Showing papers by "John Reynolds published in 2001"

Evolution of the Radio Remnant of SN 1987A: 1990 -- 2001

Abstract: The development of the radio remnant of SN 1987A has been followed using the Australia Telescope Compact Array since its first detection in 1990 August. The remnant has been observed at four frequencies, 1.4, 2.4, 4.8 and 8.6 GHz, at intervals of 4 - 6 weeks since the first detection. These data are combined with the 843 MHz data set of Ball et al. (2001) obtained at Molonglo Observatory to study the spectral and temporal variations of the emission. These observations show that the remnant continues to increase in brightness, with a larger rate of increase at recent times. They also show that the radio spectrum is becoming flatter, with the spectral index changing from -0.97 to -0.88 over the 11 years. In addition, at roughly yearly intervals since 1992, the remnant has been imaged at 9 GHz using super-resolution techniques to obtain an effective synthesised beamwidth of about 0".5. The imaging observations confirm the shell-morphology of the radio remnant and show that it continues to expand at ~3000 km/s. The bright regions of radio emission seen on the limb of the shell do not appear to be related to the optical hotspots which have subsequently appeared in surrounding circumstellar material.

Starburst or Seyfert? Adding a Radio and Far-Infrared Perspective to the Investigation of Activity in Composite Galaxies

Abstract: It was once common to regard Seyfert and starburst galaxies as completely different types of object, but there is growing recognition that these classifications refer to the extremes of a continuous spectrum of galaxy types. In a previous study we investigated a sample of galaxies with ambiguous optical emission-line ratios and concluded from near-infrared spectroscopic observations that the sample consisted of composite galaxies, containing both a starburst and an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We now extend our study using radio synthesis and long-baseline interferometer observations made with the Australia Telescope, together with far-infrared IRAS observations, to discuss the relative contribution of starburst and AGN components to the overall luminosity of the composite galaxies. We find that only a small fraction of the radio emission ( 90%) is probably due to the starburst component. We also show that an AGN contribution to the optical emission of as little as 10% is sufficient to account for the ambiguous line-ratio diagnostics.

Maser maps and magnetic field of OH 323.459-0.079

Abstract: The maser site OH 323.459−0.079 has been studied using the Long Baseline Array of the Australia Telescope National Facility. Simultaneous observations of the 1665- and 1667-MHz hydroxyl ground-state transitions yielded a series of maps at a velocity spacing of 0.18 km s−1, in both senses of circular polarization, with tenth-arcsec spatial resolution. Many small-diameter maser spots were detected within a 2-arcsec region. Pairs of spots with the same position, but with right- and left-hand circular polarization offset in frequency, reveal Zeeman splitting. Six pairs were found, and in four cases, the pairs at 1667 and 1665 MHz mutually corroborate the derived values of magnetic field and (central) kinematic velocity. Over the whole site, magnetic field estimates range from +1.47 to +4.13 mG with a median value of +2.5 mG. The excited state of OH at 6035 MHz also displays Zeeman pairs revealing a similar magnetic field, and we show that the most prominent of these pairs coincides with the most prominent pair at 1665 and 1667 MHz. We also compared the morphology and kinematics at 1665 and 1667 MHz with those of maser emission from the excited state of OH at 6035 MHz and from methanol at 6668 MHz. All three varieties of masers appear intermingled, and associated with an ultracompact H ii region. In many respects we find that OH 323.459−0.079 is similar to W3(OH), one of the few other maser sites yet studied in comparable detail.

Space–VLBI observations of the OH maser OH 34.26+0.15: low interstellar scattering

Abstract: We report on the first space–VLBI observations of the OH 34.26+0.15 maser in two main-line OH transitions at 1665 and 1667 MHz. The observations involved the space radio telescope on board the Japanese satellite HALCA and an array of ground radio telescopes. The map of the maser region and images of individual maser spots were produced with an angular resolution of 1 mas, which is several times higher than the angular resolution available on the ground. The maser spots were only partly resolved and a lower limit to the brightness temperature was obtained. The maser seems to be located in the direction of low interstellar scattering, an order of magnitude lower than the scattering of a nearby extragalactic source and pulsar.

Radio Intra-Day Variability: Answers and Questions

Abstract: Intra-day variability (IDV) of active galactic nuclei (AGN) has been detected from gamma-rayenergies to radio wavelengths. At high energies, such variability appears to be intrinsic to thesources themselves. However, at radio wavelengths, brightness temperatures as high as 1018 to1021 K are encountered if the mv is intrinsic to the source. We discuss here the accumulating evidenceshowing that, at radio wavelengths where the highest brightness temperatures are encountered,interstellar scintillation (ISS) is the principal mechanism causing IDV. While ISS reduces the impliedbrightness temperatures, they still remain uncomfortably high.

Intraday Variability and Microarcsecond Structure in Blazar Cores

Abstract: The accumulation of evidence now strongly favours interstellar scintillation (ISS) as the principal mechanism causing intra-day variability (IDV) at em wavelengths. While ISS reduces the implied brightness temperatures, they remain uncomfortably high. The distance to the scattering screen is an important parameter in determining the actual brightness temperature encountered. The high brightness temperatures, the presence of strong and variable circular polarization and the observed lifetimes of a decade or more for several IDV sources, pose significant problems for synchrotron theory. "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar