The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release

T. W. Shimwell; H. J. A. Röttgering; P. N. Best; W. L. Williams; T. J. Dijkema; F. de Gasperin; M. J. Hardcastle; G. H. Heald; D. N. Hoang; A. Horneffer; H. Intema; E. K. Mahony; S. Mandal; A. P. Mechev; L. Morabito; J. B. R. Oonk; D. Rafferty; E. Retana-Montenegro; J. Sabater; C. Tasse; R. J. van Weeren; M. Brüggen; G. Brunetti; K. T. Chyży; J. E. Conway; M. Haverkorn; N. Jackson; M. J. Jarvis; J. P. McKean; G. K. Miley; R. Morganti; G. J. White; M. W. Wise; I. M. van Bemmel; R. Beck; M. Brienza; A. Bonafede; G. Calistro Rivera; R. Cassano; A. O. Clarke; D. Cseh; A. Deller; A. Drabent; W. van Driel; D. Engels; H. Falcke; C. Ferrari; S. Fröhlich; M. A. Garrett; J. J. Harwood; V. Heesen; M. Hoeft; C. Horellou; F. P. Israel; A. D. Kapińska; M. Kunert-Bajraszewska; D. J. McKay; N. R. Mohan; E. Orrú; R. F. Pizzo; I. Prandoni; D. J. Schwarz; A. Shulevski; M. Sipior; D. J. B. Smith; S. S. Sridhar; M. Steinmetz; A. Stroe; E. Varenius; P. P. van der Werf; J. A. Zensus; J. T. L. Zwart

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release

T. W. Shimwell, H. J. A. Röttgering, P. N. Best, W. L. Williams, T. J. Dijkema, F. de Gasperin, M. J. Hardcastle, G. H. Heald, D. N. Hoang, A. Horneffer, H. Intema, E. K. Mahony, S. Mandal, A. P. Mechev, L. Morabito, J. B. R. Oonk, D. Rafferty, E. Retana-Montenegro, J. Sabater, C. TasseR. J. van Weeren, M. Brüggen, G. Brunetti, K. T. Chyży, J. E. Conway, M. Haverkorn, N. Jackson, M. J. Jarvis, J. P. McKean, G. K. Miley, R. Morganti, G. J. White, M. W. Wise, I. M. van Bemmel, R. Beck, M. Brienza, A. Bonafede, G. Calistro Rivera, R. Cassano, A. O. Clarke, D. Cseh, A. Deller, A. Drabent, W. van Driel, D. Engels, H. Falcke, C. Ferrari, S. Fröhlich, M. A. Garrett, J. J. Harwood, V. Heesen, M. Hoeft, C. Horellou, F. P. Israel, A. D. Kapińska, M. Kunert-Bajraszewska, D. J. McKay, N. R. Mohan, E. Orrú, R. F. Pizzo, I. Prandoni, D. J. Schwarz, A. Shulevski, M. Sipior, D. J. B. Smith, S. S. Sridhar, M. Steinmetz, A. Stroe, E. Varenius, P. P. van der Werf, J. A. Zensus, J. T. L. Zwart

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Abstract

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120-168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire Northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 hrs, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5arcsec resolution images with a sensitivity of ~0.1mJy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Due to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully-automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44,000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25arcsec, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45d00m00s to 57d00m00s).

Original language	English
Article number	A104
Number of pages	22
Journal	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume	598
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629313
Publication status	Published - 9 Feb 2017

Keywords

surveys/catalogs/radio continuum: general
techniques: image processing

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10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

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Shimwell, T. W., Röttgering, H. J. A., Best, P. N., Williams, W. L., Dijkema, T. J., Gasperin, F. D., Hardcastle, M. J., Heald, G. H., Hoang, D. N., Horneffer, A., Intema, H., Mahony, E. K., Mandal, S., Mechev, A. P., Morabito, L., Oonk, J. B. R., Rafferty, D., Retana-Montenegro, E., Sabater, J., ... Zwart, J. T. L. (2017). The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 598, Article A104. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

