Showing papers by "Lister Staveley-Smith published in 2004"

The HIPASS catalogue - I. Data presentation

Abstract: The H I Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS) catalogue forms the largest uniform catalogue of H I sources compiled to date, with 4315 sources identified purely by their H I content. The catalogue data comprise the southern region δ< + 2 ◦ of HIPASS, the first blind H I survey to cover the entire southern sky. The rms noise for this survey is 13 mJy beam −1 and the velocity range is −1280 to 12 700 km s −1 . Data search, verification and parametrization methods are discussed along with a description of measured quantities. Full catalogue data are made available to the astronomical community including positions, velocities, velocity widths, integrated fluxes and peak flux densities. Also available are on-sky moment maps, position‐velocity moment maps and spectra of catalogue sources. A number of local large-scale features are observed in the space distribution of sources, including the super-Galactic plane and the Local Void. Notably, large-scale structure is seen at low Galactic latitudes, a region normally obscured at optical wavelengths.

The 1000 Brightest HIPASS Galaxies: H I Properties

Abstract: We present the HIPASS Bright Galaxy Catalog (BGC), which contains the 1000 H I brightest galaxies in the southern sky as obtained from the H i Parkes All-Sky Survey ( HIPASS). The selection of the brightest sources is based on their H I peak flux density (S-peak greater than or similar to116 mJy) as measured from the spatially integrated HIPASS spectrum. The derived H I masses range from similar to10(7) to 4 x 10(10) M-.. While the BGC ( z 10degrees. Therefore, the BGC yields no evidence for a population of free-floating'' intergalactic H I clouds without associated optical counterparts. HIPASS provides a clear view of the local large-scale structure. The dominant features in the sky distribution of the BGC are the Supergalactic Plane and the Local Void. In addition, one can clearly see the Centaurus Wall, which connects via the Hydra and Antlia Clusters to the Puppis Filament. Some previously hardly noticable galaxy groups stand out quite distinctly in the H I sky distribution. Several new structures, including some not behind the Milky Way, are seen for the first time.

The HIPASS Catalogue - I. Data Presentation

Abstract: The HI Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS) Catalogue forms the largest uniform catalogue of HI sources compiled to date, with 4,315 sources identified purely by their HI content. The catalogue data comprise the southern region declination <+2 deg of HIPASS, the first blind HI survey to cover the entire southern sky. RMS noise for this survey is 13 mJy/beam and the velocity range is -1,280 to 12,700 km/s. Data search, verification and parametrization methods are discussed along with a description of measured quantities. Full catalogue data are made available to the astronomical community including positions, velocities, velocity widths, integrated fluxes and peak flux densities. Also available are on-sky moment maps, position-velocity moment maps and spectra of catalogue sources. A number of local large-scale features are observed in the space distribution of sources including the Super-Galactic plane and the Local Void. Notably, large-scale structure is seen at low Galactic latitudes, a region normally obscured at optical wavelengths.

The 1000 Brightest HIPASS Galaxies: HI Properties

Abstract: (abridged) We present the HIPASS Bright Galaxy Catalog (BGC) which contains the 1000 HI-brightest galaxies in the southern sky as obtained from the HI Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS). The selection of the brightest sources is based on their HI peak flux density (Speak > 116 mJy) as measured from the spatially integrated HIPASS spectrum. The derived HI masses range from about 10^7 to 4 x 10^10 Msun. While the BGC (z 25 JY km/s). The HIPASS BGC contains a total of 158 new redshifts and yields no evidence for a population of "free-floating" intergalactic HI clouds without associated optical counterparts. HIPASS provides a clear view of the local large-scale structure. The dominant features in the sky distribution of the BGC are the Supergalactic Plane and the Local Void. In addition, one can clearly see the Centaurus Wall which connects via the Hydra and Antlia clusters to the Puppis filament. Some previously hardly noticed galaxy groups stand out quite distinctively in the HI sky distribution. Several new structures are seen for the first time, not only behind the Milky Way.

