15444325
The Redshift Cutoff and the Quasar Epoch
We have obtained complete redshift information for a sample of 442 radio-loud quasars with flux densities S11 ≥ 0.25 Jy. These come from a completely-identified sample of 878 flat-spectrum radio sources, so there is no optical magnitude limit. With these quasars, therefore, we can map out the entire quasar epoch, unhindered by optical selection effects and any intervening dust. The rapid decline in true space density above z ∼ 2.5 is confirmed. It agrees closely with that obtained from optically-selected samples, indicating that these are also not significantly affected by dust. The evolution of the quasar space density is similar to that deduced for the global star formation rate, implying that the quasar epoch may also be that of star formation. This sample of radio-selected quasars can now be used in a variety of other studies, including unbiased searches for damped Lyabsorbers, studies of the phenomenon of "red quasars", and searches for high-redshift molecular absorption systems.
15937671
The Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample: III. Space density and evolution of QSOs
We analyze the Parkes quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum sample of QSOs in terms of space density, including the redshift distribution, the radio luminosity function, and the evidence for a redshift cutoff. With regard to the luminosity function, we note the strong evolution in space density from the present day to epochs corresponding to redshifts ∼1. We draw attention to a selection effect due to spread in spectral shape that may have misled other investigators to consider the apparent similarities in shape of luminosity functions in different redshift shells as evidence for luminosity evolution. To examine the evolution at redshifts beyond 3, we develop a model-independent method based on the Vmax test using each object to predict expectation densities beyond z = 3. With this we show that a diminution in space density at z > 3 is present at a significance level >4σ. We identify a severe bias in such determinations from using flux-density measurements at epochs significantly later than that of the finding survey. The form of the diminution is estimated, and is shown to be very similar to that found for QSOs selected in X-ray and optical wavebands. The diminution is also compared with the current estimates of star-formation evolution, with less conclusive results. In summary we suggest that the reionization epoch is little influenced by powerful flat-spectrum QSOs, and that dust obscuration does not play a major role in our view of the QSO population selected at radio, optical or X-ray wavelengths. © ESO 2005.
119069361
Radio Observations of the Hubble Deep Field South region: I. Survey Description and Initial Results
This paper is the first of a series describing the results of the Australia Telescope Hubble Deep Field–South radio survey. The survey was conducted at four wavelengths, 20, 11, 6, and 3 cm, over a 4 year period and achieves an rms sensitivity of about 10 μJy at each wavelength. We describe the observations and data reduction processes and present data on radio sources close to the center of the Hubble Deep Field–South. We discuss in detail the properties of a subset of these sources. The sources include both starburst galaxies and galaxies powered by an active galactic nucleus and range in redshift from 0.1 to 2.2. Some of them are characterized by unusually high radio-to-optical luminosities, presumably caused by dust extinction.
18615828
Radio Sources in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey. I. Radio source populations
We present the first results from a study of the radio continuum properties of galaxies in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, (2dFGRS) based on thirty 2dF fields covering a total area of about 100 deg2. About 1.5% of galaxies with b_J < 19.4 mag. are detected as radio continuum sources in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). Of these, roughly 40% are star-forming galaxies and 60% are active galaxies (mostly low-power radio galaxies and a few Seyferts). The combination of 2dFGRS and NVSS will eventually yield a homogeneous set of around 4000 radio-galaxy spectra, which will be a powerful tool for studying the distribution and evolution of both AGN and starburst galaxies out to z ~ 0.3.
14097040
Extragalactic radio source evolution&unification: clues to the demographics of blazars
In this paper we discuss the demographics of the radio blazar population: (i) what are their parent ('unbeamed') sources and (ii) what magnitude and/or type of evolution have they undergone ? The discussion is based on models of radio source evolution and beaming based on a 'dual population' unification paradigm. These models, developed from radio blazar properties in bright samples, predict blazar demographic trends at the lower flux-density levels; samples from deep mJy-level surveys (e.g. NVSS and FIRST) may now provide direct tests of these predictions. All galaxies are radio galaxies in a sense. The scale of activity ranges from 'normal' galaxies (like our own) whose radio emission emanates from supernova remnants. At higher radio powers are the 'starburst' galaxies, greatly-enhanced stellar activity resulting in stronger radio emission. At similar radio powers are the Seyfert galaxies with their small-scale radio core-jet structures and with clear indication of AGN activity. At the top end of the scale are the powerful radio galaxies, together with BL Lacs and quasars, the latter two being collectively termed blazars. Radio galaxies tend to have steep radio spectra and therefore dominate low radio-frequency (ν < 0.5 GHz) surveys. The structures are predominantly double-lobed; Fanaroff & Riley (1974) compared the distances between central maxima of the radio structures to overall size and discovered a dichotomy. Sources with regions of maximum brightness separated by more than 0.5 times the overall source size are edge-brightened (FRII), while when the regions of maximum brightness lies within this limit the source has diffuse outer lobes (FRI) (centrally concentrated); and the highest radio power objects are predominantly FRIIs whilst those of lower radio power are usually FRIs. The overlap between the classes at middling radio powers is seen in the local radio luminos-ity function (Figure 1), and the division is known to be a function of optical luminosity as well as radio (Owen and Ledlow 1993).
