Search

In this paper we present new and archive radio measurements obtained with the Very Large Array of the magnetic chemically peculiar (MCP) star \sigma Ori E. The radio data have been obtained at different frequencies and are well distributed along the rotational phases. We analyze in detail the radio emission from \sigma Ori E with the aim to search evidence of circularly polarized radio pulses. Up to now, among the MCP stars only CU Virginis shows 100% polarized time-stable radio pulses, explained as highly directive electron cyclotron maser emission, visible from Earth at particular rotational phases, like a pulsar. Our analysis shows that there is no hint of coherent emission at frequencies below 15 GHz. We conclude that the presence of a quadrupolar component of the magnetic field, dominant within few stellar radii from the star, where the maser emission should be generated, inhibits the onset of the cyclotron maser instability in \sigma Ori E., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present simultaneous Planck, Swift, Fermi, and ground-based data for 105 blazars belonging to three samples with flux limits in the soft X-ray, hard X-ray, and gamma-ray bands. Our unique data set has allowed us to demonstrate that the selection method strongly influences the results, producing biases that cannot be ignored. Almost all the BL Lac objects have been detected by Fermi-LAT, whereas ~40% of the flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) in the radio, soft X-ray, and hard X-ray selected samples are still below the gamma-ray detection limit even after integrating 27 months of Fermi-LAT data. The radio to sub-mm spectral slope of blazars is quite flat up to ~70GHz, above which it steepens to <\alpha>~-0.65. BL Lacs have significantly flatter spectra than FSRQs at higher frequencies. The distribution of the rest-frame synchrotron peak frequency (\nupS) in the SED of FSRQs is the same in all the blazar samples with <\nupS>=10^13.1 Hz, while the mean inverse-Compton peak frequency, <\nupIC>, ranges from 10^21 to 10^22 Hz. The distributions of \nupS and of \nupIC of BL Lacs are much broader and are shifted to higher energies than those of FSRQs and strongly depend on the selection method. The Compton dominance of blazars ranges from ~0.2 to ~100, with only FSRQs reaching values >3. Its distribution is broad and depends strongly on the selection method, with gamma-ray selected blazars peaking at ~7 or more, and radio-selected blazars at values ~1, thus implying that the assumption that the blazar power is dominated by high-energy emission is a selection effect. Simple SSC models cannot explain the SEDs of most of the gamma-ray detected blazars in all samples. The SED of the blazars that were not detected by Fermi-LAT may instead be consistent with SSC emission. Our data challenge the correlation between bolometric luminosity and \nupS predicted by the blazar sequence., Comment: Version accepted by A&A. Joint Planck, Swift, and Fermi collaborations paper

We have observed the radio nebula surrounding the Galactic LBV candidate G79.29+0.46 with the EVLA at 6 cm. These new radio observations allow a morphological comparison between the radio emission, which traces the ionized gas component, and the mid-IR emission, a tracer of the dust component. The IRAC (8 \mu m) and MIPS (24 \mu m and 70 \mu m) images have been reprocessed and compared with the EVLA map. We confirm the presence of a second shell at 24 \mu m and also provide evidence for its detection at 70 \mu m. The differences between the spatial morphology of the radio and mid-IR maps indicate the existence of two dust populations, the cooler one emitting mostly at longer wavelengths. Analysis of the two dusty, nested shells have provided us with an estimate of the characteristic timescales for shell ejection, providing important constraints for stellar evolutionary models. Finer details of the ionized gas distribution can be appreciated thanks to the improved quality of the new 6 cm image, most notably the highly structured texture of the nebula. Evidence of interaction between the nebula and the surrounding interstellar medium can be seen in the radio map, including brighter features that delineate regions where the shell structure is locally modified. In particular, the brighter filaments in the south-west region appear to frame the shocked southwestern clump reported from CO observations., Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, Accepted to ApJ Letters EVLA special issue

Among its great findings, the IRAS mission showed the existence of an unidentified mid-IR feature around 21 um. Since its discovery, this feature has been detected in all C-rich proto-PNe of intermediate spectral type (A-G) and - weakly - in a few PNe and AGB stars, but the nature of its carriers remains unknown. In this paper, we show the detection of this feature in the spectra of three new stars transiting from the AGB to the PN stage obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. Following a recent suggestion, we try to model the SEDs of our targets with amorphous carbon and FeO, which might be responsible for the unidentified feature. The fit thus obtained is not completely satisfactory, since the shape of the feature is not well matched. In the attempt to relate the unidentified feature to other dust features, we retrieved mid-IR spectra of all the 21-um sources currently known from ISO and Spitzer on-line archives and noticed a correlation between the flux emitted in the 21-um feature and that emitted at 7 and 11 um (PAH bands and HAC broad emission). Such a correlation may point to a common nature of the carriers., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ

The Simultaneous Medicina-{\it Planck} Experiment (SiMPlE) is aimed at observing a selected sample of 263 extragalactic and Galactic sources with the Medicina 32-m single dish radio telescope in the same epoch as the Planck satellite observations. The data acquired with a frequency coverage down to 5 GHz, also combined with Planck at frequencies above 30 GHz, will constitute a useful reference catalogue of bright sources over the whole Northern hemisphere. Furthermore, source observations performed in different epochs and comparison with other catalogues allow the investigation of source variabilities on different timescales. In this work, we describe the sample selection, the on-going data acquisition campaign, the data reduction procedures, the developed tools, and the comparison with other data-sets. We present the data at 5 and 8.3 GHz for the SiMPlE Northern Sample consisting of 79 sources with $\delta \geq 45^\circ$ selected in our catalogue and observed during the first 6 months of the project. A first analysis of their spectral behaviour and long-term variability is also presented., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, submitted to MNRAS

We report on the extreme gamma-ray activity from the FSRQ PKS 1510-089 observed by AGILE in March 2009. In the same period a radio-to-optical monitoring of the source was provided by the GASP-WEBT and REM. Moreover, several Swift ToO observations were triggered, adding important information on the source behaviour from optical/UV to hard X-rays. We paid particular attention to the calibration of the Swift/UVOT data to make it suitable to the blazars spectra. Simultaneous observations from radio to gamma rays allowed us to study in detail the correlation among the emission variability at different frequencies and to investigate the mechanisms at work. In the period 9-30 March 2009, AGILE detected an average gamma-ray flux of (311+/-21)x10^-8 ph cm^-2 s^-1 for E>100 MeV, and a peak level of (702+/-131)x10^-8 ph cm^-2 s^-1 on daily integration. The gamma-ray activity occurred during a period of increasing activity from near-IR to UV, with a flaring episode detected on 26-27 March 2009, suggesting that a single mechanism is responsible for the flux enhancement observed from near-IR to UV. By contrast, Swift/XRT observations seem to show no clear correlation of the X-ray fluxes with the optical and gamma-ray ones. However, the X-ray observations show a harder photon index (1.3-1.6) with respect to most FSRQs and a hint of harder-when-brighter behaviour, indicating the possible presence of a second emission component at soft X-ray energies. Moreover, the broad band spectrum from radio-to-UV confirmed the evidence of thermal features in the optical/UV spectrum of PKS 1510-089 also during high gamma-ray state. On the other hand, during 25-26 March 2009 a flat spectrum in the optical/UV energy band was observed, suggesting an important contribution of the synchrotron emission in this part of the spectrum during the brightest gamma-ray flare, therefore a significant shift of the synchrotron peak., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Photometric variability of chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence is closely connected to their local stellar magnetic field and their rotational period. Long term investigations, as presented here, help us to identify possible stellar cycles (as in the Sun). Furthermore, these data provide a basis for detailed surface mapping techniques. Photoelectric Stroemgren uvby time series for 27 CP stars within the boundaries of open clusters are presented. In addition, Hipparcos photometric data (from 1989 to 1993) are used for our analysis. Our observations cover a time period of about six years (1986 to 1992) with typically fifteen measurements for each objects. These observations help us to determine the rotational periods of these objects. A standard reduction procedure was applied to the data. When possible, we merged our data sets with already published ones to obtain a more significant result. A detailed time series analysis was performed, involving five different methods to minimize spurious detections. We established, for the first time, variability for fourteen CP stars. For additional two stars, a merging of already published data sets, resulted in more precise periods, whereas for six objects, the published periods could be confirmed. Last, but not least, no significant variations were found for five stars. Apart from six stars, all targets seem to be members of their host open clusters., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics

Searching for variability, we have observed a sample of hot post-AGB stars and young Planetary Nebulae candidates with the Very Large Array at 4.8, 8.4, and 22.4 GHz. The sources had been previously detected in the radio continuum, which is a proof that the central stars have started ionising their circumstellar envelopes and an increase in radio flux with time can be expected as a result of the progression of the ionisation front. Such a behaviour has been found in IRAS 18062+2410, whose radio modelling has allowed us to determine that its ionised mass has increased from 10^{-4} to 3.3 10^{-4} M_sun in 8 years and its envelope has become optically thin at lower frequencies. Different temporal behaviours have been found for three other sources. IRAS 17423-1755 has shown a possibly periodic pattern and an inversion of its radio spectral index, as expected from a varying stellar wind. We estimate that the radio flux arises from a very compact region around the central star (10^{15} cm) with an electron density of 2 10^6 cm^{-3}. IRAS 22568+6141 and 17516-2525 have decreased their radio flux densities of about 10% per year over 4 years. While a linear increase of the flux density with time points out to the progression of the ionisation front in the envelope, decreases as well as quasi-periodic patterns may indicate the presence of unstable stellar winds/jets or thick dusty envelopes absorbing ionising photons., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on MNRAS

The GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) monitored BL Lacertae in 2008-2009 at radio, near-IR, and optical frequencies. During this period, high-energy observations were performed by XMM-Newton, Swift, and Fermi. We analyse these data with particular attention to the calibration of Swift UV data, and apply a helical jet model to interpret the source broad-band variability. The GASP-WEBT observations show an optical flare in 2008 February-March, and oscillations of several tenths of mag on a few-day time scale afterwards. The radio flux is only mildly variable. The UV data from both XMM-Newton and Swift seem to confirm a UV excess that is likely caused by thermal emission from the accretion disc. The X-ray data from XMM-Newton indicate a strongly concave spectrum, as well as moderate flux variability on an hour time scale. The Swift X-ray data reveal fast (interday) flux changes, not correlated with those observed at lower energies. We compare the spectral energy distribution (SED) corresponding to the 2008 low-brightness state, which was characterised by a synchrotron dominance, to the 1997 outburst state, where the inverse-Compton emission was prevailing. A fit with an inhomogeneous helical jet model suggests that two synchrotron components are at work with their self inverse-Compton emission. Most likely, they represent the radiation from two distinct emitting regions in the jet. We show that the difference between the source SEDs in 2008 and 1997 can be explained in terms of pure geometrical variations. The outburst state occurred when the jet-emitting regions were better aligned with the line of sight, producing an increase of the Doppler beaming factor. Our analysis demonstrates that the jet geometry can play an extremely important role in the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

High spatial and sensitivity images of the Luminous Blue Variable IRAS 18576+0341 were obtained using the mid infrared imager VISIR at the Very Large Telescope and the Very Large Array interferometer. The resulting mid-infrared continuum maps show a similar clumpy and approximately circular symmetric nebula, which contrasts sharply with the asymmetry that characterizes the ionized component of the envelope, as evidenced from the radio and [Ne II] line images obtained with comparable spatial resolution. In particular, there is excellent overall agreement between the 12.8 micron map and the radio images, consistent with free-free emission from circumstellar ionized material surrounding a central stellar wind. The color temperature and optical depth maps obtained from mid-infrared images show only slight fluctuations, suggesting quite uniform dust characteristics over the dust shell. We explore various possibilities to understand the cause of the different morphology of the dusty and gaseous component of the circumstellar envelope which are compatible with the observations., Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Ultra compact HII (UCHII) regions are indicators of high-mass star formation sites and are distributed mainly in the Galactic plane. We intend to investigate the possible contribution of the forthcoming ESA Planck mission to the science of UCHII regions by evaluating the possibility of detecting UCHIIs that are bright in the radio regime. We performed new 7 mm observations of a sample of UCHII regions. For each source in our sample, the free-free radio spectrum has been modeled. Along with far-IR measurements, our spectra allow us to estimate the flux densities of the sources in the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands. The possibility of Planck detecting the selected sources can be assessed by comparing the estimated flux densities to the expected sensitivity in each Planck channel. We conclude that, in the case of the present sample, located close to the Galactic center, Planck will have a very low detection rate. In contrast, assuming that our sample is representative of the whole UCHII-region population, we derive a very high probability of detecting this kind of source with Planck if located instead close to the anticenter., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication on Astronomy and Astrophysics

We report the detection by the AGILE satellite of a rapid gamma-ray flare from the powerful gamma-ray quasar PKS 1510-089, during a pointing centered on the Galactic Center region from 1 March to 30 March 2008. This source has been continuosly monitored in the radio-to-optical bands by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT). Moreover, the gamma-ray flaring episode triggered three ToO observations by the Swift satellite in three consecutive days, starting from 20 March 2008. In the period 1-16 March 2008, AGILE detected gamma-ray emission from PKS 1510-089 at a significance level of 6.2-sigma with an average flux over the entire period of (84 +/- 17) x 10^{-8} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1} for photon energies above 100 MeV. After a predefined satellite re-pointing, between 17 and 21 March 2008, AGILE detected the source at a significance level of 7.3-sigma, with an average flux (E > 100 MeV) of (134 +/- 29) x 10^{-8} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1} and a peak level of (281 +/- 68) x 10^{-8} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1} with daily integration. During the observing period January-April 2008, the source also showed an intense and variable optical activity, with several flaring episodes and a significant increase of the flux was observed at millimetric frequencies. Moreover, in the X-ray band the Swift/XRT observations seem to show an harder-when-brighter behaviour of the source spectrum. The spectral energy distribution of mid-March 2008 is modelled with a homogeneous one-zone synchrotron self Compton emission plus contributions from inverse Compton scattering of external photons from both the accretion disc and the broad line region. Indeed, some features in the optical-UV spectrum seem to indicate the presence of Seyfert-like components, such as the little blue bump and the big blue bump., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures and 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&A

