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ABSTRACT: We recently reported the discovery of a regular corrugation pattern in the H I disk of the isolated, edge-on spiral galaxy IC 2233. Here we present measurements of the vertical structure of this galaxy at several additional wavelengths, ranging from the far-ultraviolet to the far-infrared. We find that undular patterns with amplitude 5'' ( 250 pc) are visible in a variety of Population I tracers in IC 2233, including the young to intermediate-age stars, the H II regions, and the dust. However, the vertical excursions become less pronounced in the older stellar populations traced by the mid-infrared light. This suggests that the process leading to the vertical displacements may be linked with the regulation of star formation in the galaxy. We have also identified a relationship between the locations of the density corrugations and small-amplitude ( 5 km s−1) velocity undulations in the H I rotation curve. We are able to exclude several possible mechanisms for the origin of the observed corrugations, including tidal interaction from a companion, Parker instabilities, or a galactic bore. Global gravitational instabilities appear to be the most likely explanation, although local perturbations may also be important.
The Astrophysical Journal 12/2008; 688(1):237. · 6.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study investigates some of the consequences of representing the sky by a rectangular grid of pixels on the dynamic range of images derived from radio interferometric measurements. In particular, the effects of image pixelization coupled to the CLEAN deconvolution representation of the sky as a set of discrete delta functions can limit the dynamic range obtained when representing bright emission not confined to pixels on the grid. Sky curvature effects on non-coplanar arrays will limit the dynamic range even if strong sources are centered on a pixel in a "fly's eye" representation when such pixel is not located at the corresponding facet's tangent point. Uncertainties in the response function of the individual antennas as well as in the calibration of actual data due to ionospheric, atmospheric or other effects will limit the dynamic range even when using grid-less subtraction (i.e. in the visibility domain) of strong sources located within the field of view of the observation. A technique to reduce these effects is described and examples from an implementation in the Obit package are given. Application of this technique leads to significantly superior results without a significant increase in the computing time. Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures (one double, one triple), to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics (accepted: September 5, 2008)
09/2008;
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ABSTRACT: Radio telescopes with off-axis feeds, such as the (E)VLA, suffer from "beam squint" in which the two orthogonal circular polarizations sampled have different pointing centers on the sky. Its effects are weak near the beam center but become increasingly important towards the edge of the antenna power pattern where gains in the two polarizations at a given sky position are significantly different. This effect has limited VLA measurements of circular polarization (Stokes V) and introduced dynamic range limiting, wide-field artifacts in images made in Stokes I. We present an adaptation of the visibility-based deconvolution CLEAN method that can correct this defect "on the fly" while imaging, correcting as well the associated self-calibration. We present two examples of this technique using the procedure "Squint" within the Obit package which allows wide-field imaging in Stokes V and reduced artifacts in Stokes I. We discuss the residual errors in these examples as well as a scheme for future correction of some of these errors. This technique can be generalized to implement temporally- and spatially-variable corrections, such as pointing and cross-polarization leakage errors.
