Astronomical instrumentation

Abstract:

We present deep optical and near infrared imaging over half square degree of sky in the centres of the ELAIS regions N1 and N2 and coincident with deep XMM/Chandra observations. The data have been obtained with the Wide Field Camera (WFC) and the Cambridge InfraRed Survey Instrument (CIRSI) both at the Isaac Newton Telescope (Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, Canary Islands). Limiting magnitudes achieved are g'=26.7, r'=26.2, i'=25.0 and H=20.2 (3σ). These data have been used to identify the faint optical counterparts of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), radio and X-ray sources in these areas.

Abstract:

We present the properties of all the galaxies detected by ISO at 7, 15 and 90μm in ELAIS northern fields. The spectral energy distribution (SED) of those 20 galaxies with IRAS detections can generally be well fitted by a predominant cirrus component plus a modest starburst contribution. Follow-up spectroscopy has shown that all the objects are emission-line galaxies but without a very intense star formation event. Most of the galaxies analyzed by means of optical R band photometry result to host an important exponential disk component, in good agreement with the SED IR modelling. We note that galaxies with morphological signs of perturbations seem to show slightly higher f15/f6.7 ratios, indicating that star formation could be more important in them. One of the objects is a broad-line, radio-quiet quasar at z=1.099; its spectral energy distribution indicates that it is a hyperluminous infrared galaxy (HLIG), the first HLIG detected in the ELAIS areas.

Abstract:

We briefly describe the SAURON project, aimed at determining the intrinsic shape and internal dynamics of spheroids. We focus here on the ability of SAURON to identify gaseous and stellar disks and to measure their morphology and kinematics. We illustrate some of our results with complete maps of NGC3377, NGC3623, and NGC4365.

Abstract:

We present preliminary results of multi-object spectroscopy of new mid-, and far-infrared selected galaxies detected in the European Large Area ISO Survey (ELAIS). The data have been obtained with the fibre spectrographs WYFFOS at the William Herschel Telescope (Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, ORM, Canary Islands) and Hydra at the WIYN Telescope (Kitt Peak Observatory, Arizona). The sample includes ISO sources detected at 7, 15 and 90 μm and radio sources from our deep VLA survey in the ELAIS areas.

Abstract:

By the end of 2001, the two Gemini telescopes will be in full operation, with the UK community having access to about 70 nights per year on each. With the WHT, UKIRT and the AAT, the community has access to over 600 nights per year of 4 m time. It is clear that most programmes will continue to he conducted on our existing telescopes, with Gemini being used only where the programmes cannot be completed on the 4 m instruments. Gemini has the advantages of large collecting area and active optics to ensure that observations are site-limited. However it also has a restricted field of view (<10 arcmin) and, initially will have a restricted instrument suite. The excellent sites and ability to apply aluminium or silver coatings to the telescope mirrors will ensure high throughput. Gemini is well-suited for deep observation over small fields. with the best results obtained over fields where tip-tilt or higher degrees of correction are effective (3 arcmin). The largest gains arise where the full gain of the increased area is realised, in near-diffraction-limited observations, e.g at thermal infrared wavelengths and with adaptive correction in the near-infrared, and in photon-starved applications such as high spectral resolution, faint object spectroscopy. Many programmes carried out with Gemini will rely on supporting observations from 4 m telescopes for target selection and complementary observations such as sample completion, simultaneous measurements in different wavebands etc. In the next decade, the UK will have access of right to almost one half of an 8 m telescope in a world where about a dozen 8-10 m class telescopes will be in operation. We enjoy a much greater fraction of the total 4 m telescopes and it will be imperative that they are used effectively with Gemini in order to ensure that our highest priority scientific programmes are completed efficiently. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.