counterpart, while this is true only for 36 per cent of NVSS sources. We released both the map and the catalogue to the astronomical community. The catalogue is analysed to discover systematic behaviours in the cosmic radio population. We find a differential spectral behaviour between faint and bright sources as well as between compact and extended sources. These trends are explained in terms of radio galaxy evolution. We also confirm earlier reports of an excess of steep-spectrum sources along the galactic plane. This corresponds to 86 compact and steep-spectrum source in excess compared to expectations. The properties of this excess are consistent with normal non-recycled pulsars, which may have been missed by pulsation searches due to larger than average scattering along the line of sight.

We report L-band VLA observations of 1RXS J0603.3+4214, a cluster that hosts a bright radio relic, known as the Toothbrush, and an elongated giant radio halo. These new observations allow us to study the surface brightness distribution down to 1 arcsec resolution with very high sensitivity. Our images provide an unprecedented detailed view of the Toothbrush, revealing enigmatic filamentary structures. To study the spectral index distribution, we complement our analysis with published LOFAR and GMRT observations. The bright "brush" of the Toothbrush shows a prominent narrow ridge to its north with a sharp outer edge. The spectral index at the ridge is in the range -0.70 = a = -0.80. We suggest that the ridge is caused by projection along the line of sight. With a simple toy model for the smallest region of the ridge, we conclude that the magnetic field is below 5 µG and varies significantly across the shock front. Our model indicates that the actual Mach number is higher than that obtained from the injection index and agrees well with the one derived from the overall spectrum, namely M = 3.78+0.3-0.2. The radio halo shows an average spectral index of a = -1.16 ±0.05 and a slight gradient from north to south. The southernmost part of the halo is steeper and possibly related to a shock front. Excluding the southernmost part, the halo morphology agrees very well with the X-ray morphology. A power-law correlation is found between the radio and X-ray surface brightness.

Context. The ionosphere is the main driver of a series of systematic effects that limit our ability to explore the low-frequency (<1 GHz) sky with radio interferometers. Its effects become increasingly important towards lower frequencies and are particularly hard to calibrate in the low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) regime in which low-frequency telescopes operate. Aims. In this paper we characterise and quantify the effect of ionospheric-induced systematic errors on astronomical interferometric radio observations at ultra-low frequencies (<100 MHz). We also provide guidelines for observations and data reduction at these frequencies with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) and future instruments such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Methods. We derive the expected systematic error induced by the ionosphere. We compare our predictions with data from the Low Band Antenna (LBA) system of LOFAR. Results. We show that we can isolate the ionospheric effect in LOFAR LBA data and that our results are compatible with satellite measurements, providing an independent way to measure the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). We show how the ionosphere also corrupts the correlated amplitudes through scintillations. We report values of the ionospheric structure function in line with the literature. Conclusions. The systematic errors on the phases of LOFAR LBA data can be accurately modelled as a sum of four effects (clock, ionosphere first, second, and third order). This greatly reduces the number of required calibration parameters, and therefore enables new efficient calibration strategies.

We present a deep, low-frequency radio continuum study of the nearby Fanaroff-Riley class I (FR I) radio galaxy 3C 31 using a combination of LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR; 30-85 and 115-178 MHz), Very Large Array (VLA; 290-420 MHz), Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT; 609 MHz) and Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT; 615 MHz) observations. Our new LOFAR 145-MHz map shows that 3C 31 has a largest physical size of 1.1Mpc in projection, which means 3C 31 now falls in the class of giant radio galaxies. We model the radio continuum intensitieswith advective cosmic ray transport, evolving the cosmic ray electron population and magnetic field strength in the tails as functions of distance to the nucleus. We find that if there is no in situ particle acceleration in the tails, then decelerating flows are required that depend on radius r as v a rß (ß ˜ -1). This then compensates for the strong adiabatic losses due to the lateral expansion of the tails. We are able to find selfconsistent solutions in agreement with the entrainment model of Croston & Hardcastle, where the magnetic field provides ˜1/3 of the pressure needed for equilibrium with the surrounding intracluster medium. We obtain an advective time-scale of ˜190 Myr, which, if equated to the source age, would require an average expansion Mach number M˜ 5 over the source lifetime. Dynamical arguments suggest that instead either the outer tail material does not represent the oldest jet plasma or else the particle ages are underestimated due to the effects of particle acceleration on large scales.

Characterizing the diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission at arcminute angular scales is needed to reliably remove foregrounds in cosmological 21-cm measurements. The study of this emission is also interesting in its own right. Here, we quantify the fluctuations of the diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission using visibility data for two of the fields observed by the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey. We have used the 2D Tapered Gridded Estimator to estimate the angular power spectrum (Cℓ) from the visibilities. We find that the sky signal, after subtracting the point sources, is likely dominated by the diffuse Galactic synchrotron radiation across the angular multipole range 240 ≤ ℓ ≲ 500. We present a power-law fit, Cℓ=A×(1000l)β⁠, to the measured Cℓ over this ℓ range. We find that (A, β) have values (356 ± 109 mK2, 2.8 ± 0.3) and (54 ± 26 mK2, 2.2 ± 0.4) in the two fields. For the second field, however, there is indication of a significant residual point source contribution and for this field we interpret the measured Cℓ as an upper limit for the diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission. While in both fields the slopes are consistent with earlier measurements, the second field appears to have an amplitude that is considerably smaller compared to similar measurements in other parts of the sky.