A New Look at the Kinematics of Neutral Hydrogen in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Abstract: We have used the latest H I observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and the Parkes telescope, to reexamine the kinematics of this dwarf irregular galaxy. A large velocity gradient is found in the H I velocity field, with a significant symmetry in isovelocity contours, suggestive of a differential rotation. A comparison of H I data with the predictions from tidal models for the SMC evolution suggests that the central region of the SMC corresponds to the central disklike or barlike component left from the rotationally supported SMC disk prior to its last two encounters with the Large Magellanic Cloud. In this scenario, the velocity gradient is expected as a leftover from the original, preencounter angular momentum. We have derived the H I rotation curve and the mass model for the SMC. This rotation curve rapidly rises to about 60 km s-1 up to the turnover radius of ~3 kpc. A stellar mass-to-light ratio of about unity is required to match the observed rotation curve, suggesting that a dark matter halo is not needed to explain the dynamics of the SMC. A set of derived kinematic parameters agrees well with the assumptions used in tidal theoretical models that led to a good reproduction of observational properties of the Magellanic System. The dynamical mass of the SMC, derived from the rotation curve, is 2.4 × 109 M☉.

The Parkes HI Survey of the Magellanic System

Abstract: We present the first fully and uniformly sampled, spatially complete HI survey of the entire Magellanic System with high velocity resolution, performed with the Parkes Telescope. The final data-cubes have an rms noise of sigma ~ 0.05 K and an effective angular resolution of 16 arcmin. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) are associated with huge gaseous features with a total HI mass of M(HI) = 4.87 10^8 M_sun [d/55 kpc]^2, if all HI gas is at the same distance of 55 kpc. Approximately two thirds of this HI gas is located close to the Magellanic Clouds (Magellanic Bridge and Interface Region), and 25% of the HI gas is associated with the Magellanic Stream. The Leading Arm has a four times lower HI mass than the Magellanic Stream, corresponding to 6% of the total HI mass of the gaseous features. We have analyzed the velocity field of the Magellanic Clouds and their neighborhood introducing a LMC-standard-of-rest frame. The HI in the Magellanic Bridge shows low velocities relative to the Magellanic Clouds suggesting an almost parallel motion, while the gas in the Interface Region has significantly higher relative velocities indicating that this gas is leaving the Magellanic Bridge building up a new section of the Magellanic Stream. The clouds in the Magellanic Stream and the Leading Arm show significant differences, both in the column density distribution and in the shapes of the line profiles. The HI gas in the Magellanic Stream is more smoothly distributed than the gas in the Leading Arm. These morphological differences can be explained if the Leading Arm is at considerably lower z-heights and embedded in a higher pressure ambient medium.

The HIPASS catalogue - II. Completeness, reliability and parameter accuracy

Abstract: The H I Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS) is a blind extragalactic HI 21 -cm emission-line survey covering the whole southern sky from declination -90° to +25°. The HTPASS catalogue (HICAT), containing 4315 H I-selected galaxies from the region south of declination +2°, is presented in Meyer et al. (Paper I). This paper describes in detail the completeness and reliability of HICAT, which are calculated from the recovery rate of synthetic sources and follow-up observations, respectively. HICAT is found to be 99 per cent complete at a peak flux of 84 mJy and an integrated flux of 9.4 Jy km s -1. The overall reliability is 95 per cent, but rises to 99 per cent for sources with peak fluxes >58 mJy or integrated flux >8.2 Jy km s -1. Expressions are derived for the uncertainties on the most important HICAT parameters: peak flux, integrated flux, velocity width and recessional velocity. The errors on HICAT parameters are dominated by the noise in the HIPASS data, rather than by the parametrization procedure.

The HIPASS Catalogue - II. Completeness, Reliability, and Parameter Accuracy

Abstract: The HI Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS) is a blind extragalactic HI 21-cm emission line survey covering the whole southern sky from declination -90 to +25. The HIPASS catalogue (HICAT), containing 4315 HI-selected galaxies from the region south of declination +2, is presented in Meyer et al. (2004a, Paper I). This paper describes in detail the completeness and reliability of HICAT, which are calculated from the recovery rate of synthetic sources and follow-up observations, respectively. HICAT is found to be 99 per cent complete at a peak flux of 84 mJy and an integrated flux of 9.4 Jy km/s. The overall reliability is 95 per cent, but rises to 99 per cent for sources with peak fluxes >58 mJy or integrated flux > 8.2 Jy km/s. Expressions are derived for the uncertainties on the most important HICAT parameters: peak flux, integrated flux, velocity width, and recessional velocity. The errors on HICAT parameters are dominated by the noise in the HIPASS data, rather than by the parametrization procedure.

