We examine the behaviour of the infrared-radio correlation (IRRC) over the range 0 <z ≲ 6 using new, highly sensitive 3 GHz observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and infrared ...data from the Herschel Space Observatory in the 2 deg2 COSMOS field. We distinguish between objects where emission is believed to arise solely from star-formation, and those where an active galactic nucleus (AGN) is thought to be present. We account for non-detections in the radio or in the infrared using a doubly-censored survival analysis. We find that the IRRC of star-forming galaxies, quantified by the infrared-to-1.4 GHz radio luminosity ratio (qTIR), decreases with increasing redshift: qTIR(z) = (2.88 ± 0.03)(1 + z)− 0.19 ± 0.01. This is consistent with several previous results from the literature. Moderate-to-high radiative luminosity AGN do not follow the same qTIR(z) trend as star-forming galaxies, having a lower normalisation and steeper decrease with redshift. We cannot rule out the possibility that unidentified AGN contributions only to the radio regime may be steepening the observed qTIR(z) trend of the star-forming galaxy population. We demonstrate that the choice of the average radio spectral index directly affects the normalisation, as well as the derived trend with redshift of the IRRC. An increasing fractional contribution to the observed 3 GHz flux by free-free emission of star-forming galaxies may also affect the derived evolution. However, we find that the standard (M82-based) assumption of the typical radio spectral energy distribution (SED) for star-forming galaxies is inconsistent with our results. This suggests a more complex shape of the typical radio SED for star-forming galaxies, and that imperfect K corrections in the radio may govern the derived trend of decreasing qTIR with increasing redshift. A more detailed understanding of the radio spectrum is therefore required for robust K corrections in the radio and to fully understand the cosmic evolution of the IRRC. Lastly, we present a redshift-dependent relation between rest-frame 1.4 GHz radio luminosity and star formation rate taking the derived redshift trend into account.
We study the composition of the faint radio population selected from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array Cosmic Evolution Survey (VLA-COSMOS) 3 GHz Large Project, which is a radio continuum survey ...performed at 10 cm wavelength. The survey covers a 2.6 square degree area with a mean rms of ~ 2.3 μJy/beam, cataloging 10 830 sources above 5σ, and enclosing the full 2 square degree COSMOS field. By combining these radio data with optical, near-infrared (UltraVISTA), and mid-infrared (Spitzer/IRAC) data, as well as X-ray data (Chandra), we find counterparts to radio sources for ~93% of the total radio sample reaching out to z ≲ 6; these sources are found in the unmasked areas of the COSMOS field, i.e., those not affected by saturated or bright sources in the optical to near-infrared (NIR) bands. We further classify the sources as star-forming galaxies or AGN based on various criteria, such as X-ray luminosity; observed mid-infrared color; UV–far-infrared spectral energy distribution; rest-frame, near-UV optical color that is corrected for dust extinction; and radio excess relative to that expected from the star formation rate of the hosts. We separate the AGN into subsamples dominated by low-to-moderate and moderate-to-high radiative luminosity AGN, i.e., candidates for high-redshift analogs to local low- and high-excitation emission line AGN, respectively. We study the fractional contributions of these subpopulations down to radio flux levels of ~11 μJy at 3 GHz (or ~20 μJy at 1.4 GHz assuming a spectral index of –0.7). We find that the dominant fraction at 1.4 GHz flux densities above ~200 μJy is constituted of low-to-moderate radiative luminosity AGN. Below densities of ~100 μJy the fraction of star-forming galaxies increases to ~ 60%, followed by the moderate-to-high radiative luminosity AGN (~ 20%) and low-to-moderate radiative luminosity AGN (~ 20%). Based on this observational evidence, we extrapolate the fractions down to sensitivities of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Our estimates suggest that at the faint flux limits to be reached by the (Wide, Deep, and UltraDeep) SKA1 surveys, a selection based only on radio flux limits can provide a simple tool to efficiently identify samples highly (>75%) dominated by star-forming galaxies.
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 5σ, 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 α = −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.
