Context. The reason why some radio galaxies (RGs) grow to form so-called giant radio galaxies (GRGs) with sizes > 700 kpc, is still unknown. Aims. In this study, we compare the radio, optical and environmental properties of GRGs with those of a control sample of smaller RGs we found in the three LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR) deep fields, namely the Boötes, ELAIS-N1, Lockman Hole, for a total area of ≈95 deg2. Methods. We inspected the LOFAR deep fields and created a catalogue of 1609 extended radio galaxies (ERGs). By visual inspection, we identified their host galaxies and spectroscopically or photometrically classified 280 of these as GRGs. We studied their properties, such as their accretion state, stellar mass and star formation rate (SFR) using deep optical and infrared survey data. Moreover, we explored the environment in terms of the surface number density of neighbouring galaxies within these surveys. Integrated flux densities and radio luminosities were also determined for a subset of ERGs through available survey images at 50, 150, 610, and 1400 MHz to compute integrated spectral indices. Results. Considering the fraction of GRGs displaying an FRII morphology alongside the host galaxy properties, we suggest that GRGs consistently possess sufficient power to overcome jet frustration caused by the interstellar medium. Moreover, clear differences emerge in the environmental densities between GRGs and smaller RGs, using the number of neighbouring galaxies within 10 Mpc from the host galaxy as a proxy. GRGs preferentially reside in sparser environments compared to their smaller counterparts. In particular, only 3.6% of the GRGs reside within a 3D comoving distance of 5 Mpc from a previously reported galaxy cluster. We found that larger sources exhibit steeper integrated spectral indices, suggesting that GRGs are late-stage versions of RGs. These results suggest that GRGs are amongst the oldest radio sources with the most stable nuclear activity that reside in sparse environments.

Context. Radio galaxies dominate the sky at radio wavelengths and represent an essential piece in the galaxy evolution puzzle. High-resolution studies focussed on statistical samples of radio galaxies are expected to shed light on the triggering mechanisms of the active galactic nucleus in their centre, alternating between the phases of activity and quiescence. Aims. For this work, we zoomed in on the sub-arcsec radio structures in the central regions of the 35 radio galaxies in the area covering 6.6 deg2 of the Lockman Hole region. The sources studied here were previously classified as active, remnant, and candidate restarted radio galaxies based on the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) observations at 150 MHz. We examined the morphologies and studied the spectral properties of their central regions to explore their evolutionary stages and to revise the morphological and spectral criteria used to select the initial sample. Methods. We used the newly available LOFAR 150 MHz image obtained using international baselines, yielding a resolution of 0.38″ × 0.30″, making this the first systematic study of the nuclear regions at such a high resolution and low frequency. We used publicly available images from the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm survey at 1.4 GHz and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) Sky Survey at 3 GHz to achieve our goals. In addition, for one of the restarted candidates, we present new dedicated observations with the VLA at 3 GHz. Results. We characterised the central regions of the radio galaxies in our sample and found various morphologies, some even mimicking well-known double-double radio galaxies but on a smaller scale, that is, a few tens of kiloparsecs for the size of the restarted activity. We also see the beginnings of active jets or distinct detections unrelated to the large-scale structure. Furthermore, we found a variety of radio spectra characterising the sources in our sample, such as flat, steep, or peaked in the frequency range between 150 MHz and 3 GHz, indicative of the different life-cycle phases of the sources in our sample. Based on these analyses, we confirm five out of six previously considered restarted candidates and identify three more restarted candidates from the active sample. As the number of restarted candidates still exceeds that of remnant candidates, this is consistent with previous results suggesting that the restarted phase can occur after a relatively short remnant phase (i.e. a few tens of millions of years).

While supermassive black holes are ubiquitous features of galactic nuclei, only a small minority are observed during episodes of luminous accretion. The physical mechanism(s) driving the onset of fueling and ignition in these active galactic nuclei (AGN) are still largely unknown for many galaxies and AGN-selection criteria. Attention has focused on AGN triggering by means of major galaxy mergers gravitationally funneling gas towards the galactic center, with evidence both for and against this scenario. However, several recent studies have found that radio-loud AGN overwhelmingly reside in ongoing or recent major galaxy mergers. In this study, we test the hypothesis that major galaxy mergers are important triggers for radio-loud AGN activity in powerful quasars during cosmic noon (1 < z < 2). To this end, we compare Hubble Space Telescope WFC3/IR observations of the z > 1 3CR radio-loud broad-lined quasars to three matched radio-quiet quasar control samples. We find strong evidence for major-merger activity in nearly all radio-loud AGN, in contrast to the much lower merger fraction in the radio-quiet AGN. These results suggest major galaxy mergers are key ingredients to launching powerful radio jets. Given many of our radio-loud quasars are blue, our results present a possible challenge to the "blow-out" paradigm of galaxy evolution models in which blue quasars are the quiescent end result following a period of red quasar feedback initiated by a galaxy merger. Finally, we find a tight correlation between black hole mass and host galaxy luminosity for these different high-redshift AGN samples inconsistent with those observed for local elliptical galaxies.

