ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6127-8151
Current Organisations
The University of Edinburgh
,
Nanjing University
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Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038809
Abstract: The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a sensitive, high-resolution 120-168 MHz survey split across multiple tiers over the northern sky. The first LoTSS Deep Fields data release consists of deep radio continuum imaging at 150 MHz of the Boötes, European Large Area Infrared Space Observatory Survey-North 1, and Lockman Hole fields, down to rms sensitivities of ~32, 20, and 22 μ Jy beam −1 , respectively. In this paper we present consistent photometric redshift (photo- z ) estimates for the optical source catalogues in all three fields – totalling over 7 million sources (~5 million after limiting to regions with the best photometric coverage). Our photo- z estimation uses a hybrid methodology that combines template fitting and machine learning and is optimised to produce the best possible performance for the radio continuum selected sources and the wider optical source population. Comparing our results with spectroscopic redshift s les, we find a robust scatter ranging from 1.6 to 2% for galaxies and 6.4 to 7% for identified optical, infrared, or X-ray selected active galactic nuclei. Our estimated outlier fractions (| z phot − z spec |/(1+ z spec ) .15) for the corresponding subsets range from 1.5 to 1.8% and 18 to 22%, respectively. Replicating trends seen in analyses of previous wide-area radio surveys, we find no strong trend in photo- z quality as a function of radio luminosity for a fixed redshift. We exploit the broad wavelength coverage available within each field to produce galaxy stellar mass estimates for all optical sources at z 1.5. Stellar mass functions derived for each field are used to validate our mass estimates, with the resulting estimates in good agreement between each field and with published results from the literature.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-04-2023
Abstract: Source classifications, stellar masses, and star-formation rates are presented for ≈80 000 radio sources from the first data release of the Low Frequency Array Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Deep Fields, which represents the widest deep radio survey ever undertaken. Using deep multi-wavelength data spanning from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared, spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting is carried out for all of the LoTSS Deep host galaxies using four different SED codes, two of which include modelling of the contributions from an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Comparing the results of the four codes, galaxies that host a radiative AGN are identified, and an optimized consensus estimate of the stellar mass and star-formation rate for each galaxy is derived. Those galaxies with an excess of radio emission over that expected from star formation are then identified, and the LoTSS Deep sources are ided into four classes: star-forming galaxies, radio-quiet AGN, and radio-loud high-excitation and low-excitation AGN. Ninety-five per cent of the sources can be reliably classified, of which more than two-thirds are star-forming galaxies, ranging from normal galaxies in the nearby Universe to highly-starbursting systems at z & 4. Star-forming galaxies become the dominant population below 150-MHz flux densities of ≈1 mJy, accounting for 90 per cent of sources at S150MHz ∼ 100 μJy. Radio-quiet AGN comprise ≈10 per cent of the overall population. Results are compared against the predictions of the SKADS and T-RECS radio sky simulations, and improvements to the simulations are suggested.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32583G
Abstract: We investigate a powerful new sensing platform based on the excitation of upconversion luminescence from NaYF(4):Yb/Er nanocrystals loaded in solution within a suspended-core microstructured optical fiber. We demonstrate a substantial improvement in the detection limit that can be achieved in a suspended-core fiber sensor for solution-based measurements using these nanocrystals as an alternative to more traditional fluorophores, with sensing of concentrations as low as 660 fM demonstrated compared with the 10 pM obtained using quantum dots. This nanocrystal loaded suspended core fiber platform also forms the basis for a novel and robust nanoscale spectrometry device capable of capturing power-dependent spectra over a large dynamic range from 10(3) W cm(-2) to 10(6) W cm(-2) using a laser diode. This serves as a useful tool to study the multiple energy levels of rare earth luminescent nano-materials, allowing the two sharp emission bands to be studied in detail over a large dynamic range of excitation powers. Thus, in addition to demonstrating a highly sensitive dip sensor, we have devised a powerful new approach for characterizing upconversion nanoparticles.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 16-02-2022
Abstract: Radio-loud active galaxies have two accretion modes [radiatively inefficient (RI) and radiatively efficient (RE)], with distinct optical and infrared signatures, and two jet dynamical behaviours, which in arcsec- to arcmin-resolution radio surveys manifest primarily as centre- or edge-brightened structures [Fanaroff–Riley (FR) class I and II]. The nature of the relationship between accretion mode and radio morphology (FR class) has been the subject of long debate. We present a comprehensive investigation of this relationship for a s le of 286 well-resolved radio galaxies in the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey Deep Fields (LoTSS-Deep) first data release, for which robust morphological and accretion mode classifications have been made. We find that two-thirds of luminous FRII radio galaxies are RI, and identify no significant differences in the visual appearance or source dynamic range (peak/mean surface brightness) of the RI and RE FRIIs, demonstrating that both RI and RE systems can produce FRII structures. We also find a significant population of low-luminosity FRIIs (predominantly RI), supporting our earlier conclusion that FRII radio structures can be produced at all radio luminosities. We demonstrate that in the luminosity range where both morphologies are present, the probability of producing FRI or FRII radio morphology is directly linked to stellar mass, while across all morphologies and luminosities, RE accretion occurs in systems with high specific star formation rate, presumably because this traces fuel availability. In summary, the relationship between accretion mode and radio morphology is very indirect, with host-galaxy environment controlling these two key parameters in different ways.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32482B
Abstract: Despite recent achievements to reduce surface quenching in NaYF(4):Yb,Er nanocrystals, a complete understanding of how the nanocrystal size affects the brightness of upconversion luminescence is still incomplete. Here we investigated upconversion luminescence of Yb,Er-doped nanocrystals in a broad range of sizes from 6 nm to 45 nm (cubic or hexagonal phases), displaying an increasing red-to-green luminescence intensity ratio and reduced luminescence lifetimes with decreasing size. By analyzing the upconversion process with a set of rate equations, we found that their asymptotic analytic solutions explain lower decay rates of red compared to green upconversion luminescence. Furthermore, we quantified the effect of the surface on luminescence lifetime in a model where nanocrystal emitters are ided between the near-surface and inside regions of each nanocrystal. We clarify the influence of the four nonradiative recombination mechanisms (intrinsic phonon modes, vibration energy of surface ligands, solvent-mediated quenching, and surface defects) on the decay rates for different-size nanocrystals, and find that the defect density dominates decay rates for small (below 15 nm) nanocrystals. Our results indicate that a defect-reduction strategy is a key step in producing small upconversion nanocrystals with increased brightness for a variety of bioimaging and biosensing applications.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038828
Abstract: The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) will cover the full northern sky and, additionally, aims to observe the LoTSS deep fields to a noise level of ≲10 μ Jy beam −1 over several tens of square degrees in areas that have the most extensive ancillary data. This paper presents the ELAIS-N1 deep field, the deepest of the LoTSS deep fields to date. With an effective observing time of 163.7 h, it reaches a root mean square noise level of ≲20 μ Jy beam −1 in the central region (and below 30 μ Jy beam −1 over 10 square degrees). The resolution is ~6 arcsecs and 84 862 radio sources were detected in the full area (68 square degrees) with 74 127 sources in the highest quality area at less than 3 degrees from the pointing centre. The observation reaches a sky density of more than 5000 sources per square degree in the central region (~5 square degrees). We present the calibration procedure, which addresses the special configuration of some observations and the extended bandwidth covered (115–177 MHz central frequency 146.2 MHz) compared to standard LoTSS. We also describe the methods used to calibrate the flux density scale using cross-matching with sources detected by other radio surveys in the literature. We find the flux density uncertainty related to the flux density scale to be ~6.5 per cent. By studying the variations of the flux density measurements between different epochs, we show that relative flux density calibration is reliable out to about a 3 degree radius, but that additional flux density uncertainty is present for all sources at about the 3 per cent level this is likely to be associated with residual calibration errors, and is shown to be more significant in datasets with poorer ionosphere conditions. We also provide intra-band spectral indices, which can be useful to detect sources with unusual spectral properties. The final uncertainty in the flux densities is estimated to be ~10 per cent for ELAIS-N1.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-08-2022
Abstract: New-generation radio telescopes like LOFAR are conducting extensive sky surveys, detecting millions of sources. To maximize the scientific value of these surveys, radio source components must be properly associated into physical sources before being cross-matched with their optical/infrared counterparts. In this paper, we use machine learning to identify those radio sources for which either source association is required or statistical cross-matching to optical/infrared catalogues is unreliable. We train a binary classifier using manual annotations from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS). We find that, compared to a classification model based on just the radio source parameters, the addition of features of the nearest-neighbour radio sources, the potential optical host galaxy, and the radio source composition in terms of Gaussian components, all improve model performance. Our best model, a gradient boosting classifier, achieves an accuracy of 95 per cent on a balanced data set and 96 per cent on the whole (unbalanced) s le after optimizing the classification threshold. Unsurprisingly, the classifier performs best on small, unresolved radio sources, reaching almost 99 per cent accuracy for sources smaller than 15 arcsec, but still achieves 70 per cent accuracy on resolved sources. It flags 68 per cent more sources than required as needing visual inspection, but this is still fewer than the manually developed decision tree used in LoTSS, while also having a lower rate of wrongly accepted sources for statistical analysis. The results have an immediate practical application for cross-matching the next LoTSS data releases and can be generalized to other radio surveys.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201833559
Abstract: The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is an ongoing sensitive, high-resolution 120–168 MHz survey of the entire northern sky for which observations are now 20% complete. We present our first full-quality public data release. For this data release 424 square degrees, or 2% of the eventual coverage, in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45°00′00″ to 57°00′00″) were mapped using a fully automated direction-dependent calibration and imaging pipeline that we developed. A total of 325 694 sources are detected with a signal of at least five times the noise, and the source density is a factor of ∼10 higher than the most sensitive existing very wide-area radio-continuum surveys. The median sensitivity is S 144 MHz = 71 μ Jy beam −1 and the point-source completeness is 90% at an integrated flux density of 0.45 mJy. The resolution of the images is 6″ and the positional accuracy is within 0.2″. This data release consists of a catalogue containing location, flux, and shape estimates together with 58 mosaic images that cover the catalogued area. In this paper we provide an overview of the data release with a focus on the processing of the LOFAR data and the characteristics of the resulting images. In two accompanying papers we provide the radio source associations and deblending and, where possible, the optical identifications of the radio sources together with the photometric redshifts and properties of the host galaxies. These data release papers are published together with a further ∼20 articles that highlight the scientific potential of LoTSS.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038813
Abstract: We present the source associations, cross-identifications, and multi-wavelength properties of the faint radio source population detected in the deep tier of the LOFAR Two Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS): the LoTSS Deep Fields. The first LoTSS Deep Fields data release consists of deep radio imaging at 150 MHz of the ELAIS-N1, Lockman Hole, and Boötes fields, down to RMS sensitives of around 20, 22, and 32 μ Jy beam −1 , respectively. These fields are some of the best studied extra-galactic fields in the northern sky, with existing deep, wide-area panchromatic photometry from X-ray to infrared wavelengths, covering a total of ≈26 deg 2 . We first generated improved multi-wavelength catalogues in ELAIS-N1 and Lockman Hole combined with the existing catalogue for Boötes, we present forced, matched aperture photometry for over 7.2 million sources across the three fields. We identified multi-wavelength counterparts to the radio detected sources, using a combination of the Likelihood Ratio method and visual classification, which greatly enhances the scientific potential of radio surveys and allows for the characterisation of the photometric redshifts and the physical properties of the host galaxies. The final radio-optical cross-matched catalogue consists of 81 951 radio-detected sources, with counterparts identified and multi-wavelength properties presented for 79 820 ( %) sources. We also examine the properties of the host galaxies, and through stacking analysis find that the radio population with no identified counterpart is likely dominated by active galactic nuclei (AGN) at z ~ 3−4. This dataset contains one of the largest s les of radio-selected star-forming galaxies and AGN at these depths, making it ideal for studying the history of star-formation, and the evolution of galaxies and AGN across cosmic time.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202039102
Abstract: Super massive black holes at the centres of galaxies can cycle through periods of activity and quiescence. Characterising the duty cycle of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is crucial for understanding the impact of the energy they release on the host galaxy. For radio AGN, this can be done by identifying dying (remnant) and restarted radio galaxies from their radio spectral properties. Using the combination of the images at 1400 MHz produced by Apertif, the new phased-array feed receiver installed on the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, and images at 150 MHz provided by LOFAR, we have derived resolved spectral index images (at a resolution of ~15 arcsec) for all the sources within an approximately 6 deg 2 area of the Lockman Hole region. In this way, we were able to select 15 extended radio sources with emission (partly or entirely) characterised by extremely steep spectral indices (steeper than 1.2). These objects represent cases of radio sources in the remnant or the restarted phases of their life cycle. Our findings confirm that these objects are not as rare as previously thought, suggesting a relatively fast cycle. They also show a variety of properties that can be relevant for modelling the evolution of radio galaxies. For ex le, the restarted activity can occur while the remnant structure from a previous phase of activity is still visible. This provides constraints on the duration of the “off” (dying) phase. In extended remnants with ultra-steep spectra at low frequencies, the activity likely stopped a few hundred megayears ago, and they correspond to the older tail of the age distribution of radio galaxies, in agreement with the results of simulations of radio source evolution. We find remnant radio sources with a variety of structures (from double-lobed to amorphous), possibly suggesting different types of progenitors. The present work sets the stage for exploiting the powerful tool of low-frequency spectral index studies of extended sources by taking advantage of the large areas common to the LOFAR and the Apertif surveys.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201833564
Abstract: The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is an ongoing sensitive, high-resolution 120–168 MHz survey of the northern sky with erse and ambitious science goals. Many of the scientific objectives of LoTSS rely upon, or are enhanced by, the association or separation of the sometimes incorrectly catalogued radio components into distinct radio sources and the identification and characterisation of the optical counterparts to these sources. We present the source associations and optical and/or IR identifications for sources in the first data release, which are made using a combination of statistical techniques and visual association and identification. We document in detail the colour- and magnitude-dependent likelihood ratio method used for statistical identification as well as the Zooniverse project, called LOFAR Galaxy Zoo, used for visual classification. We describe the process used to select which of these two different methods is most appropriate for each LoTSS source. The final LoTSS-DR1-IDs value-added catalogue presented contains 318 520 radio sources, of which 231 716 (73%) have optical and/or IR identifications in Pan-STARRS and WISE.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201833562
Abstract: The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a sensitive, high-resolution 120–168 MHz survey of the Northern sky. The LoTSS First Data Release (DR1) presents 424 square degrees of radio continuum observations over the HETDEX Spring Field (10 h 45 m 00 s right ascension 15 h 30 m 00 s and 45°00′00″ declination 57°00′00″) with a median sensitivity of 71 μ Jy beam −1 and a resolution of 6″. In this paper we present photometric redshifts (photo- z ) for 94.4% of optical sources over this region that are detected in the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) 3 π steradian survey. Combining the Pan-STARRS optical data with mid-infrared photometry from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, we estimate photo- z s using a novel hybrid photometric redshift methodology optimised to produce the best possible performance for the erse s le of radio continuum selected sources. For the radio-continuum detected population, we find an overall scatter in the photo- z of 3.9% and an outlier fraction (| z phot − z spec |/(1 + z spec ) 0.15) of 7.9%. We also find that, at a given redshift, there is no strong trend in photo- z quality as a function of radio luminosity. However there are strong trends as a function of redshift for a given radio luminosity, a result of selection effects in the spectroscopic s le and/or intrinsic evolution within the radio source population. Additionally, for the s le of sources in the LoTSS First Data Release with optical counterparts, we present rest-frame optical and mid-infrared magnitudes based on template fits to the consensus photometric (or spectroscopic when available) redshift.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 04-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202039343
Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the relationship between 150 MHz luminosity and the star-formation rate – the SFR- L 150 MHz relation – using 150 MHz measurements for a near-infrared selected s le of 118 517 z 1 galaxies. New radio survey data offer compelling advantages over previous generation surveys for studying star formation in galaxies, including huge increases in sensitivity, survey speed, and resolution, while remaining impervious to extinction. The LOFAR Surveys Key Science Project is transforming our understanding of the low-frequency radio sky, with the 150 MHz data over the European Large Area Infrared Space Observatory Survey-North 1 field reaching an rms sensitivity of 20 μ Jy beam −1 over 10 deg 2 at 6 arcsec resolution. All of the galaxies studied have SFR and stellar mass estimates that were derived from energy balance spectral energy distribution fitting using redshifts and aperture-matched forced photometry from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Deep Fields data release. The impact of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is minimised by leveraging the deep ancillary data in the LoTSS data release, alongside median-likelihood methods that we demonstrate are resistant to AGN contamination. We find a linear and non-evolving SFR- L 150 MHz relation, apparently consistent with expectations based on calorimetric arguments, down to the lowest SFRs 0.01 M ⊙ yr −1 . However, we also recover compelling evidence for stellar mass dependence in line with previous work on this topic, in the sense that higher mass galaxies have a larger 150 MHz luminosity at a given SFR, suggesting that the overall agreement with calorimetric arguments may be a coincidence. We conclude that, in the absence of AGN, 150 MHz observations can be used to measure accurate galaxy SFRs out to z = 1 at least, but it is necessary to account for stellar mass in the estimation in order to obtain 150 MHz-derived SFRs accurate to better than 0.5 dex. Our best-fit relation is log 10 ( L 150 MHz ∕W Hz −1 ) = (0.90 ± 0.01)log 10 ( ψ ∕ M ⊙ yr −1 ) + (0.33 ± 0.04)log 10 ( M ∕10 10 M ⊙ ) + 22.22 ± 0.02.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 25-08-2018
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-05-2023
Abstract: We present a detailed study of the cosmic star formation history over 90 per cent of cosmic time (0 ≲ z ≲ 4), using deep, radio continuum observations that probe star formation activity independent of dust. The Low Frequency Array Two Metre Sky Survey has imaged three well-studied extragalactic fields, Elais-N1, Boötes, and the Lockman Hole, reaching $\\sim 20\\, \\mu \\rm {Jy\\,beam^{-1}}$ rms sensitivity at $150\\, \\rm {MHz}$. The availability of high-quality ancillary data from ultraviolet to far-infrared wavelengths has enabled accurate photometric redshifts and the robust separation of radio-bright AGN from their star-forming counterparts. We capitalize on this unique combination of deep, wide fields and robustly selected star-forming galaxies to construct radio luminosity functions and derive the cosmic star formation rate density. We carefully constrain and correct for scatter in the $L_{150\\, \\rm {MHz}}-\\rm {SFR}$ relation, which we find to be $\\sim 0.3\\, \\rm {dex}$. Our derived star formation rate density lies between previous measurements at all redshifts studied. We derive higher star formation rate densities between z ∼ 0 and z ∼ 3 than are typically inferred from short wavelength emission at earlier times, this discrepancy is reduced. Our measurements are generally in good agreement with far-infrared and radio-based studies, with small offsets resulting from differing star formation rate calibrations.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United States of America
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Rohit Kondapally.