117999125
Space Densities for Powerful Radio Sources in the Light of Unification
As radio survey frequency is raised the proportion of flat-spectrum sources increases in bright fiux-limited samples (eg Wall 1994, Aust J Phys 47, 625). Differential source counts show a corresponding broadening of the central maximum due to the increasing proportion of flat-spectrum sources. Orr & Browne (1982, MNRAS 200, 1067) modelled this change in shape of the source count by proposing a unifying scheme which states that the core-dominated, flat-spectrum radio sources are the steep-spectrum sources with their cores Doppler-boosted due to the alignment of the jets with the line of sight.
73704343
WIMP-induced gamma ray spectrum of active Galactic nuclei
As direct and indirect dark matter detection experiments continue to place stringent constraints on WIMP masses and couplings, it becomes imperative to expand the scope of the search for particle dark matter by looking in new and exotic places. One such place may be the core of active galactic nuclei where the density of dark matter is expected to be extremely high. Recently, several groups have explored the possibility of observing signals of dark matter from its interactions with the high-energy jets emanating from these galaxies. In this work, we build upon these analyses by including the other components of the WIMP-induced gamma ray spectrum of active galactic nuclei; namely, (1) the continuum from WIMP annihilation into light standard model states which subsequently radiate and/or decay into photons and (2) the direct (loop-induced) decay into photons. We work in the context of models of universal extra dimensions (in particular, a model with two extra dimensions) and compute all three components of the gamma ray spectrum and compare with current data. We find that the model with two extra dimensions exhibits several interesting features which may be observable with the Fermi gamma ray telescope. We also show that, in conjunction with other measurements, the gamma ray spectrum from AGN can be an invaluable tool for restricting WIMP parameter space.
118596941
Higgs in space
We consider the possibility that the Higgs can be produced in dark matter annihilations, appearing as a line in the spectrum of gamma rays at an energy determined by the masses of the WIMP and the Higgs itself. We argue that this phenomenon occurs generally in models in which the the dark sector has large couplings to the most massive states of the SM and provide a simple example inspired by the Randall-Sundrum vision of dark matter, whose 4d dual corresponds to electroweak symmetry-breaking by strong dynamics which respect global symmetries that guarantee a stable WIMP. The dark matter is a Dirac fermion that couples to a Z' acting as a portal to the Standard Model through its strong coupling to top quarks. Annihilation into light standard model degrees of freedom is suppressed and generates a feeble continuum spectrum of gamma rays. Loops of top quarks mediate annihilation into γZ, γh, and γZ', providing a forest of lines in the spectrum. Such models can be probed by the Fermi/GLAST satellite and ground-based Air Cherenkov telescopes.
27307688
New physics in resonant production of Higgs boson pairs.
We advocate a search for an extended scalar sector at the LHC via hh production, where h is the 125 GeV Higgs boson. A resonance feature in the hh invariant mass is a smoking gun of an s-channel heavy Higgs resonance, H. With one h decaying to two photons and the other decaying to b quarks, the resonant signal may be discoverable above the hh continuum background for M(H)<1  TeV. The product of the scalar and top Yukawa couplings can be measured to better than 10%-20% accuracy, and its sign can be inferred from the hh line shape via interference effects.
119298520
The WIMP Forest: Indirect Detection of a Chiral Square
We consider the signals of indirect dark matter detection resulting from a theory of two universal extra dimensions compactified on a chiral square. Aside from the continuum emission, which is a generic prediction of most dark matter candidates, we find a series of prominent annihilation lines (a WIMP forest) that, after convolution with the angular resolution of current experiments, leads to a distinctive (2-bump plus continuum) spectrum, which may be visible in the near future with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (formerly known as GLAST).
118342809
Gamma ray lines from a universal extra dimension
Indirect Dark Matter searches are based on the observation of secondary particles produced by the annihilation or decay of Dark Matter. Among them, gamma-rays are perhaps the most promising messengers, as they do not suffer deflection or absorption on Galactic scales, so their observation would directly reveal the position and the energy spectrum of the emitting source. Here, we study the detailed gamma-ray energy spectrum of Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter in a theory with 5 Universal Extra Dimensions. We focus in particular on the two body annihilation of Dark Matter particles into a photon and another particle, which produces monochromatic photons, resulting in a line in the energy spectrum of gamma rays. Previous calculations in the context of the five dimensional UED model have computed the line signal from annihilations into ??, but we extend these results to include ?Z and ?H final states. We find that these spectral lines are subdominant compared to the predicted ?? signal, but they would be important as follow-up signals in the event of the observation of the ?? line, in order to distinguish the 5d UED model from other theoretical scenarios.