07/2008;
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ABSTRACT: We recently reported the discovery of a regular corrugation pattern in the HI disk of the isolated, edge-on spiral galaxy IC2233. Here we present measurements of the vertical structure of this galaxy at several additional wavelengths, ranging from the far ultraviolet to the far infrared. We find that undular patterns with amplitude ~5''(~250 pc) are visible in a variety of Population I tracers in IC2233, including the young-to-intermediate age stars, the HII regions, and the dust. However, the vertical excursions become less pronounced in the older stellar populations traced by the mid-infrared light. This suggests that the process leading to the vertical displacements may be linked with the regulation of star formation in the galaxy. We have also identified a relationship between the locations of the density corrugations and small-amplitude (~5 km/s) velocity undulations in the HI rotation curve. We are able to exclude several possible mechanisms for the origin of the observed corrugations, including tidal interaction from a companion, Parker instabilities, or a galactic bore. Global gravitational instabilities appear to be the most likely explanation, although local perturbations may also be important. Comment: accepted to ApJ; Table 2 is available in its entirely at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~lmatthew/tab2.tex
07/2008;
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ABSTRACT: Astronomical imaging using aperture synthesis telescopes requires deconvolution of the point spread function as well as calibration of instrumental and atmospheric effects. In general, such effects are time-variable and vary across the field of view as well, resulting in direction-dependent (DD), time-varying gains. Most existing imaging and calibration algorithms assume that the corruptions are direction independent, preventing even moderate dynamic range full-beam, full-Stokes imaging. We present a general framework for imaging algorithms which incorporate DD errors. We describe as well an iterative deconvolution algorithm that corrects known DD errors due to the antenna power patterns and pointing errors for high dynamic range full-beam polarimetric imaging. Using simulations we demonstrate that errors due to realistic primary beams as well as antenna pointing errors will limit the dynamic range of upcoming higher sensitivity instruments and that our new algorithm can be used to correct for such errors. We have applied this algorithm to VLA 1.4 GHz observations of a field that contains two ``4C'' sources and have obtained Stokes-I and -V images with systematic errors that are one order of magnitude lower than those obtained with conventional imaging tools. Our simulations show that on data with no other calibration errors, the algorithm corrects pointing errors as well as errors due to known asymmetries in the antenna pattern. Comment: submitted to A&A; some clarifications added in the text; accepted for publication in A&A
05/2008;
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ABSTRACT: We have used the Very Large Array to image the isolated "superthin" galaxy UGC 7321 in the H I line with a spatial resolution of 16'' and a spectral resolution of 24 kHz (5.2 km s-1). We have reached a sensitivity of (0.36–0.40) mJy beam-1 channel-1, which correspond to a column density of (8–9) × 1018 atoms cm-2 (1 σ). UGC 7321 has a gas-rich disk, with MH I = (1.06 ± 0.01) × 109 d M and MH I/LB = 1.0 (d10 is the distance to UGC 7321 in units of 10 Mpc, the value adopted in this paper), and no detectable radio continuum emission (FCONT = 0.41 ± 0.25 mJy). The global H I distribution of UGC 7321 is rather symmetric and extends to ~1.5 times the optical radius (DH I = 865 ± 015 at nH I = 3 × 1019 atoms cm-2). An "integral sign" warp is observed in the H I disk, commencing near the edge of the stellar distribution and twisting back toward the equatorial plane in the outermost regions. In addition, the position-velocity diagram suggests the presence of a bar or inner arm within ~40'' from the center. The rotation curve of UGC 7321 is slowly rising; it reaches its asymptotic velocity of ~110 km s-1 at ~25 from the center (about 0.9 optical radii) and declines near the edge of the H I disk. The ratio of the inferred dynamical mass to the mass in gas and stars is ~12d, implying that UGC 7321 is a highly dark-matter–dominated galaxy.
The Astronomical Journal 12/2007; 125(5):2455. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have used the Very Large Array to image the H I 21 cm line emission in the edge-on Sd galaxy IC 2233 and the blue compact dwarf NGC 2537. We also present new optical B, R, and Hα imaging of IC 2233 obtained with the WIYN telescope. Despite evidence of localized massive star formation in the form of prominent H II regions and shells, supergiant stars, and a blue integrated color, IC 2233 is a low surface brightness system with a very low global star formation rate (0.05 M☉ yr−1), and we detect no significant 21 cm radio continuum emission from the galaxy. The H I and ionized gas disks of IC 2233 are clumpy and vertically distended, with scale heights comparable to that of the young stellar disk. Both the stellar and H I disks of IC 2233 appear flared, and we also find a vertically extended, rotationally anomalous component of H I extending to ~ 2.4d10 kpc from the midplane. The H I disk exhibits a mild lopsidedness as well as a global corrugation pattern with a period of ~7d10 kpc and an amplitude of ~150d10 pc. To our knowledge, this is the first time corrugations of the gas disk have been reported in an external galaxy; these undulations may be linked to bending instabilities or to underlying spiral structure and suggest that the disk is largely self-gravitating. Lying at a projected distance of from IC 2233, NGC 2537 has an H I disk with a bright, tilted inner ring and a flocculent, dynamically cold outer region that extends to ~3.5 times the extent of the stellar light (D25). Although NGC 2537 is rotationally-dominated, we measure H I velocity dispersions as high as km s−1 near its center, indicative of significant turbulent motions. The inner rotation curve rises steeply, implying a strong central mass concentration. Our data indicate that IC 2233 and NGC 2537 do not constitute a bound pair and most likely lie at different distances. We also find no compelling evidence of a recent minor merger in either IC 2233 or NGC 2537, suggesting that both are examples of small disk galaxies evolving in relative isolation.