The Baryonic Tully-Fisher Relation

Abstract: We validate the baryonic Tully–Fisher (TF) relation by exploring the Tully–Fisher (TF) and BTF properties of optically and HI-selected disk galaxies. The data includes galaxies from Sakai et al. (2000) calibrator sample, McGaugh et al. (2000: M2000) I-band sample, and 18 newly acquired HI-selected field dwarf galaxies observed with the ANU 2.3-m telescope and the ATNF Parkes telescope (Gurovich 2005a). As in M2000, we re-cast the TF and BTF relations as relationships between baryon mass and W20. First we report some numerical errors in M2000. Then, we calculate weighted bi-variate linear fits to the data, and finally we compare the fits of the intrinsically fainter dwarfs with the brighter galaxies of Sakai et al. (2000). With regards to the local calibrator disk galaxies of Sakai et al. (2000), our results suggest that the BTF relation is indeed tighter than the TF relation and that the slopes of the BTF relations are statistically flatter than the equivalent TF relations. Further, for the fainter galaxies which include the I-band M2000 and HI-selected galaxies of Gurovich's sample, we calculate a break from a simple power law model because of what appears to be real cosmic scatter. Not withstanding this point, the BTF models are marginally better models than the equivalent TF ones with slightly smaller Χred2 values.

Intergalactic h ii regions discovered in singg

Abstract: A number of very small isolated H II regions have been discovered at projected distances up to 30 kpc from their nearest galaxy. These H II regions appear as tiny emission-line objects in narrowband images obtained by the NOAO Survey for Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies (SINGG). We present spectroscopic confirmation of four isolated H II regions in two systems; both systems have tidal H I features. The results are consistent with stars forming in interactive debris as a result of cloud-cloud collisions. The Halpha luminosities of the isolated H II regions are equivalent to the ionizing flux of only a few O stars each. They are most likely ionized by stars formed in situ and represent atypical star formation in the low-density environment of the outer parts of galaxies. A small but finite intergalactic star formation rate will enrich and ionize the surrounding medium. In one system, NGC 1533, we calculate a star formation rate of 1.5 x 10(-3) M-. yr(-1), resulting in a metal enrichment of similar to 1 x 10(-3) solar for the continuous formation of stars. Such systems may have been more common in the past and a similar enrichment level is measured for the metallicity floor'' in damped Lyalpha absorption systems.

A statistical investigation of h i in the magellanic bridge

Abstract: We present results from two statistical analyses applied to a neutral hydrogen (H I) data set of the nearby tidal bridge in the Magellanic System Primarily, analyses of the spatial power spectrum suggest that the Magellanic Bridge, historically considered to be a single contiguous feature, may in fact be a projection of two kinematically and morphologically distinct structures The southern and more obviously turbulent parts appear to show structure organized similarly to the adjacent Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), while the northern regions are shown to be relatively deficient in large-scale power The extent of modification to the spatial power index by the velocity fluctuations is also highly variant across these parts of the Bridge We find again that the northern part appears distinct from the southern part and from the SMC, in that the power spectrum is significantly more affected by slower velocity perturbations We also probe the rate of spectral variation of the H I by measuring the spectral correlation function over selected regions The results from this analysis highlight a tendency for the H I spectra within the bright parts of the Bridge to have a more persistent correlation in the east-west direction than in the north-south direction These results are considered to be quantitative evidence for the tidal processes that are thought to have been active throughout the evolution of the Magellanic Bridge

Where are the high-velocity clouds in local group analogs?

Abstract: High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are clouds of H I seen around the Milky Way with velocities inconsistent with Galactic rotation; they have unknown distances and masses and controversial origins. One possibility is that HVCs are associated with the small dark matter halos seen in models of galaxy formation and distributed at distances of 150 kpc to 1 Mpc. We report on our attempts to detect the analogs to such putative extragalactic clouds in three groups of galaxies similar to our own Local Group using the Australia Telescope National Facility Parkes Telescope and Compact Array. Eleven dwarf galaxies were found, but no H I clouds lacking stars were detected. Using the population of compact HVCs around the Milky Way as a template, we find that our nondetection of analogs implies that they must be clustered within 160 kpc of the Milky Way (and other galaxies) with an average H I mass 4 × 105 M☉ at the 95% confidence level. This is in accordance with recent limits derived by other authors. If our groups are true analogs to the Local Group, then this makes the original Blitz et al. and Braun & Burton picture of HVCs residing out to 1 Mpc from the Milky Way extremely unlikely. The total H I mass in HVCs, 108 M☉, implies that there is not a large reservoir of neutral hydrogen waiting to be accreted onto the Milky Way. Any substantial reservoir of baryonic matter must be mostly ionized or condensed enough as to be undetectable.

A Statistical Investigation of HI in the Magellanic Bridge

Abstract: We present results from two statistical analyses applied to an neutral hydrogen (HI) dataset of the nearby tidal bridge in the Magellanic System. Primarily, analyses of the Spatial Power Spectrum suggest that the Magellanic Bridge, historically considered to be a single contiguous feature, may in fact be a projection of two kinematically and morphologically distinct structures. The southern and more obviously turbulent parts appear to show structure organized similarly to the adjacent Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), while the northern regions are shown to be relatively deficient in large scale power. The extent of modification to the spatial power index by the velocity fluctuations is also highly variant across these parts of the Bridge. We find again that the northern part appears distinct from the southern part and from the SMC, in that the power spectrum is significantly more affected by slower velocity perturbations. We also probe the rate of spectral variation of the HI by measuring the Spectral Correlation Function over selected regions. The results from this analysis highlight a tendency for the HI spectra within the bright parts of the Bridge to have a more persistent correlation in the E-W direction than in the N-S direction. These results are considered to be quantitative evidence for the tidal processes which are thought to have been active throughout the evolution of the Magellanic Bridge

Where are the High Velocity Clouds in Local Group Analogs

Abstract: High-velocity clouds (HVCs) are clouds of HI seen around the Milky Way with velocities inconsistent with Galactic rotation, have unknown distances and masses and controversial origins. One possibility is that HVCs are associated with the small dark matter halos seen in models of galaxy formation and distributed at distances of 150 kpc - 1 Mpc. We report on our attempts to detect the analogs to such putative extragalactic clouds in three groups of galaxies similar to our own Local Group using the ATNF Parkes telescope and Compact Array. Eleven dwarf galaxies were found, but no HI clouds lacking stars were detected. Using the population of compact HVCs around the Milky Way as a template, we find that our non-detection of analogs implies that they must be clustered within 160 kpc of the Milky Way (and other galaxies) with an average HI mass <4x10^5 M(sun) at the 95% confidence level. This is in accordance with recent limits derived by other authors. If our groups are true analogs to the Local Group, then this makes the original Blitz et al. and Braun & Burton picture of HVCs residing out to 1 Mpc from the Milky Way extremely unlikely. The total HI mass in HVCs, < 10^8 M(sun), implies that there is not a large reservoir of neutral hydrogen waiting to be accreted onto the Milky Way. Any substantial reservoir of baryonic matter must be mostly ionized or condensed enough as to be undetectable.

The Gaseous Trail of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy

Abstract: A possible gaseous component to the stream of debris from the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy is presented. We identify (4-10) × 106 M☉ of neutral hydrogen along the orbit of the Sgr dwarf in the direction of the Galactic anticenter (at 36 kpc, the distance to the stellar debris in this region). This is 1%-2% of the estimated total mass of the Sgr dwarf. Both the stellar and gaseous components have negative velocities, but the gaseous component extends to higher negative velocities. If associated, this gaseous stream was most likely stripped from the main body of the dwarf 0.2-0.3 Gyr ago during its current orbit after a passage through a diffuse edge of the Galactic disk with a density greater than 10-4 cm-3. This gas represents the dwarf's last source of star formation fuel and explains how the galaxy was forming stars 0.5-2 Gyr ago.

An ATCA radio-continuum study of the Small Magellanic Cloud – II. Source identification and classification

Abstract: We present the classification of 717 radio-continuum sources from the Australia Telescope Compact Array Catalogue of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). These sources have been categorized into one of three groups: supernova remnants (SNRs), H ii regions and background sources. In total, we name 71 sources as H ii regions (or candidates) and 21 sources as SNRs (or candidates) within the SMC. Six sources are named as either H ii regions or background sources. Two sources are candidate radio planetary nebulae and one additional source is coincident with an X-ray binary, all also located within the SMC. We classify 616 objects as background sources and present their statistics.