The Revised Third Cambridge Catalogue of Radio Sources (in the northern sky), or 3CR, published sixty years ago by Bennett (1962) [...]

Radio galaxies dominate the radio sky and are essential to the galaxy evolution puzzle. High-resolution studies of statistical samples of radio galaxies are expected to shed light on the triggering mechanisms of the AGN, alternating between the phases of activity and quiescence. In this work, we focus on the sub-arcsec radio structures in the central regions of the 35 radio galaxies over 6.6 deg^2 of the Lockman Hole region. These sources were previously classified as active, remnant, and candidate restarted radio galaxies using 150 MHz LOFAR observations. We examine the morphologies and study the spectral properties of their central regions to explore their evolutionary stages and revise the criteria used to select the initial sample. We use the newly available LOFAR 150 MHz image obtained using international baselines, achieving 0.38” x 0.30” resolution, making this the first systematic study of the nuclear regions at high resolution and low frequency. We use publicly available images from the FIRST survey at 1.4 GHz and the Karl G. Jansky VLA Sky Survey at 3 GHz to achieve our goals. In addition, for one restarted candidate we present new dedicated observations with the VLA at 3 GHz. We have found various morphologies of the central regions of the radio galaxies in our sample, some resembling miniature double-double radio galaxies. We also see the beginnings of active jets or distinct detections unrelated to the large-scale structure. Furthermore, we have found diverse radio spectra in our sample - flat, steep, or peaked between 150 MHz and 3 GHz, indicative of the different life-cycle phases. Based on these analyses, we confirm five of six previously considered restarted candidates and identify three more from the active sample, supporting previous results suggesting that the restarted phase can occur after a relatively short remnant phase (i.e. a few tens of millions of years).

In this study, we compare the radio, optical and environmental properties of GRGs with those of a control sample of smaller RGs we found in the three LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR) deep fields, namely the Bootes, ELAIS-N1, Lockman Hole, for a total area of about 95 deg^2. We inspected the LOFAR deep fields and created a catalogue of 1609 extended radio galaxies (ERGs). By visual inspection, we identified their host galaxies and spectroscopically or photometrically classified 280 of these as GRGs. We studied their properties, such as their accretion state, stellar mass and star formation rate (SFR) using deep optical and infrared survey data. Moreover, we explored the environment in terms of the surface number density of neighbouring galaxies within these surveys. Integrated flux densities and radio luminosities were also determined for a subset of ERGs through available survey images at 50, 150, 610, and 1400 MHz to compute integrated spectral indices. Considering the fraction of GRGs displaying an FRII morphology alongside the host galaxy properties, we suggest that GRGs consistently possess sufficient power to overcome jet frustration caused by the interstellar medium. Moreover, clear differences emerge in the environmental densities between GRGs and smaller RGs, using the number of neighbouring galaxies within 10 Mpc from the host galaxy as a proxy. GRGs preferentially reside in sparser environments compared to their smaller counterparts. In particular, only 3.6% of the GRGs reside within a 3D comoving distance of 5 Mpc from a previously reported galaxy cluster. We found that larger sources exhibit steeper integrated spectral indices, suggesting that GRGs are late-stage versions of RGs. These results suggest that GRGs are amongst the oldest radio sources with the most stable nuclear activity that reside in sparse environments.

We constrain the emission mechanisms responsible for the prodigious electromagnetic output generated by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and their host galaxies with a novel state-of-the-art AGN radio-to-X-ray spectral energy distribution model fitting code (ARXSED). ARXSED combines multiple components to fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of AGNs and their host galaxies. Emission components include radio structures such as lobes and jets, infrared emission from the AGN torus, visible-to-X-ray emission from the accretion disk, and radio-to-ultraviolet emission from the host galaxy. Applying ARXSED to the radio SEDs of 20 3CRR quasars at 1 < z < 2 verifies the need for more than a simple power law when compact radio structures are present. The nonthermal emission contributes 91%–57% of the observed-frame 1.25 mm to 850 μm flux, and this component must be accounted for when using these wavelengths to estimate star formation properties. We predict the presence of strong radio-linked X-ray emission in more than half the sample sources. ARXSED estimates median (and the associated first and third quartile ranges) BH mass of 2.91.76.0×109M☉ , logarithm of Eddington ratio of −1.0−1.2−0.6 , and spin of 0.980.940.99 for our sample. The inferred AGN torus and accretion disk parameters agree with those estimated from spectroscopic analyses of similar samples in the literature. We present the median intrinsic SED of the luminous radio-loud quasars at 1 < z ≲ 2; this SED represents a significant improvement in the way each component is modeled.