The Astronomical Journal 12/2007; 135(1):291. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have used the VLA to image the HI 21-cm line emission in the edge-on Sd galaxy IC2233 and the blue compact dwarf NGC2537. We also present new optical B,R, and H alpha imaging of IC2233 obtained with the WIYN telescope. Despite evidence of localized massive star formation, IC2233 has a low surface brightness disk with a low global star formation rate (~0.05 M_sun/yr), and no significant 21-cm radio continuum emission. The HI and ionized gas disks of IC2233 are clumpy and vertically distended, with scale heights comparable to the young stars. Both the stellar and HI disks of IC2233 appear flared, and we also find a vertically extended, rotationally anomalous HI component extending to z~2.4 kpc. The HI disk exhibits a mild lopsidedness as well as a global corrugation pattern with a period of ~7 kpc and an amplitude of ~150 pc. To our knowledge, this is the first time corrugations of the gas disk have been reported in an external galaxy; these undulations may be linked to bending instabilities or to underlying spiral structure and suggest that the disk is largely self-gravitating. Lying at a projected distance of 16.7' from IC2233, NGC2537 has an HI disk with a bright, tilted inner ring and a flocculent, dynamically cold outer region that extends to ~3.5D_25. Although NGC2537 is rotationally-dominated, it shows significant turbulence near its center. The inner rotation curve rises steeply, implying a strong central mass concentration. Our data indicate that IC2233 and NGC2537 do not constitute a bound pair and most likely lie at different distances. We also find no compelling evidence of a recent minor merger in either galaxy, suggesting that both are examples of small disk galaxies evolving in relative isolation. (Abridged)
10/2007;
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ABSTRACT: Using the IRAM 30-m telescope, we have obtained 12CO J=1-0 and 2-1 spectral line observations toward the nuclear regions of 15 edge-on, low surface brightness (LSB) spiral galaxies. Our sample comprises extreme late-type LSB spirals with disk-dominated morphologies and rotational velocities V_rot<~120 km/s. We report detections of four galaxies in at least one transition (>5sigma); for the remainder of the sample we provide upper limits on the nuclear CO content. Adopting a standard Galactic I_CO-to-H_2 conversion factor implies molecular gas masses of (3.3-9.8)x10**6 M_sun in the nuclear regions (inner 1.1-1.8 kpc) of the detected galaxies. Combining our new data with samples of late-type spirals from the literature, we find that the CO-detected LSB spirals adhere to the same M_H2-FIR correlation as more luminous and higher surface brightness galaxies. The amount of CO in the central regions of late-type spirals appears to depend more strongly on mass than on central optical surface brightness, and CO detectability declines significantly for moderate-to-low surface brightness spirals with V_rot<~90 km/s; no LSB spirals have so far been detected in CO below this threshold. Metallicity effects alone are unlikely to account for this trend, and we speculate that we are seeing the effects of a decrease in the mean fraction of a galaxy disk able to support giant molecular cloud formation with decreasing galaxy mass. Comment: accepted to AJ
01/2005;
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ABSTRACT: We summarize results from an HI+optical imaging study of the ``Integral Sign'' galaxy, UGC3697. UGC3697 is a low-mass, Sd spiral that exhibits a ``superthin'' disk morphology despite a prounced gasous and stellar warp. Our new observations show evidence for a recent minor merger in this system that could account for its large-scale warp and a number of other properties of this galaxy. We speculate that UGC3697 has been caught in a rather short-lived dynamical state, and may soon undergo significant structural and morphological changes.