Deep observations of nearby galaxy clusters with Chandra have revealed concave ‘bay’ structures in a number of systems (Perseus, Centaurus and Abell 1795), which have similar X-ray and radio properties. These bays have all the properties of cold fronts, where the temperature rises and density falls sharply, but are concave rather than convex. By comparing to simulations of gas sloshing, we find that the bay in the Perseus cluster bears a striking resemblance in its size, location and thermal structure, to a giant (≈50 kpc) roll resulting from Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities. If true, the morphology of this structure can be compared to simulations to put constraints on the initial average ratio of the thermal and magnetic pressure, β = pth/pB, throughout the overall cluster before the sloshing occurs, for which we find β = 200 to best match the observations. Simulations with a stronger magnetic field (β = 100) are disfavoured, as in these the large Kelvin–Helmholtz rolls do not form, while in simulations with a lower magnetic field (β = 500), the level of instabilities is much larger than is observed. We find that the bay structures in Centaurus and Abell 1795 may also be explained by such features of gas sloshing.

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120–168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 h, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5″ resolution images with a sensitivity of ~100 μJy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey, which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Owing to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44 000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25″, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45°00′00″ to 57°00′00″).

Context. Submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) represent an important source population in the origin and cosmic evolution of the most massive galaxies. Hence, it is imperative to place firm constraints on the fundamental physical properties of large samples of SMGs. Aims. We determine the physical properties of a sample of SMGs in the COSMOS field that were pre-selected at the observed-frame wavelength of λobs = 1.1 mm, and followed up at λobs = 1.3 mm with the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA). Methods. We used the MAGPHYS model package to fit the panchromatic (ultraviolet to radio) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 124 of the target SMGs, which lie at a median redshift of z = 2.30 (19.4% are spectroscopically confirmed). The SED analysis was complemented by estimating the gas masses of the SMGs by using the λobs = 1.3 mm dust emission as a tracer of the molecular gas component. Results. The sample median and 16th–84th percentile ranges of the stellar masses, obscured star formation rates, dust temperatures, and dust and gas masses were derived to be log(M⋆/M⊙) = 11.09+0.41-0.53, SFR = 402+661-233 M⊙ yr-1, Tdust = 39.7+9.7-7.4 K, log(Mdust/M⊙) = 9.01+0.20-0.31, and log(Mgas/M⊙ = 11.34+0.20-0.23, respectively. The Mdust/M⋆ ratio was found to decrease as a function of redshift, while the Mgas/Mdust ratio shows the opposite, positive correlation with redshift. The derived median gas-to-dust ratio of 120+73-30 agrees well with the canonical expectation. The gas fraction (Mgas/ (Mgas + M⋆)) was found to range from 0.10 to 0.98 with a median of 0.62+0.27-0.23. We found that 57.3% of our SMGs populate the main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies, while 41.9% of the sources lie above the MS by a factor of greater than three (one source lies below the MS). These super-MS objects, or starbursts, are preferentially found at z ≳ 3, which likely reflects the sensitivity limit of our source selection. We estimated that the median gas consumption timescale for

Galaxy clusters are the most massive constituents of the large-scale structure of the universe. Although the hot thermal gas that pervades galaxy clusters is relatively well understood through observations with x-ray satellites, our understanding of the nonthermal part of the intracluster medium (ICM) remains incomplete. With Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations, we have identified a phenomenon that can be unveiled only at extremely low radio frequencies and offers new insights into the nonthermal component. We propose that the interplay between radio-emitting plasma and the perturbed intracluster medium can gently reenergize relativistic particles initially injected by active galactic nuclei. Sources powered through this mechanism can maintain electrons at higher energies than radiative aging would allow. If this mechanism is common for aged plasma, a population of mildly relativistic electrons can be accumulated inside galaxy clusters providing the seed population for merger-induced reacceleration mechanisms on larger scales such as turbulence and shock waves.