We have observed a small sample of hot post-AGB stars with the InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) and the InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The stars were selected from the literature on the basis of their far-Infrared excess (i.e., post-AGB candidates) and B spectral type (i.e., close to the ionization of the envelope). The combination of our IRAC observations with 2MASS and IRAS catalog data, along with previous radio observations in the cm range (where available) allowed us to model the SEDs of our targets and find that in almost all of them at least two shells of dust at different temperatures must be present, the hot dust component ranging up to 1000 K. In several targets grains larger than 1 micron are needed to match the far-IR data points. In particular, in IRAS 17423-1755 grains up to 100 micron must be introduced to match the emission in the mm range. We obtained IRS spectra to identify the chemistry of the envelopes and found that more than 1/3 of the sources in our sample have mixed chemistry, showing both mid-IR bands attributed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and silicate features. The analysis of the PAH features indicates that these molecules are located in the outflows, far away from the central stars. We consider the larger than expected percentage of mixed-chemistry targets as a selection bias towards stars with a disk or torus around them. Our results strengthen the current picture of mixed chemistry being due to the spatial segregation of different dust populations in the envelopes., Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication on ApJ

We have studied the growth of the shell-like radio structure of supernova SN1993J in M81 from September 1993 through October 2003 with very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations at the wavelengths of 3.6, 6, and 18cm. For this purpose, we have developed a method to accurately determine the outer radius (R) of any circularly symmetric compact radio structure like SN1993J. The source structure of SN1993J remains circularly symmetric (with deviations from circularity under 2%) over almost 4000 days. We characterize the decelerated expansion of SN 1993J through approximately day 1500 after explosion with an expansion parameter $m= 0.845\pm0.005$ ($R \propto t^{m}$). However, from that day onwards the expansion is different when observed at 6 and 18cm. Indeed, at 18cm, the expansion can be well characterized by the same $m$ as before day 1500, while at 6cm the expansion appears more decelerated, and is characterized by another expansion parameter, $m_{6}= 0.788\pm0.015$. Therefore, since about day 1500 on, the radio source size has been progressively smaller at 6cm than at 18cm. These findings are in stark contrast to previous reports by other authors on the details of the expansion. In our interpretation the supernova expands with a single expansion parameter, $m= 0.845\pm0.005$, and the 6cm results beyond day 1500 are due to physical effects, perhaps also coupled to instrumental limitations. Two physical effects may be involved: (a) a changing opacity of the ejecta to the 6cm radiation, and (b) a radial decrease of the magnetic field in the emitting region. (Long abstract cut. Please, read full abstract in manuscript)., Comment: 21 pages, 19 figures, accepted in A&A

We present mid-IR observations of the Galactic Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) HR Car and its associated nebula carried out with the Spitzer Space Telescope using both IRAC and IRS, as part of a GTO program aimed to study stellar ejecta from evolved stars. Our observations reveal a rich mid-IR spectrum of the inner nebula showing both solid state and atomic gas signatures. Strong low-excitation atomic fine structure lines such as $ 26.0 \mu$m [\ion{Fe}{2}] and $ 34.8 \mu$m [\ion{Si}{2}], indicate, for the first time, the presence of a PDR in this object class. While the physics and chemistry of the low-excitation gas appears to be dominated by photodissociation, a possible contribution due to shocks can be inferred from the evidence of gas phase Fe abundance enhancement. The presence of amorphous silicates, inferred from the observed characteristic broad feature at $10 \mu$m located in the inner nebula, suggests that dust has formed during the LBV outburst. This is in contrast with the detection of crystalline dust in other probably more evolved Galactic LBVs, which is similar to the crystalline dust observed in red supergiants. This has been considered to be evidence of dust production during evolutionary phases prior to the outburst., Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures. accepted by ApJ

We have selected a small sample of post-AGB stars in transition towards the planetary nebula and present new Very Large Array multi-frequency high-angular resolution radio observations of them. The multi-frequency data are used to create and model the targets' radio continuum spectra, proving that these stars started their evolution as very young planetary nebulae. In the optically thin range, the slopes are compatible with the expected spectral index (-0.1). Two targets (IRAS 18062+2410 and 17423-1755) seem to be optically thick even at high frequency, as observed in a handful of other post-AGB stars in the literature, while a third one (IRAS 20462+3416) shows a possible contribution from cold dust. In IRAS 18062+2410, where we have three observations spanning a period of four years, we detect an increase in its flux density, similar to that observed in CRL 618. High-angular resolution imaging shows bipolar structures that may be due to circumstellar tori, although a different hypothesis (i.e., jets) could also explain the observations. Further observations and monitoring of these sources will enable us to test the current evolutionary models of planetary nebulae., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have performed new laboratory experiments which gave us the possibility to obtain an estimate of the amount of carbon chain oxides (namely C3O2, C2O, and C3O) formed after irradiation (with 200 keV protons) of pure CO ice, at 16 K. The analysis of laboratory data indicates that in dense molecular clouds, when high CO depletion occurs, an amount of carbon chain oxides as high as 2-3x10^-3 with respect to gas phase carbon monoxide can be formed after ion irradiation of icy grain mantles. Then we have searched for gas phase C2O and C3O towards ten low-mass young stellar objects. Among these we have detected the C3O line at 38486.891 MHz towards the low-mass protostar Elias 18. On the basis of the laboratory results we suggest that in dense molecular clouds gas phase carbon chain oxides are formed in the solid phase after cosmic ion irradiation of CO-rich icy mantles and released to the gas phase after desorption of icy mantles. We expect that the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), thanks to its high sensitivity and resolution, will increase the number of carbon chain oxides detected in dense molecular clouds., Comment: 19 Pages, 5 figures, Accepted to ApJ