@article{6a08cc542f9b41558015f4cb187747f6,

title = "The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release",

abstract = "The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120-168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire Northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 hrs, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5arcsec resolution images with a sensitivity of ~0.1mJy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Due to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully-automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44,000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25arcsec, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45d00m00s to 57d00m00s).",

keywords = "surveys/catalogs/radio continuum: general, techniques: image processing",

author = "Shimwell, {T. W.} and R{\"o}ttgering, {H. J. A.} and Best, {P. N.} and Williams, {W. L.} and Dijkema, {T. J.} and Gasperin, {F. de} and Hardcastle, {M. J.} and Heald, {G. H.} and Hoang, {D. N.} and A. Horneffer and H. Intema and Mahony, {E. K.} and S. Mandal and Mechev, {A. P.} and L. Morabito and Oonk, {J. B. R.} and D. Rafferty and E. Retana-Montenegro and J. Sabater and C. Tasse and Weeren, {R. J. van} and M. Br{\"u}ggen and G. Brunetti and Chy{\.z}y, {K. T.} and Conway, {J. E.} and M. Haverkorn and N. Jackson and Jarvis, {M. J.} and McKean, {J. P.} and Miley, {G. K.} and R. Morganti and White, {G. J.} and Wise, {M. W.} and Bemmel, {I. M. van} and R. Beck and M. Brienza and A. Bonafede and Rivera, {G. Calistro} and R. Cassano and Clarke, {A. O.} and D. Cseh and A. Deller and A. Drabent and Driel, {W. van} and D. Engels and H. Falcke and C. Ferrari and S. Fr{\"o}hlich and Garrett, {M. A.} and Harwood, {J. J.} and V. Heesen and M. Hoeft and C. Horellou and Israel, {F. P.} and Kapi{\'n}ska, {A. D.} and M. Kunert-Bajraszewska and McKay, {D. J.} and Mohan, {N. R.} and E. Orr{\'u} and Pizzo, {R. F.} and I. Prandoni and Schwarz, {D. J.} and A. Shulevski and M. Sipior and Smith, {D. J. B.} and Sridhar, {S. S.} and M. Steinmetz and A. Stroe and E. Varenius and Werf, {P. P. van der} and Zensus, {J. A.} and Zwart, {J. T. L.}",

note = "{\textcopyright} ESO 2017. Reproduced with permission from Astronomy & Astrophysics. ",

year = "2017",

month = feb,

day = "9",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201629313",

language = "English",

volume = "598",

journal = "Astronomy & Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

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Shimwell, TW, Röttgering, HJA, Best, PN, Williams, WL, Dijkema, TJ, Gasperin, FD, Hardcastle, MJ, Heald, GH, Hoang, DN, Horneffer, A, Intema, H, Mahony, EK, Mandal, S, Mechev, AP, Morabito, L, Oonk, JBR, Rafferty, D, Retana-Montenegro, E, Sabater, J, Tasse, C, Weeren, RJV, Brüggen, M, Brunetti, G, Chyży, KT, Conway, JE, Haverkorn, M, Jackson, N, Jarvis, MJ, McKean, JP, Miley, GK, Morganti, R, White, GJ, Wise, MW, Bemmel, IMV, Beck, R, Brienza, M, Bonafede, A, Rivera, GC, Cassano, R, Clarke, AO, Cseh, D, Deller, A, Drabent, A, Driel, WV, Engels, D, Falcke, H, Ferrari, C, Fröhlich, S, Garrett, MA, Harwood, JJ, Heesen, V, Hoeft, M, Horellou, C, Israel, FP, Kapińska, AD, Kunert-Bajraszewska, M, McKay, DJ, Mohan, NR, Orrú, E, Pizzo, RF, Prandoni, I, Schwarz, DJ, Shulevski, A, Sipior, M, Smith, DJB, Sridhar, SS, Steinmetz, M, Stroe, A, Varenius, E, Werf, PPVD, Zensus, JA & Zwart, JTL 2017, 'The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release', Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 598, A104. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

TY - JOUR

T1 - The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release

AU - Shimwell, T. W.