Context. Galaxy clusters undergo mergers that can generate extended radio sources called radio relics. Radio relics are the consequence of merger-induced shocks that propagate in the intra cluster medium (ICM). Aims. In this paper we analyse the radio, optical and X-ray data from a candidate galaxy cluster that has been selected from the radio emission coming from a candidate radio relic detected in NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). Our aim is to clarify the nature of this source and prove that under certain conditions radio emission from radio relics can be used to trace relatively low-mass galaxy clusters. Methods. We observed the candidate galaxy cluster with the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at three different frequencies. These datasets have been analysed together with archival data from ROSAT in the X-ray and with archival data from the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-Infrared Detector (GROND) telescope in four different optical bands. Results. We confirm the presence of a 1 Mpc long radio relic located in the outskirts of a previously unknown galaxy cluster. We confirm the presence of the galaxy cluster through dedicated optical observations and using archival X-ray data. Due to its proximity and similar redshift to a known Abell cluster, we named it Abell 3527-bis. The galaxy cluster is amongst the least massive clusters known to host a radio relic. Conclusions. We showed that radio relics can be effectively used to trace a subset of relatively low-mass galaxy clusters that might have gone undetected in X-ray or Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) surveys. This technique might be used in future deep, low-frequency surveys such as those carried on by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), the Upgraded GMRT (uGMRT) and, ultimately, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

We present a low-frequency view of the Perseus cluster with new observations from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) at 230-470 MHz. The data reveal a multitude of new structures associated with the mini-halo. The mini-halo seems to be influenced both by the AGN activity and the sloshing motion of the cool core cluster's gas. In addition, it has a filamentary structure similar to that seen in radio relics found in merging clusters. We present a detailed description of the data reduction and imaging process of the dataset. The depth and resolution of the observations allow us to conduct for the first time a detailed comparison of the mini-halo structure with the X-ray structure as seen in the Chandra X-ray images. The resulting image very clearly shows that the mini-halo emission is mostly contained behind the western cold front, similar to that predicted by simulations of gas sloshing in galaxy clusters, but fainter emission is also seen beyond, as if particles are leaking out. However, due to the proximity of the Perseus cluster, as well as the quality of the data at low radio frequencies and at X-ray wavelengths, we also find evidence of fine structure. This structure includes several radial radio filaments extending in different directions, a concave radio structure associated with the southern X-ray bay and sharp radio edges that correlate with X-ray edges. Minihaloes are therefore not simply diffuse, uniform radio sources, but rather have a rich variety of complex structures. These results illustrate the high-quality images that can be obtained with the new JVLA at low radio frequencies, as well as the necessity to obtain deeper, higher fidelity radio images of mini-haloes in clusters to further understand their origin.

We present a study of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback at higher redshifts (0.3 < z < 1.2) using Sunyaev-Zel'dovich selected samples of clusters from the South Pole Telescope and Atacama Cosmology Telescope surveys. In contrast to studies of nearby systems, we do not find a separation between cooling flow (CF) clusters and non-CF clusters based on the radio luminosity of the central radio source (cRS). This lack may be due to the increased incidence of galaxy-galaxy mergers at higher redshift that triggers AGN activity. In support of this scenario, we find evidence for evolution in the radio-luminosity function of the cRS, while the lower luminosity sources do not evolve much, the higher luminosity sources show a strong increase in the frequency of their occurrence at higher redshifts. We interpret this evolution as an increase in high-excitation radio galaxies (HERGs) in massive clusters at z > 0.6, implying a transition from HERG-mode accretion to lower power low-excitation radio galaxy (LERG)-mode accretion at intermediate redshifts. Additionally, we use local radio-to-jet power scaling relations to estimate feedback power and find that half of the CF systems in our sample probably have enough heating to balance cooling. However, we postulate that the local relations are likely not well suited to predict feedback power in high-luminosity HERGs, as they are derived from samples composed mainly of lower luminosity LERGs.

The infrared-radio correlation (IRRC) offers a way to assess star formation from radio emission. Multiple studies found the IRRC to decrease with increasing redshift. This may in part be due to the lack of knowledge about the possible radio spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of star-forming galaxies. We constrain the radio SED of a complete sample of highly star-forming galaxies (SFR > 100 M?/ yr) based on the VLA-COSMOS 1.4 GHz Joint and 3 GHz Large Project catalogs. We reduce archival GMRT 325 MHz and 610 MHz observations, broadening the rest-frame frequency range to 0.3-15 GHz. Employing survival analysis and fitting a double power law SED, we find that the slope steepens from a spectral index of a1 = 0.51±0.04 below 4.5 GHz to a2 = 0.98±0.07 above 4.5 GHz. Our results suggest that the use of a K-correction assuming a single power-law radio SED for star forming galaxies is likely not the root cause of the IRRC trend.

The goal of this study is to extend our current knowledge of the diffuse radio source (halo and relic) populations to z > 0.3. Here, we report GMRT and EVLA radio observations of six galaxy clusters taken from the MAssive Cluster Survey (MACS) catalogue to detect diffuse radio emission. We used archival GMRT (150, 235, and 610 MHz) and EVLA (L band) data and made images at multiple radio frequencies of the following six clusters – MACSJ0417.5−1154, MACSJ1131.8−1955, MACSJ0308.9+2645, MACSJ2243.3−0935, MACSJ2228.5+2036, and MACSJ0358.8−2955. We detect diffuse radio emission (halo or relic, or both) in the first four clusters. In the last two clusters, we do not detect any diffuse radio emission but we put stringent upper limits on their radio powers. We also use archival Chandra X-ray data to carry out morphology and substructure analysis of these clusters. We find that based on X-ray data, these MACS clusters are non-relaxed and show substructures in their temperature distribution. The radio powers of the first four MACS clusters are consistent with their expected values in the LX–P1.4 GHz plot. However, we found ultrasteep spectrum radio halo in the MACSJ0417.5−1154 cluster whose rest-frame cut-off frequency is at ∼900 MHz. The remaining two clusters whose radio powers are ∼11 times below the expected values are most likely to be in the ‘off-state’ as has been postulated in some of the models of radio halo formation.