01/2005;
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ABSTRACT: We have obtained new optical imaging and spectroscopic observations of 78 galaxies in the fields of the rich clusters Abell 1413 (z = 0.14), Abell 2218 (z = 0.18) and Abell 2670 (z = 0.08). We have detected line emission from 25 cluster galaxies plus an additional six galaxies in the foreground and background, a much lower success rate than what was found (65%) for a sample of 52 lower-richness Abell clusters in the range 0.02 < z < 0.08. We have combined these data with our previous observations of Abell 2029 and Abell 2295 (both at z = 0.08), which yields a sample of 156 galaxies. We evaluate several parameters as a function of cluster environment: Tully-Fisher residuals, H-alpha equivalent width, and rotation curve asymmetry, shape and extent. Although H-alpha is more easily detectable in galaxies that are located further from the cluster cores, we fail to detect a correlation between H-alpha extent and galaxy location in those where it is detected, again in contrast with what is found in the clusters of lesser richness. We fail to detect any statistically significant trends for the other parameters in this study. The zero-point in the z~0.1 Tully-Fisher relation is marginally fainter (by 1.5 sigma) than that found in nearby clusters, but the scatter is essentially unchanged.
05/2003;
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ABSTRACT: We have used the Very Large Array to image the isolated ``superthin'' galaxy UGC7321 in the HI line with a spatial resolution of 16'' and a spectral resolution of 24 kHz (5.2 km/s). We have reached a sensitivity of ~0.38 mJy/bm per channel, which corresponds to a column density of 8 x 10**{18} cm**{-2} (1 sigma). UGC7321 has a gas-rich disk with M_HI = (1.06 +/- 0.01) 10**9 Msun and MHI/LB = 1.0 (solar units), and no detectable radio continuum emission (F_CONT = 0.41 +/- 0.25 mJy). The global \HI distribution of UGC 7321 is rather symmetric and extends to ~1.5 times the optical radius (D_HI = 8.65' +/- 0.15') at n_HI = 3 x 10**{19} atoms cm**{-2}). An ``integral sign'' warp is observed in the HI disk, commencing near the edge of the stellar distribution, and twisting back toward the equatorial plane in the outermost regions. In addition, the position-velocity diagram suggests the presence of a bar or inner arm within ~40'' from the center. The rotation curve of UGC7321 is slowly rising; it reaches its asymptotic velocity of ~110 km/s ~2.5' from the center (about 0.9 optical radii) and declines near the edge of the HI disk. The ratio of the inferred dynamical mass to the mass in gas and stars is ~12, implying that UGC7321 is a highly dark-matter dominated galaxy. Comment: 29 pages (13 figures, one double), Latex), uses emulateapj.sty, to appear in the Astronomical Journal (May 2003). High-resolution versions of the figures can be downloaded from http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~juson/ugc7321/ugc7321.html The continuum image and spectral image cube described in the paper will be available in FITS format at the web address above upon publication of the paper in the journal. Astronomical Journal vol. 125 (in press, May 2003)
03/2003;
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ABSTRACT: We investigate the rich cluster Abell 2029 (z~0.08) using optical imaging and long-slit spectral observations of 52 disk galaxies distributed throughout the cluster field. No strong emission-line galaxies are present within ~400 kpc of the cluster center, a region largely dominated by the similarly-shaped X-ray and low surface brightness optical envelopes centered on the giant cD galaxy. However, two-thirds of the galaxies observed outside the cluster core exhibit line emission. H-alpha rotation curves of 14 cluster members are used in conjunction with a deep I band image to study the environmental dependence of the Tully-Fisher relation. The Tully-Fisher zero-point of Abell 2029 matches that of clusters at lower redshifts, although we do observe a relatively larger scatter about the Tully-Fisher relation. We do not observe any systematic variation in the data with projected distance to the cluster center: we see no environmental dependence of Tully-Fisher residuals, R-I color, H-alpha equivalent width, and the shape and extent of the rotation curves. Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables; to appear in the August 2000 Astronomical Journal
04/2000;
