Open AccessSource subtraction for the extended Very Small Array and 33‐GHz source count estimates
Author(s) -
Cleary Kieran A.,
Taylor Angela C.,
Waldram Elizabeth,
Battye Richard A.,
Dickinson Clive,
Davies Rod D.,
Davis Richard J.,
GenovaSantos Ricardo,
Grainge Keith,
Jones Michael E.,
Kneissl Rüdiger,
Pooley G. G.,
Rebolo Rafael,
Alberto RubiñoMartín José,
Saunders Richard D. E.,
Scott Paul F.,
Slosar Anže,
Titterington David,
Watson Robert A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09037.x
Subject(s) - physics , source counts , astrophysics , cosmic microwave background , subtraction , interferometry , flux (metallurgy) , microwave , range (aeronautics) , visibility , background subtraction , optics , redshift , galaxy , quantum mechanics , materials science , arithmetic , mathematics , pixel , anisotropy , metallurgy , composite material
We describe the source subtraction strategy and observations for the extended Very Small Array (VSA), a cosmic microwave background interferometer operating at 33 GHz. A total of 453 sources were monitored at 33 GHz using a dedicated source subtraction baseline. 131 sources brighter than 20 mJy were directly subtracted from the VSA visibility data. Some characteristics of the subtracted sources, such as spectra and variability, are discussed. The 33‐GHz source counts are estimated from a sample selected at 15 GHz. The selection of VSA fields in order to avoid bright sources introduces a bias into the observed counts. This bias is corrected and the resulting source count is estimated to be complete in the flux‐density range 20–114 mJy. The 33‐GHz source counts are used to calculate a correction to the VSA power spectrum for sources below the subtraction limit.