IC 4406 is a large (about 100'' x 30'') southern bipolar planetary nebula, composed of two elongated lobes extending from a bright central region, where there is evidence for the presence of a large torus of gas and dust. We show new observations of this source performed with IRAC (Spitzer Space Telescope) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The radio maps show that the flux from the ionized gas is concentrated in the bright central region and originates in a clumpy structure previously observed in H_alpha, while in the infrared images filaments and clumps can be seen in the extended nebular envelope, the central region showing toroidal emission. Modeling of the infrared emission leads to the conclusion that several dust components are present in the nebula., Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal; v.2 has changes in both figures and content; preprint format

The radio emission from the youngest known Planetary nebula, SAO244567, has been mapped at 1384, 2368, 4800, 8640, 16832 and 18752 MHz by using the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). These observations constitute the first detailed radio study of this very interesting object, as they allow us to obtain the overall radio morphology of the source and to compute, for the first time, the radio spectrum up to millimetre range. Radio emission is consistent with free-free from a wind-like shell, which is also the region where most of the [OIII] comes from as revealed by HST images. Physical parameters of the radio nebula and of the central star were derived, all consistent with SAO 244567 being a very young Planetary Nebula still embedded in the dusty remnant of the AGB phase. The optically thin radio flux density appear to decrease when compared to data from the literature. Even very appealing, the variability of the radio emission, probably related to the evolution of the central object, needs further investigations., Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, 7 pages, 5 figures

We present new millimetre 43 GHz observations of a sample of radio-bright Planetary Nebulae. Such observations were carried out to have a good determination of the high-frequency radio spectra of the sample in order to evaluate, together with far-IR measurements (IRAS), the fluxes emitted by the selected source in the millimetre and sub-millimetre band. This spectral range, even very important to constraint the physics of circumstellar environment, is still far to be completely exploited. To estimate the millimetre and sub-millimetre fluxes, we extrapolated and summed together the ionized gas (free-free radio emission) and dust (thermal emission) contributions at this frequency range. By comparison of the derived flux densities to the foreseen sensitivity we investigate the possible detection of such source for all the channels of the forthcoming ESA's PLANCK mission. We conclude that almost 80% of our sample will be detected by PLANCK, with the higher detection rate in the higher frequency channels, where there is a good combination of brighter intrinsic flux from the sources and reduced extended Galactic foregrounds contamination despite a worst instrumental sensitivity. From the new 43 GHz, combined with single-dish 5 GHz observations from the literature, we derive radio spectral indexes, which are consistent with optically thin free-free nebula. This result indicates that the high frequency radio spectrum of our sample sources is dominated by thermal free-free and other emission, if present, are negligible., Comment: Submitted to A&A, 6 pages, 3 figures

The fast rotating star CU Virginis is a magnetic chemically peculiar star with an oblique dipolar magnetic field. The continuum radio emission has been interpreted as gyrosyncrotron emission arising from a thin magnetospheric layer. Previous radio observations at 1.4 GHz showed that a 100% circular polarized and highly directive emission component overlaps to the continuum emission two times per rotation, when the magnetic axis lies in the plane of the sky. This sort of radio lighthouse has been proposed to be due to cyclotron maser emission generated above the magnetic pole and propagating perpendicularly to the magnetic axis. Observations carried out with the Australia Telescope Compact Array at 1.4 and 2.5 GHz one year after this discovery show that this radio emission is still present, meaning that the phenomenon responsible for this process is steady on a timescale of years. The emitted radiation spans at least 1 GHz, being observed from 1.4 to 2.5 GHz. On the light of recent results on the physics of the magnetosphere of this star, the possibility of plasma radiation is ruled out. The characteristics of this radio lighthouse provides us a good marker of the rotation period, since the peaks are visible at particular rotational phases. After one year, they show a delay of about 15 minutes. This is interpreted as a new abrupt spinning down of the star. Among several possibilities, a quick emptying of the equatorial magnetic belt after reaching the maximum density can account for the magnitude of the breaking. The study of the coherent emission in stars like CU Vir, as well as in pre main sequence stars, can give important insight into the angular momentum evolution in young stars. This is a promising field of investigation that high sensitivity radio interferometers such as SKA can exploit., Comment: Accepted to MNRAS, 8 pages, 7 figures, updated version

IC 4406 is a large (about 100'' x 30'') southern bipolar planetary nebula, composed by two elongated lobes, extending from a bright central region, where there is evidence for the presence of a large torus of gas and dust. In this poster we show new observations of this source performed with IRAC (Spitzer Space Telescope) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Although the possibility for faint extended emission to be missing in the radio maps cannot be ruled out, flux from the ionized gas appears to be concentrated in the bright central region. Comparing ATCA to IRAC images, it seems that, like in other planetary nebulae, ionized and neutral components spatially co-exist in IC 4406., Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, poster presented at "Science with ALMA: a new era for astrophysics", Madrid, Nov 2006