We make use of the deep Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) COSMOS radio observations at 3 GHz to infer radio luminosity functions of star-forming galaxies up to redshifts of z ~ 5 based on ...approximately 6000 detections with reliable optical counterparts. This is currently the largest radio-selected sample available out to z ~ 5 across an area of 2 square degrees with a sensitivity of rms ≈ 2.3 μJy beam-1. By fixing the faint and bright end shape of the radio luminosity function to the local values, we find a strong redshift trend that can be fitted with a pure luminosity evolution L1.4 GHz ∝ (1 + z)(3.16 ± 0.2)−(0.32 ± 0.07)z. We estimate star formation rates (SFRs) from our radio luminosities using an infrared (IR)-radio correlation that is redshift dependent. By integrating the parametric fits of the evolved luminosity function we calculate the cosmic SFR density (SFRD) history since z ~ 5. Our data suggest that the SFRD history peaks between 2 < z < 3 and that the ultraluminous infrared galaxies (100 M⊙ yr-1 < SFR < 1000 M⊙ yr-1) contribute up to ~25% to the total SFRD in the same redshift range. Hyperluminous infrared galaxies (SFR > 1000 M⊙ yr-1) contribute an additional ≲2% in the entire observed redshift range. We find evidence of a potential underestimation of SFRD based on ultraviolet (UV) rest-frame observations of Lyman break galaxies at high redshifts (z ≳ 4) on the order of 15–20%, owing to appreciable star formation in highly dust-obscured galaxies, which might remain undetected in such UV observations.
We explore the multiwavelength properties of AGN host galaxies for different classes of radio-selected AGN out to z ≲ 6 via a multiwavelength analysis of about 7700 radio sources in the COSMOS field. ...The sources were selected with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 3 GHz (10 cm) within the VLA–COSMOS 3 GHz Large Project, and cross-matched with multiwavelength ancillary data. This is the largest sample of high-redshift (z ≲ 6) radio sources with exquisite photometric coverage and redshift measurements available. We constructed a sample of moderate-to-high radiative luminosity AGN (HLAGN) via spectral energy distribution decomposition combined with standard X-ray and mid-infrared diagnostics. Within the remainder of the sample we further identified low-to-moderate radiative luminosity AGN (MLAGN) via excess in radio emission relative to the star formation rates in their host galaxies. We show that at each redshift our HLAGN havesystematically higher radiative luminosities than MLAGN and that their AGN power occurs predominantly in radiative form, while MLAGN display a substantial mechanical AGN luminosity component. We found significant differences in the host properties of the two AGN classes, as a function of redshift. At z< 1.5, MLAGN appear to reside in significantly more massive and less star-forming galaxies compared to HLAGN. At z> 1.5, we observed a reversal in the behaviour of the stellar mass distributions with the HLAGN populating the higher stellar mass tail. We interpret this finding as a possible hint of the downsizing of galaxies hosting HLAGN, with the most massive galaxies triggering AGN activity earlier than less massive galaxies, and then fading to MLAGN at lower redshifts. Our conclusion is that HLAGN and MLAGN samples trace two distinct galaxy and AGN populations in a wide range of redshifts, possibly resembling the radio AGN types often referred to as radiative- and jet-mode (or high- and low-excitation), respectively, whose properties might depend on the different availability of cold gas supplies.
Context. Several problems with the process of galaxy formation are still open. One of them is the role played by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) phenomena in galaxy build-up and, in particular, in ...quenching star formation (SF). On the other hand, the theory of AGN formation predicts that these phenomena are correlated with the host-galaxy environment, therefore opening links among SF quenching, environment and AGN phenomena in galaxy formation, and the evolution paradigm. Aims. This work focuses on the correlations among environmental density, radio AGN presence and the probability that a galaxy hosts a radio AGN. Methods. Using data from the photometric COSMOS survey and its radio 1.4 GHz follow-up (VLA-COSMOS), a sample of radio AGNs has been defined. The environment was studied using the richness distributions inside a parallelepiped with base side of 1 Mpc and height proportional to the photometric redshift precision. Richness distributions were compared as a function of both the redshift and the relative evolution of the stellar masses of galaxies and AGN hosts up to z = 2. Results. Radio AGNs are always located in environments that are significantly richer and denser than those around galaxies in which radio emission is absent, so the environment seems to enhance the probability of a galaxy hosting a radio AGN. Moreover, a distinction between high-power and low-power radio AGNs leads to the conclusion that the significance of the environmental effect is only maintained for low-power radio sources. By studying the evolution of stellar masses, it is possible to conclude that radio AGN presence is a phenomenon related to quiescent galaxies up to z = 2, with a significant increase in the fraction of quiescent galaxies hosting a radio AGN with decreasing redshift. Hints of an environmental effect are present as well. Conclusions. The results found with this work lead to concluding that denser environments play a significant role in enhancing the probability that a galaxy hosts a radio AGN and, in particular, low-power ones.