AU - Röttgering, H. J. A.

AU - Best, P. N.

AU - Williams, W. L.

AU - Dijkema, T. J.

AU - Gasperin, F. de

AU - Hardcastle, M. J.

AU - Heald, G. H.

AU - Hoang, D. N.

AU - Horneffer, A.

AU - Intema, H.

AU - Mahony, E. K.

AU - Mandal, S.

AU - Mechev, A. P.

AU - Morabito, L.

AU - Oonk, J. B. R.

AU - Rafferty, D.

AU - Retana-Montenegro, E.

AU - Sabater, J.

AU - Tasse, C.

AU - Weeren, R. J. van

AU - Brüggen, M.

AU - Brunetti, G.

AU - Chyży, K. T.

AU - Conway, J. E.

AU - Haverkorn, M.

AU - Jackson, N.

AU - Jarvis, M. J.

AU - McKean, J. P.

AU - Miley, G. K.

AU - Morganti, R.

AU - White, G. J.

AU - Wise, M. W.

AU - Bemmel, I. M. van

AU - Beck, R.

AU - Brienza, M.

AU - Bonafede, A.

AU - Rivera, G. Calistro

AU - Cassano, R.

AU - Clarke, A. O.

AU - Cseh, D.

AU - Deller, A.

AU - Drabent, A.

AU - Driel, W. van

AU - Engels, D.

AU - Falcke, H.

AU - Ferrari, C.

AU - Fröhlich, S.

AU - Garrett, M. A.

AU - Harwood, J. J.

AU - Heesen, V.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Horellou, C.

AU - Israel, F. P.

AU - Kapińska, A. D.

AU - Kunert-Bajraszewska, M.

AU - McKay, D. J.

AU - Mohan, N. R.

AU - Orrú, E.

AU - Pizzo, R. F.

AU - Prandoni, I.

AU - Schwarz, D. J.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Sipior, M.

AU - Smith, D. J. B.

AU - Sridhar, S. S.

AU - Steinmetz, M.

AU - Stroe, A.

AU - Varenius, E.

AU - Werf, P. P. van der

AU - Zensus, J. A.

AU - Zwart, J. T. L.

PY - 2017/2/9

Y1 - 2017/2/9

N2 - The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120-168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire Northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 hrs, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5arcsec resolution images with a sensitivity of ~0.1mJy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Due to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully-automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44,000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25arcsec, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45d00m00s to 57d00m00s).

AB - The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) is a deep 120-168 MHz imaging survey that will eventually cover the entire Northern sky. Each of the 3170 pointings will be observed for 8 hrs, which, at most declinations, is sufficient to produce ~5arcsec resolution images with a sensitivity of ~0.1mJy/beam and accomplish the main scientific aims of the survey which are to explore the formation and evolution of massive black holes, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and large-scale structure. Due to the compact core and long baselines of LOFAR, the images provide excellent sensitivity to both highly extended and compact emission. For legacy value, the data are archived at high spectral and time resolution to facilitate subarcsecond imaging and spectral line studies. In this paper we provide an overview of the LoTSS. We outline the survey strategy, the observational status, the current calibration techniques, a preliminary data release, and the anticipated scientific impact. The preliminary images that we have released were created using a fully-automated but direction-independent calibration strategy and are significantly more sensitive than those produced by any existing large-area low-frequency survey. In excess of 44,000 sources are detected in the images that have a resolution of 25arcsec, typical noise levels of less than 0.5 mJy/beam, and cover an area of over 350 square degrees in the region of the HETDEX Spring Field (right ascension 10h45m00s to 15h30m00s and declination 45d00m00s to 57d00m00s).

KW - surveys/catalogs/radio continuum: general

KW - techniques: image processing

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201629313

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 598

JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy & Astrophysics

M1 - A104

ER -

The LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey - I. Survey Description and Preliminary Data Release

Abstract

Keywords

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