Observing objects in transition from pre- to young Planetary Nebula (PN), when the central star radiation starts to excite the envelope, can help us to understand the evolution of the circumstellar ejecta and their shaping mechanism/s. In our project we have selected a sample of hot post-AGB stars as Transition Phase candidates. Radio observations have led to detect free-free radiation from an ionized shell in about half of our targets, providing us with two sub-samples of ionized and non ionized Transition Objects. We are now using IRAC and IRS on the Spitzer Space Telescope to determine if extended emission is present (IRAC) and to study our targets' chemistry (IRS). In particular, by comparing spectra from the two sub-samples, the IRS observations will enable us to check how the presence of an ionization front effects the circumstellar envelope. The IRAC measurements, combined with previous ones in the literature, will give us information on the extent and physical conditions of the dust components., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, contribution to the conference Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae IV

Context: Being dominated by non-thermal emission from aligned relativistic jets, blazars allow us to elucidate the physics of extragalactic jets, and, ltimately, how the energy is extracted from the central black hole in radio-loud active galactic nuclei. Aims: Crucial information is provided by broad-band spectral energy distributions (SEDs), their trends with luminosity and correlated multi-frequency variability. With this study we plan to obtain a database of contemporaneous radio-to-optical spectra of a sample of blazars, which are and will be observed by current and future high-energy satellites. Methods: Since December 2004 we are performing a monthly multi-frequency radio monitoring of a sample of 35 blazars at the antennas in Medicina and Noto. Contemporaneous near-IR and optical observations for all our observing epochs are organised. Results: Until June 2006 about 4000 radio measurements and 5500 near-IR and optical measurements were obtained. Most of the sources show significant variability in all observing bands. Here we present the multi-frequency data acquired during the first eighteen months of the project, and construct the SEDs for the best-sampled sources., Comment: 16 pages, 3 large figures, accepted for publication in A&A

We performed a millimetric survey of a sample of 24 post-AGB stars aimed to search for emission from circumstellar matter, in order to investigate the physical properties of the outer parts of the envelopes. The observations were conducted using the 37-channel Max-Planck Millimeter Bolometer array at the 30-meter IRAM telescope. The continuum emission toward the detected sources was used to quantify the mass of the emitting dust. We combined our observations with data available in literature to construct the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the sources. When the observational data cover a spectral range wide enough, some properties of circumstellar envelopes were derived by comparison with spectra computed using a radiative transfer code. Of the 24 objects in our sample, we detected millimetric continuum emission toward 11 sources. Two other sources were detected at flux level close to 3$\sigma$. The derived circumstellar dust masses range between 0.4 and $24 \times 10^{-4}$ M$_{\odot}$, but these results are affected from the uncertain about the source distances. The parameters derived from the SED fits are consistent with the values characteristic for these kind of object. As confirmed from the flux density extrapolated in the first light channels of the Atacama Large Millimetric Array, such sources would be good targets for future high resolution mapping with the ALMA facility., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, A&A in press

In order to fully understand the physical processes in the magnetospheres of the Magnetic Chemically Peculiar stars, we performed multi-frequency radio observations of CU Virginis. The radio emission of this kind of stars arises from the interaction between energetic electrons and magnetic field. The radio data were acquired with the VLA and cover the whole rotational period of CU Virginis. For each observed frequency the radio light curves of the total flux density and fraction of circular polarization were fitted using a three-dimensional MCP magnetospheric model simulating the stellar radio emission as a function of the magnetospheric physical parameters. The observations show a clear correlation between the radio emission and the orientation of the magnetosphere of this oblique rotator. Radio emission is explained as the result of the acceleration of the wind particles in the current sheets just beyond the Alfv\'en radius, that eventually return toward the star following the magnetic field and emitting radiation by gyrosyncrotron mechanism. The accelerated electrons have a hard energetic spectrum ($N(E)\propto E^{-2}$) and the acceleration process has an efficiency of about $10^{-3}$. The Alfv\'en radius we determined is in the range of $12-17 R_\ast$ and, for a dipolar field of 3000 Gauss at the magnetic pole of the star, we determine a mass loss from the star of about $10^{-12}$ M$_{\sun}$ yr$^{-1}$. In the inner magnetosphere a detectable X-ray emission is expected., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, A&A in press