Context. The occurrence of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is critical to our understanding of galaxy evolution and formation. Radio observations provide a crucial, dust-independent tool to study the role of AGN. However, conventional radio surveys of deep fields ordinarily have arc-second scale resolutions often insufficient to reliably separate radio emission in distant galaxies originating from star-formation and AGN-related activity. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) can offer a solution by identifying only the most compact radio emitting regions in galaxies at cosmological distances where the high brightness temperatures (in excess of 105 K) can only be reliably attributed to AGN activity. Aims. We present the first in a series of papers exploring the faint compact radio population using a new wide-field VLBI survey of the GOODS-N field. This will expand upon previous surveys, permitting the characterisation of the faint, compact radio source population in the GOODS-N field. The unparalleled sensitivity of the European VLBI Network (EVN) will probe a luminosity range rarely seen in deep wide-field VLBI observations, thus providing insights into the role of AGN to radio luminosities of the order 1022 WHz−1 across cosmic time. Methods. The newest VLBI techniques are used to completely cover an entire 7′̣5 radius area to milliarcsecond resolutions, while bright radio sources (S > 0.1 mJy) are targeted up to 25′ from the pointing centre. Multi-source self-calibration, and a primary beam model for the EVN array are used to correct for residual phase errors and primary beam attenuation respectively. Results. This paper presents the largest catalogue of VLBI detected sources in GOODS-N comprising of 31 compact radio sources across a redshift range of 0.11–3.44, almost three times more than previous VLBI surveys in this field. We provide a machine-readable catalogue and introduce the radio properties of the detected sources using complementary data from the e-MERLIN Galaxy Evolution survey (eMERGE).

Low-frequency radio selection finds radio-bright galaxies regardless of the amount of obscuration by gas and dust. We report Chandra observations of a complete 178 MHz–selected, and so orientation-unbiased, sample of 44 0.5 < z < 1 3CRR sources. The sample is comprised of quasars and narrow-line radio galaxies (NLRGs) with similar radio luminosities, and the radio structure serves as both an age and an orientation indicator. Consistent with unification, intrinsic obscuration (measured by N H, X-ray hardness ratio, and X-ray luminosity) generally increases with inclination. However, the sample includes a population not seen in high-z 3CRR sources: NLRGs viewed at intermediate inclination angles with N H < 1022 cm−2. Multiwavelength analysis suggests that these objects have lower L/L Edd than typical NLRGs at similar orientation. Thus, both orientation and L/L Edd are important, and a “radiation-regulated unification” provides a better explanation of the sample’s observed properties. In comparison with the 3CRR sample at 1 < z < 2, our lower-redshift sample shows a higher fraction of Compton-thin NLRGs (45% versus 29%) but a similar Compton-thick fraction (20%), implying a larger covering factor of Compton-thin material at intermediate viewing angles and thus a more “puffed-up” torus atmosphere. We posit that this is due to a range of L/L Edd extending to lower values in this sample. In contrast, at high redshifts, the narrower range and high L/L Edd values allowed orientation (and so simple unification) to dominate the sample’s observed properties.

The Herschel Space Observatory was the fourth Cornerstone mission of ESA's Horizon 2000 programme, and a €1Bclass far infrared space observatory. The satellite and mission were developed over an approximately 10-year period before launch in 2009 and highly successful operation for approximately four years. A Post-Operations programme continued until 2017 (and with little resources even until 2019) in order to complete the data processing, calibration and documentation activities and to populate the Herschel Science Archive with the final data products and documentation. The Herschel Science Team, which oversaw the mission over a nearly 20-year period from late 1998 until its 61st and final meeting in late 2017, has conducted a comprehensive lessons learned review of the project from start to finish, encompassing all aspects of the endeavour – programmatics and management of the spacecraft, instrument consortia and ground segment; instrument development and testing; spacecraft implementation; ground segment and operations preparation pre-launch, in-flight operation and post-operations; science management and user support; and communications. Science is not addressed here except in general terms – this is not a scientific assessment. Focusing on generic features of the mission and its management, organisation, and technical design that have potential applications and relevance to future space projects, we have identified and assessed a number of aspects in which the Herschel experience can provide valuable lessons, both positive and negative, to aid the effective development and success of future missions, especially ones that are comparable in magnitude and complexity. We outline the main findings and conclusions of this Lessons Learned exercise.

