RESOLVING THE RADIO SOURCE BACKGROUND: DEEPER UNDERSTANDING THROUGH CONFUSION

摘要: We used the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array to image one primary beam area at 3 GHz with 8'' FWHM resolution and 1.0 {mu}Jy beam{sup -1} rms noise near pointing center. The P(D) distribution from central 10 arcmin of this confusion-limited constrains count discrete sources in 1 < S({mu}Jy) range. At level, brightness-weighted differential S {sup 2} n(S) is converging rapidly, as predicted by evolutionary models which faintest radio are star-forming galaxies; Almost-Equal-To 96% background originating galaxies has been resolved into sources. About 63% produced active galactic nuclei (AGNs), remaining 37% comes that obey far-infrared (FIR)/radio correlation account for most FIR {lambda} 160 {mu}m. Our new data confirm powered AGNs star formation evolve about same rate, a result consistent AGN feedback rough black hole stellar masses. confusion centimeter wavelengths low enough neither planned Square Kilometre nor its pathfinder ASKAP EMU survey should bemore » limited, ultimate source detection limit imposed 'natural' {<=}0.01 {nu} = 1.4 GHz. If dominate bright extragalactic reported ARCADE 2 3.3 GHz, they cannot be located or {<=}0.03 GHz.« less