Revealing the Physics and Evolution of Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters with SKA Continuum Surveys

In this chapter we provide an overview of the science enabled by radio continuum surveys in the SKA era, focusing on galaxy/galaxy cluster physics and evolution studies, and other relevant continuum science in the >2020 scientific framework. We outline a number of 'reference' radio-continuum surveys for SKA1 that can address such topics, and comprehensively discuss the most critical science requirements that we have identified. We highlight what should be achieved by SKA1, to guarantee a major leap forwards with respect to the pre-SKA era, considering the science advances expected in the coming years with existing and upcoming telescopes (JVLA, LOFAR, eMERLIN, and the three SKA precursors: MWA, ASKAP and MeerKAT). In this exercise we take in due account also the other waveband facilities coming online at the same time (e.g. Euclid, LSST, etc.), which tackle overlapping scientific goals, but in a different manner. In this respect particular attention has been payed to ensure that the proposed reference surveys are able to exploit the existing synergies with such facilities, so as to generate strong involvement from all astronomical communities, and leave a lasting legacy value. It is clear that a certain degree of freedom is allowed to some of the observational parameters. We believe it is very important to best fine-tune such parameters taking into proper account existing commensalities with SKA1 surveys addressing other science areas (HI galaxy science, magnetism, cosmology).

[1]  The SKA and Galaxy Cluster Science with the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect , 2015 .

[2]  Ray P. Norris,et al.  Astronomy Below the Survey Threshold in the SKA Era , 2015 .

[3]  M. Magliocchetti,et al.  Exploring AGN Activity over Cosmic Time with the SKA , 2015, 1501.04820.

[4]  S. Bardelli,et al.  Synergistic science with Euclid and SKA : the nature and history of Star Formation , 2015, 1501.02960.

[5]  Claudio Gheller,et al.  Filaments of the radio cosmic web: opportunities and challenges for SKA , 2015, 1501.00315.

[6]  Lourdes Verdes-Montenegro,et al.  Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array , 2015 .

[7]  Robert Beswick,et al.  The astrophysics of star formation across cosmic time at &10 GHz with the square kilometre array , 2015 .

[8]  Michael Brown,et al.  The SKA Mid-frequency All-sky continuum survey: Discovering the unexpected and transforming radio-astronomy , 2014, 1412.6076.

[9]  M. Magliocchetti,et al.  Identifying the first generation of radio powerful AGN in the Universe with the SKA , 2014, 1412.6040.

[10]  M. Jarvis,et al.  Morphological classification of radio sources for galaxy evolution and cosmology with SKA-MID , 2014, 1412.5990.

[11]  G. W. Pratt,et al.  Cluster Radio Halos at the crossroads between astrophysics and cosmology in the SKA era , 2014 .

[12]  M. Jarvis,et al.  Unravelling lifecycles & physics of radio-loud AGN in the SKA era , 2014, 1412.5884.

[13]  J. Weller,et al.  Galaxy Cluster Science with the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect , 2014, 1412.5868.

[14]  F. D’Ammando,et al.  The physics of the radio emission in the quiet side of the AGN population with the SKA , 2014, 1412.5846.

[15]  G. Hallinan,et al.  The impact of SKA on Galactic Radioastronomy: continuum observations , 2014, 1412.5833.

[16]  Z. Cai,et al.  Radio Observations of Star Forming Galaxies in the SKA era , 2014, 1412.5827.

[17]  J. Conway,et al.  SKA studies of nearby galaxies: star-formation, accretion processes and molecular gas across all environments , 2014, 1412.5810.

[18]  D. Mary,et al.  Non-thermal emission from galaxy clusters: feasibility study with SKA1 , 2014, 1412.5801.

[19]  M. Magliocchetti,et al.  The Interplay between SF and AGN Activity, and its role in Galaxy Evolution , 2014, 1412.5771.

[20]  Edinburgh,et al.  The star-formation history of the Universe with the SKA , 2014, 1412.5753.

[21]  H. Rottgering,et al.  Astronomy below the Survey Threshold , 2014, 1412.5743.

[22]  A. Edge,et al.  The SKA view of cool-core clusters: evolution of radio mini-halos and AGN feedback , 2014, 1412.5664.

[23]  Dwingeloo,et al.  Radio investigation of Ultra-Luminous X-ray Sources in the SKA Era , 2014, 1412.5643.

[24]  C. Ferrari.  Non-thermal emission from galaxy clusters , 2010 .

[25]  S. Serjeant,et al.  Strong gravitational lensing with the SKA , 2001, 1502.03362.