© 2017 URSI. We derive the expected systematic error induced by the ionosphere on radio astronomical observations at low frequencies. We compare our predictions with data from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). We show that the systematic errors on the phases of the instrument can be described as a sum of four effects (clock, ionosphere 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order). We show that the ionosphere corrupts also the recorded data amplitude through scintillations. Finally, we report values of the ionosphere structure function in line with the literature.

We present calibrations for star formation rate (SFR) indicators in the ultraviolet, mid-infrared, and radiocontinuumbands, including one of the first direct calibrations of 150 MHz as an SFR indicator. Our calibrationsutilize 66 nearby star-forming galaxies with Balmer-decrement-corrected Ha luminosities, which span five ordersof magnitude in SFR and have absolute magnitudes of -24 < Mr < -12. Most of our photometry andspectrophotometry are measured from the same region of each galaxy, and our spectrophotometry has beenvalidated with SDSS photometry, so our random and systematic errors are small relative to the intrinsic scatter seenin SFR indicator calibrations. We find that the Wide-field Infrared Space Explorer W4 (22.8 µm), Spitzer 24 µm,and 1.4 GHz bands have tight correlations with the Balmer-decrement-corrected Ha luminosity, with a scatter ofonly 0.2 dex. Our calibrations are comparable to those from the prior literature for L* galaxies, but for dwarfgalaxies, our calibrations can give SFRs that are far greater than those derived from most previous literature.

The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope is an international aperture synthesis radio telescope used to study the Universe at low frequencies. One of the goals of the LOFAR telescope is to conduct deep wide-field surveys. Here we will discuss a framework for the processing of the LOFAR Two Meter Sky Survey (LoTSS). This survey will produce close to 50 PB of data within five years. These data rates require processing at locations with high-speed access to the archived data. To complete the LoTSS project, the processing software needs to be made portable and moved to clusters with a high bandwidth connection to the data archive. This work presents a framework that makes the LOFAR software portable, and is used to scale out LOFAR data reduction. Previous work was successful in pre-processing LOFAR data on a cluster of isolated nodes. This framework builds upon it and and is currently operational. It is designed to be portable, scalable, automated and general. This paper describes its design and high level operation and the initial results processing LoTSS data.

We present the VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project based on 384 h of observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) at 3 GHz (10 cm) toward the two square degree Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field. The final mosaic reaches a median rms of 2.3 µJy beam-1 over the two square degrees at an angular resolution of 0.75?. To fully account for the spectral shape and resolution variations across the broad (2 GHz) band, we image all data with a multiscale, multifrequency synthesis algorithm. We present a catalog of 10 830 radio sources down to 5s, out of which 67 are combined from multiple components. Comparing the positions of our 3 GHz sources with those from the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)-COSMOS survey, we estimate that the astrometry is accurate to 0.01? at the bright end (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N3 GHz > 20). Survival analysis on our data combined with the VLA-COSMOS 1.4 GHz Joint Project catalog yields an expected median radio spectral index of a = -0.7. We compute completeness corrections via Monte Carlo simulations to derive the corrected 3 GHz source counts. Our counts are in agreement with previously derived 3 GHz counts based on single-pointing (0.087 square degrees) VLA data. In summary, the VLA-COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project simultaneously provides the largest and deepest radio continuum survey at high (0.75?) angular resolution to date, bridging the gap between last-generation and next-generation surveys.

In this paper, we test the possibility that the structure of the largest radio galaxy J1420-0545 may have been formed by restarted rather than primary jet activity. This hypothesis was motivated by the unusual morphological properties of the source consisting of two edge-brightened, narrow, highly collinear, and symmetric lobes, thus suggesting an almost ballistic propagation of powerful jets into a particularly low-density external medium. New observations made with the VLA together with the currently available gleam and TGSS ADR1 data releases allow the detection of an excess emission at low frequencies. An extracted part (88 MHz-200 MHz) of the spectrum of the emission is fitted with the dynage model, giving a forecast for the environmental conditions and the energetic requirements for the presumed old cocoon related to a preceding epoch of jet activity.

High-redshift quasars are important to study galaxy and active galactic nuclei evolution, test cosmological models and study supermassive black hole growth. Optical searches for high-redshift sources have been very successful, but radio searches are not hampered by dust obscuration and should be more effective at finding sources at even higher redshifts. Identifying high-redshift sources based on radio data is, however, not trivial. Here we report on newmultifrequency Giant MetrewaveRadio Telescope observations of eight z > 4.5 sources previously studied at high angular resolution with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). Combining these observations with those from the literature, we construct broad-band radio spectra of all 30 z > 4.5 sources that have been observed with VLBI. In the sample we found flat, steep and peaked spectra in approximately equal proportions. Despite several selection effects, we conclude that the z > 4.5 VLBI (and likely also non-VLBI) sources have diverse spectra and that only about a quarter of the sources in the sample have flat spectra. Previously, the majority of high-redshift radio sources were identified based on their ultrasteep spectra. Recently, a new method has been proposed to identify these objects based on their megahertzpeaked spectra. No method would have identified more than 18 per cent of the high-redshift sources in this sample. More effective methods are necessary to reliably identify complete samples of high-redshift sources based on radio data.

Previous studies have shown that CIZA J2242.8+5301 (the 'Sausage' cluster, z = 0.192) is a massive merging galaxy cluster that hosts a radio halo and multiple relics. In this paper, we present deep, high-fidelity, low-frequency images made with the LOw-Frequency Array (LOFAR) between 115.5 and 179 MHz. These images, with a noise of 140 µJy beam-1 and a resolution of ?beam = 7.3 arcsec × 5.3 arcsec, are an order of magnitude more sensitive and five times higher resolution than previous low-frequency images of this cluster. We combined the LOFAR data with the existing Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) (153, 323, 608 MHz) andWesterbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) (1.2, 1.4, 1.7, 2.3 GHz) data to study the spectral properties of the radio emission from the cluster. Assuming diffusive shock acceleration (DSA), we found Mach numbers of Mn = 2.7-0.3+0.6 and Ms = 1.9-0.2+0.3 for the northern and southern shocks. The derived Mach number for the northern shock requires an acceleration efficiency of several percent to accelerate electrons from the thermal pool, which is challenging for DSA. Using the radio data, we characterized the eastern relic as a shock wave propagating outwards with aMach number of Me = 2.4-0.3+0.5, which is in agreement with MeX=2.5-0.2+0.6 that we derived from Suzaku data. The eastern shock is likely to be associated with the major cluster merger. The radio halo was measured with a flux of 346 ± 64 mJy at 145 MHz. Across the halo, we observed a spectral index that remains approximately constant aacross~1Mpc2145 MHz-2.3 GHz=-1.01 ± 0.10) after the steepening in the post-shock region of the northern relic. This suggests a generation of post-shock turbulence that re-energies aged electrons.

We present radio observations of the galaxy cluster PLCK G004.5-19.5 (z = 0.52) using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 150 MHz, 325 MHz, and 610 MHz. We find an unusual arrangement of diffuse radio emission in the center and periphery of the cluster, as well as several radio galaxies with head-tail emission. A patch of peripheral emission resembles a radio relic, and central emission resembles a radio halo. Reanalysis of archival XMM-Newton X-ray data shows that PLCK G004.5-19.5 is disturbed, which has a known correlation with the existence of radio relics and halos. Given that the number of known radio halos and radio relics at z > 0.5 is very limited, PLCK G004.5-19.5 is an important addition to understanding merger-related particle acceleration at higher redshifts.

The Fermi Large Area Telescope has detected an extended region of GeV emission towards the Galactic Centre that is currently thought to be powered by dark matter annihilation or a population of young and/or millisecond pulsars. In a test of the pulsar hypothesis, we have carried out an initial search of a 20 deg2 area centred on the peak of the galactic centre GeV excess. Candidate pulsars were identified as a compact, steep spectrum continuum radio source on interferometric images and followed with targeted single-dish pulsation searches. We report the discovery of the recycled pulsar PSR 1751−2737 with a spin period of 2.23 ms. PSR 1751−2737 appears to be an isolated recycled pulsar located within the disc of our Galaxy, and it is not part of the putative bulge population of pulsars that are thought to be responsible for the excess GeV emission. However, our initial success in this small pilot survey suggests that this hybrid method (i.e. wide-field interferometric imaging followed up with single-dish pulsation searches) may be an efficient alternative strategy for testing whether a putative bulge population of pulsars is responsible for the GeV excess.

