GMRT observations of active galaxies and starbursts in ATLAS/ELAIS-S1

• Applicant: Dr. Enno Middelberg
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2007 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 56973112

ATLAS (Australia Telescope Large Area Survey) is a large radio survey of 7deg2 to investigate the evolution of galaxies since a time when the universe was only 2 billion years old. The main issues addressed by this project are: How and when did the stellar mass build up? How do AGN influence star formation? What is the spatial distribution and environment of evolved galaxies, starbursts, and active galaxies in the early universe? ATLAS is a radio survey, and so has the advantage of being entirely unaffected by dust obscuration which plague optical and infrared surveys. Important information on the objects' properties and environments can be obtained from comparing their flux densities at two radio frequencies. We therefore have proposed observations with the Indian Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at a frequency of 610 MHz, complementing our existing data at 1400 MHz. The proposal has been accepted and the observations in July/August require a two-week trip to India.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants