Download AAS_Jan2016_VLASS_Lacy

January 2016 AAS meeting
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THE VERY LARGE
ARRAY SKY SURVEY
Description and Survey Science
Mark Lacy, for the VLASS Science Survey Group.
Galactic Center (Survey) Multiwavelength Image
Credit: X-ray: NASA/UMass/D.Wang et al., Radio: N
RAO/AUI/NSF/NRL/N.Kassim, Mid-Infrared: MSX
VLA SKY SURVEY
January 2016 AAS meeting
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Survey parameters
• “All-sky” (above declination -40 deg).
• Resolution: 2.5”
• Frequency: 3GHz (2-4GHz less RFI
affected regions)
• Cadence: 3 epochs separated by 32
months, starting Oct 2017 pending
reviews (pilot survey summer 2016).
• RMS per epoch: 120muJy
• Co-added RMS: 69muJy
VLA SKY SURVEY
• I,Q,U polarization.
January 2016 AAS meeting
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Science drivers
• “Hidden explosions” and other radio
transients.
• Faraday tomography of the magnetic sky.
• AGN and galaxy evolution in concert with
new optical/IR surveys.
• Peering through our dusty Galaxy.
• “Missing physics”
VLA SKY SURVEY
January 2016 AAS meeting
Hidden explosions
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VLASS will open new parameter
space for finding
dusty/unbeamed GRBs, SNe,
compact object mergers
VLA SKY SURVEY
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Faraday tomography
• The properties of the magneto-ionic medium in AGNs and galaxies: wide
bandwidth (2-4GHz less some RFI affected regions) will allow rotation
measure estimates for ~105 sources. Essential for studies of AGN feedback.
• Faraday rotation map of Milky Way will increase in resolution by a factor of
~10.
Oppermann et al. 2012
(NVSS)
VLA SKY SURVEY
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AGN and galaxy evolution
• New generations of wide area optical/IR surveys will
benefit from a high resolution radio survey for crossidentifications.
• PanSTARRs, DES, LSST – need radio data of
comparable resolution to make reliable identifications as
source density is so high (~50-100/square arcminute).
• In conjunction with photo-zs from these surveys (+WISE),
will be able to determine accurate demographics of radioloud/intermediate population, important for constraining
AGN feedback theories.
• VLASS will provide a baseline for follow-up of AGN flares
and candidate black hole merger events from gravitational
wave detectors.
VLA SKY SURVEY
January 2016 AAS meeting
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Galactic Science – peering through our
dusty galaxy
• Extreme pulsars – identify candidate double neutron
stars, millisecond pulsars for follow-up
• Potential for finding exotic systems e.g. pulsar-BH binary with
which to refine tests of GR.
• Cools stars with active coronae
• Cross-correlate variable objects in VLASS with LSST and viceversa.
• Planetary nebulae
• Refine evolutionary models
• HII regions
• Improve census of massive star formation and galactic structure
models.
VLA SKY SURVEY
January 2016 AAS meeting
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Education and Outreach
• EPO activities have been built into the survey from the
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start.
Will use social media to explain the survey and report on
its progress. #VLASS
“Picture of the week”
Citizen Science (e.g. Radio Galaxy Zoo, transient
searches).
Science stories and blogs.
Educational activities (in partnership with NRAO and other
institutions).
Science community email updates.
VLA SKY SURVEY
January 2016 AAS meeting
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How to get involved
We are actively seeking scientists who are interested in helping with
the survey and data products. Please email [email protected] with a
brief description of your interests and I will put you in touch with the
appropriate science or technical working group.
“All-sky” (above declination -40 deg).
Resolution: 2.5”
Frequency: 3GHz (2-4GHz less RFI affected regions)
Cadence: 3 epochs separated by 32 months, starting Oct 2017 (pilot
survey summer 2016).
• RMS per epoch: 120muJy
• Co-added RMS: 69muJy
• I,Q,U polarization.
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VLA SKY SURVEY