We present a new analysis of the widely used relation between cavity power and radio luminosity in clusters of galaxies with evidence for strong AGN feedback. We studied the correlation at low radio frequencies using two new surveys - the first alternative data release of the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS ADR1) at 148 MHz and LOFAR's firstall-sky survey, the Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS) at 140 MHz. We find a scaling relation Pcav Lß148Pcav L148ß, with a logarithmic slope of ß = 0.51 ± 0.14, which is in good agreement with previous results based on data at 327 MHz. The large scatter present in this correlation confirms the conclusion reached at higher frequencies that the total radio luminosity at a single frequency is a poor predictor of the total jet power. Previous studies have shown that the magnitude of this scatter can be reduced when bolometric radio luminosity corrected for spectral aging is used. We show that including additional measurements at 148 MHz alone is insufficient to improve this correction and further reduce the scatter in the correlation. For a subset of four well-resolved sources, we examined the detected extended structures at low frequencies and compare with the morphology known from higher frequency images and Chandra X-ray maps. In the case of Perseus we discuss details in the structures of the radio mini-halo, while in the 2A 0335+096 cluster we observe new diffuse emission associated with multiple X-ray cavities and likely originating from past activity. For A2199 and MS 0735.6+7421, we confirm that the observed low-frequency radio lobes are confined to the extents known from higher frequencies. This new low-frequency analysis highlights the fact that existing cavity power to radio luminosity relations are based on a relatively narrow range of AGN outburst ages. We discuss how the correlation could be extended using low frequency data from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) in combination with future, complementary deeper X

We present a study of the low-frequency radio properties of star-forming (SF) galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) up to redshift z = 2.5. The new spectral window probed by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) allows us to reconstruct the radio continuum emission from 150 MHz to 1.4 GHz to an unprecedented depth for a radio-selected sample of 1542 galaxies in ~7deg2 of the LOFAR Bootes field. Using the extensive multiwavelength data set available in Bootes and detailed modelling of the far-infrared to ultraviolet spectral energy distribution (SED), we are able to separate the star formation (N = 758) and the AGN (N = 784) dominated populations. We study the shape of the radio SEDs and their evolution across cosmic time and find significant differences in the spectral curvature between the SF galaxy and AGN populations. While the radio spectra of SF galaxies exhibit a weak but statistically significant flattening, AGN SEDs show a clear trend to become steeper towards lower frequencies. No evolution of the spectral curvature as a function of redshift is found for SF galaxies or AGNs. We investigate the redshift evolution of the infrared-radio correlation for SF galaxies and find that the ratio of total infrared to 1.4-GHz radio luminosities decreases with increasing redshift: q1.4 GHz = (2.45 ± 0.04) (1 + z)-0.15 ± 0.03. Similarly, q150MHz shows a redshift evolution following q150 GHz = (1.72 ± 0.04) (1 + z)-0.22 ± 0.05. Calibration of the 150MHz radio luminosity as a star formation rate tracer suggests that a single power-law extrapolation from q1.4 GHz is not an accurate approximation at all redshifts.

Radio haloes are diffuse synchrotron sources on scales of ~1 Mpc that are found in merging clusters of galaxies, and are believed to be powered by electrons re-accelerated by mergerdriven turbulence. We present measurements of extended radio emission on similarly large scales in two clusters of galaxies hosting cool cores: Abell 2390 and Abell 2261. The analysis is based on interferometric imaging with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, Very Large Array and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope.We present detailed radio images of the targets, subtract the compact emission components and measure the spectral indices for the diffuse components. The radio emission in A2390 extends beyond a known sloshing-like brightness discontinuity, and has a very steep in-band spectral slope at 1.5 GHz that is similar to some known ultrasteep spectrum radio haloes. The diffuse signal in A2261 is more extended than in A2390 but has lower luminosity. X-ray morphological indicators, derived from XMM-Newton X-ray data, place these clusters in the category of relaxed or regular systems, although some asymmetric features that can indicate past minor mergers are seen in the X-ray brightness images. If these two Mpc-scale radio sources are categorized as giant radio haloes, they question the common assumption of radio haloes occurring exclusively in clusters undergoing violent merging activity, in addition to commonly used criteria for distinguishing between radio haloes and minihaloes.

We present the first full release of a survey of the 150 MHz radio sky, observed with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) between April 2010 and March 2012 as part of the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS) project. Aimed at producing a reliable compact source survey, our automated data reduction pipeline efficiently processed more than 2000 h of observations with minimal human interaction. Through application of innovative techniques such as image-based flagging, direction-dependent calibration of ionospheric phase errors, correcting for systematic offsets in antenna pointing, and improving the primary beam model, we created good quality images for over 95 percent of the 5336 pointings. Our data release covers 36 900 deg2 (or 3.6 p steradians) of the sky between-53° and +90° declination (Dec), which is 90 percent of the total sky. The majority of pointing images have a noise level below 5 mJy beam-1 with an approximate resolution of 25''×25'' (or 25''×25''/cos(Dec-19°) for pointings south of 19° declination). We have produced a catalog of 0.62 Million radio sources derived from an initial, high reliability source extraction at the seven sigma level. For the bulk of the survey, the measured overall astrometric accuracy is better than two arcseconds in right ascension and declination, while the flux density accuracy is estimated at approximately ten percent. Within the scope of the TGSS alternative data release (TGSS ADR) project, the source catalog, as well as 5336 mosaic images (5°×5°) and an image cutout service, are made publicly available at the CDS as a service to the astronomical community. Next to enabling a wide range of different scientific investigations, we anticipate that these survey products will provide a solid reference for various new low-frequency radio aperture array telescopes (LOFAR, LWA, MWA, SKA-low), and can play an important role in characterizing the epoch-of-reionisation (EoR) foreground. The TGSS ADR project aims at continuously improving

Context. Submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) in the early Universe are potential antecedents of the most massive galaxies we see in the present-day Universe. An important step towards quantifying this galactic evolutionary connection is to investigate the fundamental physical properties of SMGs, such as their stellar mass content (M*) and star formation rate (SFR). Aims. We attempt to characterise the physical nature of a 1.1 mm selected, flux-limited, and interferometrically followed up sample of SMGs in the COSMOS field. Methods. We used the latest release of the MAGPHYS code to fit the multiwavelength (UV to radio) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of 16 of the target SMGs, which lie at redshifts z ~ 1.6-5.3. We also constructed the pure radio SEDs of our SMGs using three different radio bands (325 MHz, 1.4 GHz, and 3 GHz). Moreover, since two SMGs in our sample, AzTEC 1 and AzTEC 3, benefit from previous 12C16O line observations, we studied their properties in more detail. Results. The median and 16th-84th percentile ranges of M*, infrared (8-1000 µm) luminosity (LIR), SFR, dust temperature (Tdust), and dust mass (Mdust) were derived to be log (M*/M?) = 10.96+ 0.34-0.19, log (LIR/L?) = 12.93+ 0.09-0.19, SFR = 856+ 191-310M? yr-1, Tdust = 40.6+ 7.5-8.1 K, and log (Mdust/M?) = 9.17+ 0.03-0.33, respectively. We found that 63% of our target SMGs lie above the galaxy main sequence by more than a factor of 3 and, hence, are starbursts. The 3 GHz radio sizes we have previously measured for the target SMGs were compared with the present M* estimates, and we found that the z> 3 SMGs are fairly consistent with the mass-size relationship of z ~ 2 compact, quiescent galaxies (cQGs). The median radio spectral index is found to be a = -0.77+ 0.28-0.42. The median IR-radio correlation parameter is found to be q = 2.27+ 0.27-0.13, which is lower than was measured locally (median q = 2.64). The gas-to-dust mass ratio for AzTEC 1 is derived to be dgdr = 90+ 23-19, while that for

Sgr B2 is a well-known star-forming molecular cloud complex in the Galactic center region showing evidence of high energy activity as traced by the Kα neutral Fe I line at 6.4 keV, as well as GeV and TeV γ-ray emission. Here, we present Very Large Array and GMRT observations with respective resolutions of approx. 3.”5 x 1.”2 and 25” x 25” and report the detection of an OH(1720 MHz) maser, with no accompanying OH 1665, 1667, and 1612 MHz maser emission. The maser coincides with a 150 MHz nonthermal radio source in Sgr B2(M). This rare class of OH(1720 MHz) masers or the so-called supernova remnant (SNR) masers, with no main line transitions, trace shocked gas and signal the interaction of an expanding SNR with a molecular cloud. We interpret the 150 MHz radio source as either the site of a SNR–molecular gas interaction or a wind–wind collision in a massive binary system. The interaction of the molecular cloud and the nonthermal source enhances the cosmic-ray ionization rate, allows the diffusion of cosmic rays into the cloud, and produces the variable 6.4 keV line, GeV, and TeV γ-ray emission from Sgr B2(M). The cosmic-ray electron interaction with the gas in the Galactic center can not only explain the measured high values of cosmic-ray ionization and heating rates but also contribute to nonthermal bremsstrahlung continuum emission, all of which are consistent with observations.

Context. The majority of bright extragalactic γ-ray sources are blazars. Only a few radio galaxies have been detected by Fermi/LAT. Recently, the GHz-peaked spectrum source PKS 1718–649 was confirmed to be γ-ray bright, providing further evidence for the existence of a population of γ-ray loud, compact radio galaxies. A spectral turnover in the radio spectrum in the MHz to GHz range is a characteristic feature of these objects, which are thought to be young due to their small linear sizes. The multiwavelength properties of the γ-ray source PMN J1603–4904 suggest that it is a member of this source class. Aims. The known radio spectrum of PMN J1603–4904 can be described by a power law above 1 GHz. Using observations from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 150, 325, and 610 MHz, we investigate the behavior of the spectrum at lower frequencies to search for a low-frequency turnover. Methods. Data from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS ADR) catalog and archival GMRT observations were used to construct the first MHz to GHz spectrum of PMN J1603–4904. Results. We detect a low-frequency turnover of the spectrum and measure the peak position at about 490 MHz (rest-frame), which, using the known relation of peak frequency and linear size, translates into a maximum linear source size of ~1.4 kpc. Conclusions. The detection of the MHz peak indicates that PMN J1603–4904 is part of this population of radio galaxies with turnover frequencies in the MHz to GHz regime. Therefore it can be considered the second confirmed object of this kind detected in γ-rays. Establishing this γ-ray source class will help to investigate the γ-ray production sites and to test broadband emission models.