We study the obscuration and orientation effects in a complete, low radio frequency (178 MHz) selected, and hence orientation unbiased sample of medium redshift (0.5 20.5) and higher inclination angles. These properties together with the observed trend of increasing intrinsic column density with decreasing radio core fraction are roughly consistent with orientation-dependent obscuration as in Unification models. However, this sample includes a new population, not seen in the high redshift (z > 1) 3CRR sample (Wilkes et al. 2013) - NLRGs with unusually low intrinsic column density (log NH < 22), which are viewed at inclination angles, skimming the edge of the accretion disk/torus. Analysis of their multiwavelength properties suggests a low L/LEdd ratio compared to the high-NH NLRGs viewed at similar inclination angles. Hence a simple Unification model (sufficient to explain the X-ray properties of the 3CRR sample at high redshift) needs to include a range of L/LEdd ratios at medium-z. About 1/4 of the sources in the medium and high redshift 3CRR samples are Compton-thick, showing high L([OIII])/L(2-8keV) and L(IR)/L(2-8keV) ratios.

Context. Steep spectrum radio sources associated with active galactic nuclei (AGN) may contain remnants of past AGN activity episodes. Studying these sources gives us insight into the AGN activity history. Novel instruments like the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) are enabling studies of these fascinating structures to be made at tens to hundreds of MHz with sufficient resolution to analyse their complex morphology. Aims. Our goal is to characterize the integrated and resolved spectral properties of VLSS J1431+1331 and estimate source ages based on synchrotron radio emission models, thus putting constraints on the AGN duty cycle. Methods. Using a broad spectral coverage, we have derived spectral and curvature maps, and used synchrotron ageing models to determine the time elapsed from the last time the source plasma was energized. We used LOFAR, Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) data. Results. We confirm the morphology and the spectral index values found in previous studies of this object. Based on our ageing analysis, we infer that the AGN that created this source currently has very low levels of activity or that it is switched off. The derived ages for the larger source component range from around 60 to 130 Myr, hinting that the AGN activity decreased or stopped around 60 Myr ago. We observe that the area around the faint radio core located in the larger source component is the youngest, while the overall age of the smaller source component shows it to be the oldest part of the source. Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that VLSS J1431.8+1331 is an intriguing, two-component source. The larger component seems to host a faint radio core, suggesting that the source may be an AGN radio relic. The spectral index we observe from the smaller component is distinctly flatter at lower frequencies than the spectral index of the larger component, suggesting the possibility that the smaller component may be a shocked plasma bubble. From the integrated source spectrum, we deduce that its shape and slope can be used as tracers of the activity history of this type of steep spectrum radio source. We discuss the implications this conclusion has for future studies of radio sources having similar characteristics.

Aims. Submillimetre-selected galaxies (SMGs) at high redshift (z ∼ 2) are potential host galaxies of active galactic nuclei (AGN). If the local Universe is a good guide, ∼50% of the obscured AGN amongst the SMG population could be missed even in the deepest X-ray surveys. Radio observations are insensitive to obscuration; therefore, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) can be used as a tool to identify AGN in obscured systems. A well-established upper limit to the brightness temperature of 105 K exists in star-forming systems, thus VLBI observations can distinguish AGN from star-forming systems via brightness temperature measurements. Methods. We present 1.6 GHz European VLBI Network (EVN) observations of four SMGs (with measured redshifts) to search for evidence of compact radio components associated with AGN cores. For two of the sources, e-MERLIN images are also presented. Results. Out of the four SMGs observed, we detect one source, J123555.14, that has an integrated EVN flux density of 201 ± 15.2 μJy, corresponding to a brightness temperature of 5.2 ± 0.7 × 105 K. We therefore identify that the radio emission from J123555.14 is associated with an AGN. We do not detect compact radio emission from a possible AGN in the remaining sources (J123600.10, J131225.73, and J163650.43). In the case of J131225.73, this is particularly surprising, and the data suggest that this may be an extended, jet-dominated AGN that is resolved by VLBI. Since the morphology of the faint radio source population is still largely unknown at these scales, it is possible that with a ∼10 mas resolution, VLBI misses (or resolves) many radio AGN extended on kiloparsec scales.

