TUNA Lunch Talk:

Kate Randall

Sydney Institute for Astronomy, University of Sydney

Spectral index properties of milliJansky radio sources and the evolution of young AGN

January 17

12:10PM, Room 230, NRAO, Edgemont Road

Abstract:

At the faintest radio flux densities (S1.4<10mJy), the spectral index properties of radio sources are not well constrained. The bright radio source population (S1.4>10mJy) is well studied and is predominantly comprised of AGN. At fainter flux densities, star-forming galaxies begin to dominate the radio source population, particularly into the microJansky regime. Understanding these faint radio source populations is essential for understanding galaxy evolution and the role played by AGN. I will present a catalogue of 843 MHz radio sources in the ELAIS-S1 field and the spectral index properties of this catalogue as a function of flux density, from cross-matching with ATLAS, a deep radio survey at 1.4 and 2.3 GHz. I will also present preliminary results investigating the faint population of Compact Steep Spectrum sources in ATLAS, thought to be one of the earliest stages of the AGN life-cycle. Exploring this population will aid us in understanding the evolution of AGN as a whole.