The HI Parkes Zone of Avoidance Survey: the Northern Extension

Abstract: We present the results of the northern extension of the HI Parkes Zone of Avoidance Survey, a blind HI survey utilizing the multibeam receiver on the Parkes 64-m telescope. In the two regions studied here, l=36 to 52 deg. and l=196 to 212 deg., |b|<5 deg., we have detected 77 HI galaxies, twenty of which have been previously detected in HI. The survey has a median rms noise of 6.0 mJy/beam and is complete to a mean flux density of 22 mJy. We have searched for multiwavelength counterparts to the 77 galaxies detected here: 19, 27, and 11 have a likely optical, 2MASS, and IRAS cataloged counterpart, respectively. A further 16 galaxies have likely visible counterparts on the Digitized Sky Survey. The detection of these 77 galaxies allows a closer inspection of the large-scale structures in these regions. We see several filaments crossing the Galactic plane, one of which appears to be the continuation of a sine-wave like feature that can be traced across the whole southern sky. An analysis of the HI mass function suggests that the regions studied here may be underdense. One particularly noteworthy galaxy is HIZOA J0630+08 (l,b = 203 deg., -0.9 deg.) with a velocity of 367 km/s. We suggest that it belongs to the nearby Orion Group which includes a small number of dwarf galaxies. The newly detected galaxies improve our understanding of the properties of several voids, such as the Orion, Gemini, and Canis Major Voids.

The Gaseous Trail of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy

Abstract: A possible gaseous component to the stream of debris from the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy is presented. We identify 4 - 10 x 10^6 Msun of neutral hydrogen along the orbit of the Sgr dwarf in the direction of the Galactic anticenter (at 36 kpc, the distance to the stellar debris in this region). This is 1-2% of the estimated total mass of the Sgr dwarf. Both the stellar and gaseous components have negative velocities, but the gaseous component extends to higher negative velocities. If associated, this gaseous stream was most likely stripped from the main body of the dwarf 0.2 - 0.3 Gyr ago during its current orbit after a passage through a diffuse edge of the Galactic disk with a density > 10^{-4} cm^{-3}. This gas represents the dwarf's last source of star formation fuel and explains how the galaxy was forming stars 0.5-2 Gyr ago.

The galaxy's eating habits

Abstract: The possibility of a gaseous halo stream which was stripped from the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy is presented. The total mass of the neutral hydrogen along the orbit of the Sgr dwarf in the direction of the Galactic Anti-Center is 4 − 10 × 106 M⊙ (at 36 kpc, the distance to the stellar debris in this region). Both the stellar and gaseous components have negative velocities in this part of the sky, but the gaseous component extends to higher negative velocities. We suggest this gaseous stream was stripped from the main body of the dwarf 0.2 – 0.3 Gyr ago during its current orbit after a passage through a diffuse edge of the Galactic disk with a density > 10−4 cm−3. The gas would then represent the dwarf's last source of star formation fuel and explains how the galaxy was forming stars 0.5-2 Gyr ago.

An HI Census of Loose Groups of Galaxies

Abstract: We present results from our Parkes Multibeam HI survey of 3 loose groups of galaxies that are analogous to the Local Group. This is a survey of groups containing only spiral galaxies with mean separations of a few hundred kpc, and total areas of approximately 1 sq. Mpc; groups similar to our own Local Group. We present a census of the HI-rich objects in these groups down to an M(HI), 1-sigma sensitivity ~7x10^5 M(sun), as well as the detailed properties of these detections from follow-up Compact Array observations. We found 7 new HI-rich members in the 3 groups, all of which have stellar counterparts and are, therefore, typical dwarf galaxies. The ratio of low-mass to high-mass gas-rich galaxies in these groups is less than in the Local Group meaning that the ``missing satellite'' problem is not unique. No high-velocity cloud analogs were found in any of the groups. If HVCs in these groups are the same as in the Local Group, this implies that HVCs must be located within ~300-400 kpc of the Milky Way.

H I Observations of Nearby Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract: We present HI detections towards several Local Group dSphs and dIrr/dSphs. The possibility that the detected emission can be due to High Velocity Clouds (HVC) is ruled out although it appears that most of our targets are in HVC rich regions.