Context. One of the most debated issues about sub-mJy radio sources, which are responsible for the steepening of the 1.4 GHz source counts, is the origin of their radio emission. Particularly interesting, from this point of view, is the possibility of combining radio spectral index information with other observational properties to assess whether the sources are triggered by star formation or nuclear activity. Aims. The aim of this work is to study the optical and near infrared properties of a complete sample of 131 radio sources with S>0.4 mJy, observed at both 1.4 and 5 GHz as part of the ATESP radio survey. The availability of multi-wavelength radio and optical information is exploited to infer the physical properties of the faint radio population. Methods. We use deep multi-colour (UBVRIJK) images, mostly taken in the framework of the ESO Deep Public Survey, to optically identify and derive photometric redshifts for the ATESP radio sources. Deep optical coverage and extensive colour informat
The ATESP 5 GHz radio survey II. Physical properties of the faint radio population / A. Mignano; I. Prandoni; L. Gregorini; P. Parma; H. R. de Ruiter; M. H. Wieringa; G. Vettolani; R. D. Ekers. - In: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS. - ISSN 0004-6361. - STAMPA. - 477:(2008), pp. 459-471. [10.1051/0004-6361:20078545]
The ATESP 5 GHz radio survey II. Physical properties of the faint radio population
GREGORINI, LORETTA;
2008
Abstract
Context. One of the most debated issues about sub-mJy radio sources, which are responsible for the steepening of the 1.4 GHz source counts, is the origin of their radio emission. Particularly interesting, from this point of view, is the possibility of combining radio spectral index information with other observational properties to assess whether the sources are triggered by star formation or nuclear activity. Aims. The aim of this work is to study the optical and near infrared properties of a complete sample of 131 radio sources with S>0.4 mJy, observed at both 1.4 and 5 GHz as part of the ATESP radio survey. The availability of multi-wavelength radio and optical information is exploited to infer the physical properties of the faint radio population. Methods. We use deep multi-colour (UBVRIJK) images, mostly taken in the framework of the ESO Deep Public Survey, to optically identify and derive photometric redshifts for the ATESP radio sources. Deep optical coverage and extensive colour informatI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