In the last few years we have started a systematic study aimed at detecting very young Planetary Nebulae (YPNs). The project, based on both radio (multi-frequency and high resolution) and optical observations, has already provided interesting results, including the identification of new YPNs and the observation, for the first time in PN in this very early phase of their formation, of radio bipolar morphologies. In this paper we present radio and optical results on one of our targets, namely IRAS 19590-1249 (LS IV -12 111). The analysis of spectroscopic observations, obtained with the Anglo Australian Telescope (AAT) in different epochs, has allowed us to conclude that the optical spectrum of this object has evolved quite rapidly, showing, very recently, strong forbidden nebular emission lines consistent with a young PN. This result confirms that IRAS 19590-1249, has turned into a PN within the last decades and makes this source a perfect target for studying the early evolution and structure of Planetary Nebulae., Comment: 3 pages, 5 images, Proceedings of the "Stellar end products" workshop, 13-15 April 2005, Granada, Spain, ed. M.A. P\'erez-Torres. To appear in Vol. 77 (Jan 2006) of MmSAI

Despite numerous efforts, the transition from Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars to Planetary Nebulae (PN) is a poorly understood phase of stellar evolution. We have therefore carried out interferometric (VLA) radio observations of a sample of hot post-AGB stars, selected on the basis of their optical and infrared properties. Ten sources out of the 16 observed were detected. This indicates that most of our targets are surrounded by a nebula where the ionization has already started. This definitively determines the evolutionary status of the selected sources and provides us with a unique sample of very young Planetary Nebulae (yPNe). A comparison with another sample of yPNe confirms our working hypothesis that our targets are indeed very young, probably just in the transition toward PN. Finding transition objects is extremely important as they can provide unique clues for a better understanding of this important phase of stellar evolution., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures

In this paper we present a three-dimensional numerical model for the radio emission of Magnetic Chemically Peculiar stars, on the hypothesis that energetic electrons emit by the gyrosynchrotron mechanism. For this class of radio stars, characterized by a mainly dipolar magnetic field whose axis is tilted with respect to the rotational axis, the geometry of the magnetosphere and its deformation due to the stellar rotation are determined. The radio emitting region is determined by the physical conditions of the magnetosphere and of the stellar wind. Free-free absorption by the thermal plasma trapped in the inner magnetosphere is also considered. Several free parameters are involved in the model, such as the size of the emitting region, the energy spectrum and the number density of the emitting electrons, and the characteristics of the plasma in the inner magnetosphere. By solving the equation of radiative transfer, along a path parallel to the line of sight, the radio brightness distribution and the total flux density as a function of stellar rotation are computed. As the model is applied to simulate the observed 5 GHz lightcurves of HD37479 and HD37017, several possible magnetosphere configurations are found. After simulations at other frequencies, in spite of the large number of parameters involved in the modeling, two solutions in the case of HD37479 and only one solution in the case of HD37017 match the observed spectral indices. The results of our simulations agree with the magnetically confined wind-shock model in a rotating magnetosphere. The X-ray emission from the inner magnetosphere is also computed, and found to be consistent with the observations., Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, A&A in press

The radio emission from the youngest known Planetary nebula, SAO244567, has been mapped at 20,13, 6, 3.6 and 1.2 cm by using the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). These observations constitute the first detailed radio study of this very interesting object, as they allow us to obtain, for the first time, the radio morphology of the source and to compute the radio spectrum up to 18752 MHz., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; to appear in ``Asymmetric Planetary Nebulae III'', ASP conf. series, in press (2003)

Despite of numerous efforts, the stage from Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) to Planetary Nebulae (PN) is a poorly understood phase of stellar evolution. We have therefore carried out interferometric (VLA) observations of a sample of hot post-AGB stars, selected on the basis of their optical and infrared properties. Ten sources, out of the 16 been observed, were detected. This indicates that most of our targets are surrounded by a nebula where the ionization has already started. This definitively determines the evolutionary status of the selected sources and provides us with a unique sample of very young Planetary Nebulae (yPNs)., Comment: 4 pages; to appear in ``Asymmetric Planetary Nebulae III'', ASP conf. series, in press (2003)

SN1993J is to date the radio supernova whose evolution has been monitored in greatest detail and the one which holds best promise for a comprehensive theoretical-observational analysis. The shell-like radio structure of SN1993J has expanded in general accord with models of shock excited emission, showing almost circular symmetry for over 8 years, except for a bright feature at the south-eastern region of the shell that has been observed at every epoch. The spectrum of SN1993J has flattened from alpha =-1 to alpha =-0.67 (S_(\nu) propto nu**(alpha)). The decelerated expansion can be modeled well with a single slope but apparently better with two slopes. There are also intriguing hints of structure in the expansion curve. The results by the two VLBI groups carrying out this research show general agreement, but also some differences. A comparison of the optical and VLBI results about the details of the deceleration show some discrepancies., Comment: Proceedings of the 6th European VLBI Network Symposium, Ros E., Porcas R.W., Lobanov A.P., Zensus J.A. (eds.), MPIfR, Bonn, Germany, pp. 239-242 (2002). 4 pages, 6 figures, needs evn2002.cls

In this paper we present new observational evidence that supports the presence of an extra source of continuum emission in the binary system beta Lyrae. New VLA and IRAM observations, together with published data from the literature and ISO archive data, allow us to build the Spectral Energy Distribution of the binary between 5x10^9 Hz and 5x10^15Hz. The radio-millimeter part of the spectrum is consistent with free-free emission from a symbiotic-like wind associated with the primary component and ionized by the radiation field of the hidden companion. Furthermore, we also consider the possibility that the observed radio flux originates from collimated radio structures associated with the mass gaining component and its disk (Conical thermal jets). An extrapolation of this emission to the far-IR part of the spectrum indicates that in both cases the free-free contribution at these frequencies cannot explain the observations and that the observed infrared excess flux is due principally to the secondary component and its associated disk., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, A&A in press

In this paper we present the results of a 4-year (1996 - 1999) radio flux density monitoring program for a sample of X- and $\gamma$-ray loud blazars. Our program started in January 1996 and was carried out on monthly basis at the frequencies of 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz with the 32-m antennas located in Medicina (Bologna, Italy) and Noto (Siracusa, Italy). 22 GHz data collected in Medicina from January 1996 to June 1997 will also be presented. The sample of selected sources comprises most radio loud blazars with $\delta \ge -10^{\circ}$ characterised by emission in the X- and $\gamma$-ray regimes, and target sources for the BeppoSAX X-ray mission. All sources in the sample, except J1653+397 (MKN 501), are variable during the four years of our monitoring program. We classified the type of variability in each source by means of a structure function analysis. We also computed th$\alpha_{5}^{8.4}$ for all epochs with nearly simultaneous observations ate spectral index and found that $\alpha_{5}^{8.4}$ starts flattening at the very beginning o f a radio flare, or flux density increase., Comment: 12 pages, 3 tables and 1 figure, in press on A&A

We present multifrequency VLA and VLBA observations at 8.4 GHz of the RS CVn system AR Lac, that were performed in autumn 1997 simultaneously with X-ray observations obtained from Rodono` et al. (1999). Our VLBA data indicate a resolved source with dimension close to the system separation, while the study of the flux density curve evidences a small amplitude outside of the eclipse variability. The derived five-frequencies spectra, combined with the size information from VLBA data, are compared with gyrosynchrotron emission from a two component structured source. A comparison with the results of the X-ray observations allow us to exclude the possibility that thermal gyrosynchrotron is responsible for the radio emission, but it is compatible with the hypothesis of co-spatial X-ray and radio emitting sources., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

We obtained EVN observations of the X-ray transient source GRS1915+105 in its radio-loud state. In 2 images obtained before a major flare, the source is resolved, showing two opposite asymmetric jets. This indicates that steady jets exist also before a major flare, with an estimated velocity of 0.2-0.6c., Comment: Proceedings of the 5th EVN Symposium, Eds. J. Conway, A. Polatidis, R. Booth, Onsala Observatory, Sweden (June 2000)

Radio observations of the magnetic chemically peculiar star CU Vir, carried out with the VLA in three different days, show that the radio emission at 20 cm is characterized by a strong enhancement at particular rotational phases. This radio emission is found to be right hand polarized with a degree of polarization close to 100 %. As common for this class of stars, the magnetic axis of CU Vir is oblique with respect to the rotational axis. By comparing the 20 cm radio light curve with the effective magnetic field available from the literature, a coincidence of the main peaks of the radio emission with the magnetic nulls has been found. This happens when the magnetic axis lies in the plane of the sky. We suggest that the high degree of polarization, together with the high directivity of the radiation, can be explained in terms of coherent radio emission. The data have been interpreted on the basis of the Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission from electrons accelerated in current sheets out of the Alfven radius toward the stellar surface and eventually reflected outward by magnetic mirroring., Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures. To be published in A&A

In this paper we present high spatial resolution radio images of the puzzling binary system beta Lyrae obtained with MERLIN at 5 GHz. We find a nebula surrounding the binary with a brightness temperature of 11000+-700K approximately 40AU across. This definitively confirms the thermal origin of the radio emission, which is consistent with emission from the wind of the B6-8II component (mass loss of order of 10^-7 Msun per year), ionized by the radiation field of the hotter companion. This nebula, surrounding the binary, is the proof that beta Layrae evolved in a non-conservative way, i. e. not all the mass lost by the primary is accretted by the secondary, and present measurements indicate that almost 0.015Msun had been lost from the system since the onset of the Roche lobe overflow phase. Moreover, the nebula is aligned with the jet-like structures inferred from recent optical measurements, indicating a possible connection among them., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

A rarity among supernova, SN 1993J in M81 can be studied with high spatial resolution. Its radio power and distance permit VLBI observations to monitor the expansion of its angular structure. This radio structure was previously revealed to be shell-like and to be undergoing a self-similar expansion at a constant rate. From VLBI observations at the wavelengths of 3.6 and 6 cm in the period 6 to 42 months after explosion, we have discovered that the expansion is decelerating. Our measurement of this deceleration yields estimates of the density profiles of the supernova ejecta and circumstellar material in standard supernova explosion models., Comment: to appear in Astrophysical Journal Letters 10 pages of text, three figures (two of them in postscript format, one in gif format)