AGN FEEDBACK · Constraining AGN feedback through cosmic times: Paving the way for the next generation radio facilities

Constraining AGN feedback through cosmic times: Paving the way for the next generation radio facilities

Understanding how galaxies form in the early universe and their subsequent evolution through cosmic time is one of the main goals of modern cosmology. Panchromatic look-back sky surveys significantly advanced the field in the past decade, and we have now entered an even more fruitful period - the 'golden age' of radio astronomy - given an order of magnitude improved, new facilities. On these facilities, the fellow is leading two unique, state-of-the-art radio sky surveys that will push to the next frontiers: (a) probe for the first time the highly debated nature of faint radio sources with strong implications on our understanding of the cosmic radio background, and (b) provide stringent constraints on the AGN feedback processes postulated by simulations to explain the evolution of massive galaxies over cosmic time. These radio surveys carry an immense legacy value (for the wider astronomical community) and will serve as pathfinders for surveys with the next-generation radio facilities, such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The radio surveys (VLA-COSMOS 3GHz Large Project, ATCA-XXL-S 2.1GHz Project and GMRT-XXL-N 610MHz Project) are completed assuring coverage of the full 2 square degree COSMOS and 50 square degree XXL fields. Data reduction, and cataloging has been extensively tested, and the final data products either have been or are about to be released to the teams and the astrophysical community. Combining this radio data with multi-wavelength data in the COSMOS field was used to develop a novel, comprehensive method to identify star forming, various AGN and composite galaxies, and, thus, test the population mix at the faintest radio levels (5sigma~11.5 uJy at 3GHz). All anticipated tasks have successfully been tackled by the fellow, and the final milestones (outlined above under points (a) and (b)) delivered. The project has substantially facilitated the fellow’s professional re-integration at the host institution and beyond. It furthered the fellow’s i) leadership capabilities through international, large collaboration projects (COSMOS/XXL), ii) participation in planned projects (EMU/SKA), iii) student/postdoc supervision, iv) internationally recognized leading position in radio survey science. The successful management of the fellow’s independent research at UniZg has been recognized by the host institution and beyond: The fellow i) was promoted to associate professor, ii) is leading three new astrophysics courses at UniZg, iii) is the head of the astrophysics PhD program at UniZg, iv) has supervised 12 UniZg PhD/Master students, v) is head of the Scientific Section of the Croatian Physical Society (HFD), vi) head of the HFD ‘Women in Physics’ group, vii) is the coordinator of the Croatian science foundation physics panel, viii) Member of Institute of Physics (Zagreb, Croatia) governing council, ix) is pursuing extensive outreach to broader public (TV/radio/magazines/newspapers/talks/lectures), and thus motivating young people, especially women to engage in science. This illustrates the extent of the fellow’s full re-integration and a highly perspective further research career development.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union