We present results based on X-ray, optical, and radio observations of the massive galaxy cluster CIZA J0107.7+5408. We find that this system is a post-core-passage, dissociative, binary merger, with the optical galaxy density peaks of each subcluster leading their associated X-ray emission peaks. This separation occurs because the diffuse gas experiences ram pressure forces, while the effectively collisionless galaxies (and presumably their associated dark matter (DM) halos) do not. This system contains double-peaked diffuse radio emission, possibly a double radio relic with the relics lying along the merger axis and also leading the X-ray cores. We find evidence for a temperature peak associated with the SW relic, likely created by the same merger shock that is powering the relic radio emission in this region. Thus, this system is a relatively rare, clean example of a dissociative binary merger, which can in principle be used to place constraints on the self-interaction cross-section of DM. Low-frequency radio observations reveal ultra-steep spectrum diffuse radio emission that is not correlated with the X-ray, optical, or high-frequency radio emission. We suggest that these sources are radio phoenixes, which are preexisting non-thermal particle populations that have been re-energized through adiabatic compression by the same merger shocks that power the radio relics. Finally, we place upper limits on inverse Compton emission from the SW radio relic.

We present the detection of a giant radio halo (GRH) in the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ)-selected merging galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0256.5+0006 (z = 0.363), observed with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 325 and 610 MHz. We find this cluster to host a faint (S610= 5.6 ± 1.4 mJy) radio halo with an angular extent of 2.6 arcmin, corresponding to 0.8 Mpc at the cluster redshift, qualifying it as a GRH. J0256 is one of the lowest mass systems, M500, SZ= (5.0 ± 1.2) × 1014M?, found to host a GRH. We measure the GRH at lower significance at 325 MHz (S325= 10.3 ± 5.3 mJy), obtaining a spectral index measurement of a325610= 1.0-0.9+0.7. This result is consistent with the mean spectral index of the population of typical radio haloes, a = 1.2 ± 0.2. Adopting the latter value, we determine a 1.4 GHz radio power of P1.4 GHz= (1.0 ± 0.3) × 1024W Hz-1, placing this cluster within the scatter of known scaling relations. Various lines of evidence, including the intracluster medium morphology, suggest that ACT-CL J0256.5+0006 is composed of two subclusters. We determine a merger mass ratio of 7:4, and a line-of-sight velocity difference of v? = 1880 ± 210 km s-1. We construct a simple merger model to infer relevant time-scales in the merger. From its location on the P1.4 GHz-LXscaling relation, we infer that we observe ACT-CL J0256.5+0006 just before first core crossing.

Radio relics are Mpc-scale diffuse radio sources at the peripheries of galaxy clusters which are thought to trace outgoing merger shocks. We present XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 (z = 0.306), which reveal the presence of a shock front 1.5 Mpc east of the cluster core. The surface-brightness jump coincides with the position of a known radio relic. Although the surface-brightness jump indicates a weak shock with a Mach number M=1.7-0.3+0.5, the plasma in the post-shock region has been heated to a very high temperature (~13 keV) by the passage of the shock wave. The low-acceleration efficiency expected from such a weak shock suggests that mildly relativistic electrons have been re-accelerated by the passage of the shock front.

LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array, is a powerful new radio telescope operating between 10 and 240 MHz. LOFAR allows detailed sensitive high-resolution studies of the low-frequency radio sky. At the same time LOFAR also provides excellent short baseline coverage to map diffuse extended emission. However, producing highquality deep images is challenging due to the presence of direction-dependent calibration errors, caused by imperfect knowledge of the station beam shapes and the ionosphere. Furthermore, the large data volume and presence of station clock errors present additional difficulties. In this paper we present a new calibration scheme, which we name facet calibration, to obtain deep high-resolution LOFAR High Band Antenna images using the Dutch part of the array. This scheme solves and corrects the direction-dependent errors in a number of facets that cover the observed field of view. Facet calibration provides close to thermal noise limited images for a typical 8 hr observing run at ~5' resolution, meeting the specifications of the LOFAR Tier-1 northern survey.

We report on a search for steep spectrum radio sources within the 95 per cent confidence error ellipses of the Fermi unassociated sources from the Large Area Telescope (LAT). Using existing catalogues and the newly released Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope all-sky survey at 150 MHz, we identify compact radio sources that are bright at MHz frequencies but faint or absent at GHz frequencies. Such steep spectrum radio sources are rare and constitute a sample of pulsar candidates, selected independently of period, dispersion measure, interstellar scattering and orbital parameters. We find point-like, steep spectrum candidates towards 11 Fermi sources. Based on the gamma-ray/radio positional coincidence, the rarity of such radio sources, and the properties of the 3FGL sources themselves, we argue that many of these sources could be pulsars. They may have been missed by previous radio periodicity searches due to interstellar propagation effects or because they lie in an unusually tight binary. If this hypothesis is correct, then renewed gamma-ray and radio periodicity searches at the positions of the steep spectrum radio sources may reveal pulsations.