Extragalactic Radio Continuum Surveys and the Transformation of Radio Astronomy

TL;DR

Next-generation extragalactic radio continuum surveys will revolutionize radio astronomy by discovering millions of new sources, advancing understanding of galaxy evolution, cosmic star formation, and cosmology, while also potentially uncovering new phenomena.

Contribution

This review summarizes the evolution of radio surveys and highlights the challenges for achieving transformative scientific insights.

Findings

Surveys will discover tens of millions of new radio sources

They will provide new insights into galaxy evolution and cosmic star formation

Potential to uncover unexpected phenomena

Abstract

Next-generation radio surveys are about to transform radio astronomy by discovering and studying tens of millions of previously unknown radio sources. These surveys will provide new insights to understand the evolution of galaxies, measuring the evolution of the cosmic star formation rate, and rivalling traditional techniques in the measurement of fundamental cosmological parameters. By observing a new volume of observational parameter space, they are also likely to discover unexpected new phenomena. This review traces the evolution of extragalactic radio continuum surveys from the earliest days of radio astronomy to the present, and identifies the challenges that must be overcome to achieve this transformational change.