The VLA-COSMOS Large Project is described and Its scientific objective is discussed. We present a catalog of similar to 3600 radio sources found in the 2 deg super(2) COSMOS field at 1.4 GHz. The ...observations in the VLA A and C configuration resulted in a resolution of 1.5" x 1.4" and a mean rms noise of similar to 10.5 (15) mu Jy beam super(-1) in the central 1 (2) deg super(2). Eighty radio sources are clearly extended consisting of multiple components, and most of them appear to be double-lobed radio galaxies. The astrometry of the catalog has been thoroughly tested, and the uncertainty in the relative and absolute astrometry are 130 and <55 mas, respectively.
In the context of the VLA-COSMOS Deep project, additional VLA A array observations at 1.4 GHz were obtained for the central degree of the COSMOS field and combined with the existing data from the ...VLA-COSMOS Large project. A newly constructed Deep mosaic with a resolution of 2.''5 was used to search for sources down to 4{sigma} with 1{sigma} {approx} 12 {mu}Jy beam{sup -1} in the central 50' x 50'. This new catalog is combined with the catalog from the Large project (obtained at 1.''5 x 1.''4 resolution) to construct a new Joint catalog. All sources listed in the new Joint catalog have peak flux densities of {>=}5{sigma} at 1.''5 and/or 2.''5 resolution to account for the fact that a significant fraction of sources at these low flux levels are expected to be slightly resolved at 1.''5 resolution. All properties listed in the Joint catalog, such as peak flux density, integrated flux density, and source size, are determined in the 2.''5 resolution Deep image. In addition, the Joint catalog contains 43 newly identified multi-component sources.
zCOSMOS is a large-redshift survey that is being undertaken in the COSMOS field using 600 hr of observation with the VIMOS spectrograph on the 8 m VLT. The survey is designed to characterize the ...environments of COSMOS galaxies from the 100 kpc scales of galaxy groups up to the 100 Mpc scale of the cosmic web and to produce diagnostic Information on galaxies and active galactic nuclei. The zCOSMOS survey consists of two parts: (1) zCOSMOS-bright, a magnitude-limited I-band ha < 22.5 sample of about 20,000 galaxies with 0.1 < z < 1.2 covering the whole 1.7 deg super(2) COSMOS ACS field, for which the survey parameters at z similar to 0.7 are designed to be directly comparable to those of the 2dFGRS at z similar to 0.1; and (2) zCOSMOS-deep, a survey of approximately 10,000 galaxies selected through color-selection criteria to have 1.4 < z < 3.0, within the central 1 deg super(2). This paper describes the survey design and the construction of the target catalogs and briefly outlines the observational program and the data pipeline. In the first observing season, spectra of 1303 zCOSMOS-bright targets and 977 zCOSMOS-deep targets have been obtained. These are briefly analyzed to demonstrate the characteristics that may be expected from zCOSMOS, and particularly zCOSMOS-bright, when it is finally completed between 2008 and 2009. The power of combining spectroscopic and photometric redshifts is demonstrated, especially in correctly identifying the emission line in single-line spectra and in determining which of the less reliable spectroscopic redshifts are correct and which are incorrect. These techniques bring the overall success rate in the zCOSMOS-bright so far to almost 90% and to above 97% in the 0.5 < z < 0.8 redshift range. Our zCOSMOS-deep spectra demonstrate the power of our selection techniques to Isolate high-redshift galaxies at 1.4 < z < 3, C and of VIMOS to measure their redshifts using ultraviolet absorption lines.
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