Context. Spitzer/IRAC color selection is a promising technique to identify hot accreting nuclei, that is, active galactic nuclei (AGN), in galaxies. We demonstrate this using a small sample of SAURON galaxies and then explore this technique further.Aims. The goal of this study is to find a simple and efficient way to reveal optically obscured nuclear accretion in (nearby) galaxies.Methods. We applied an infrared selection method to the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structures in Galaxies (S4G) sample of more than 2500 galaxies, together with its extension sample of more than 400 galaxies. We used the Spitzer colors to find galaxies in the S4G survey containing a hot core, suggesting the presence of a strong AGN, and we studied the detection fraction as a function of morphological type. We tested this infrared color selection method by examining the radio properties of the galaxies via the VLA NVSS and FIRST surveys.Results. Using the radio data, we demonstrate that galaxies displaying hot mid-infrared nuclei stand out as (candidate) active galaxies. We reproduce these results when using colors from the lower spatial resolution WISE mission instead of Spitzer. Hence multiband infrared imaging represents a useful tool to uncover optically obscured nuclear activity in galaxies.

The mJy variable extragalactic radio sky is known to be broadly non-changing with approximately $3{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of persistent radio sources exhibiting variability that is largely active galactic nucleus-related (AGN). In the faint (<mJy) flux density regime, it is widely accepted that the radio source population begins to change from AGN dominated to star formation dominated, together with an emergent radio-quiet AGN component. Very little is known about the variable source component in this sub-mJy regime. In this paper, we provide the first insight into the μJy variable sky by performing a careful analysis using the deep VLA data in the well-studied GOODS-N field. Using five epochs spread across 22 yr, we investigate approximately 480 radio sources finding 10 that show signs of variability. We attribute this variability to the presence of an AGN in these systems. We confirm and extend the results of previous surveys, finding that variability in the faint radio sky is rather modest with only ≤2 per cent of sources exhibiting significant variability between any two epochs. We find that 70 per cent of variable sources show variability on time-scales of a few days while on longer decadal time-scales, the fraction of variable sources decreases to $\lt 1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. This suggests that the radio variability peaks on shorter time-scales as suggested by other studies. We find that 80 per cent of variable sources have VLBI counterparts, and we use multiwavelength data to infer that these may well be core-dominated FR-I sources as postulated by the wide-field VLBI surveys and semi-empirical simulations.

Far-infrared photometry with the Herschel Space Observatory has found many examples of ultra-luminous dust emission at around 40 K in the host galaxies of high-redshift, radio-loud 3C Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The dust heating could have its origin in the central black hole activity or extreme circumnuclear starbursts, or both. We have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Cycle 3 to study the dust morphology on the kiloparsec scale in a sample of these AGN, and present the results for three well-known distant quasars: 3C298, 3C318, and 3C454. After correction for the non-thermal radiation at 1 mm, the observations imply a starburst origin for the cool thermal dust emission, and a symbiotic physical relationship with the AGN-driven radio source.

We have examined the giant radio galaxy 3C~236 using LOFAR at 143 MHz down to an angular resolution of 7", in combination with observations at higher frequencies. We have used the low frequency data to derive spectral index maps with the highest resolution yet at these low frequencies. We confirm a previous detection of an inner hotspot in the north-west lobe and for the first time observe that the south-east lobe hotspot is in fact a triple hotspot, which may point to an intermittent source activity. Also, the spectral index map of 3C 236 shows that the spectral steepening at the inner region of the northern lobe is prominent at low frequencies. The outer regions of both lobes show spectral flattening, in contrast with previous high frequency studies. We derive spectral age estimates for the lobes, as well as particle densities of the IGM at various locations. We propose that the morphological differences between the lobes are driven by variations in the ambient medium density as well as the source activity history.

Galaxies are believed to experience star formation and black hole driven nuclear activity symbiotically. The symbiosis may be more extreme in the distant universe, as far-infrared photometry with the Herschel Space Observatory has found many cases of ultra-luminous cool dust emission in z>1 radio galaxies and quasars, which could have its origin in the central black hole activity, or in extreme starbursts. We here present strong evidence for an extreme circumnuclear starburst in the z=1.439 quasar 3C298. Our unparalleled 0.18 arcsecond resolution ALMA image at rest-frame 410micrometer wavelength shows that the 40K dust in its host galaxy resides in an asymmetric circumnuclear structure. The morphology of this structure implies a starburst origin and a symbiotic physical relation with the AGN driven radio source. The symbiosis is likely to be a general property of distant massive galaxies.