An Ultra-deep Multi-band VLA Survey of the Faint Radio Sky (COSMOS-XS): Source Catalog and Number Counts

TL;DR

This paper presents ultra-deep, high-resolution radio observations at 3 and 10 GHz in the COSMOS field, producing source catalogs and number counts that extend to fainter flux densities than previous surveys, informing models of faint radio source populations.

Contribution

The study provides the first ultra-deep, multi-band VLA survey with detailed source catalogs and number counts, revealing a steeper luminosity function evolution for faint star-forming galaxies compared to prior models.

Findings

Radio counts extend to fainter flux densities than previous surveys.

Observed counts exceed semi-empirical simulations, indicating a steeper luminosity function evolution.

Results support the T-RECS simulation predictions for faint radio sources.

Abstract

We present ultra-deep, matched-resolution Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) observations at 10 and $3$ GHz in the COSMOS field: the COSMOS-XS survey. The final 10 and $3$ GHz images cover $\sim16\rm{arcmin}^{2}$ and $\sim180\rm{arcmin}^{2}$ and reach median rms values of $0.41\mu\rm{Jy\,beam}^{-1}$ and $0.53\mu\rm{Jy\,beam}^{-1}$, respectively. Both images have an angular resolution of $\sim 2.0''$. To fully account for the spectral shape and resolution variations across the broad bands, we image all data with a multi-scale, multi-frequency synthesis algorithm. We present source catalogs for the 10 and $3$ GHz image with 91 and 1498 sources, respectively, above a peak brightness threshold of $5\sigma$. We present source counts with completeness corrections included that are computed via Monte Carlo simulations. Our corrected radio counts at $3$ GHz with direct detections down to $\sim2.8\mu$Jy are consistent within the uncertainties with other results at 3 and 1.4 GHz, but extend to fainter flux densities than previous direct detections. The ultra-faint $3$ GHz number counts are found to exceed the counts predicted by the semi-empirical radio sky simulations developed in the framework of the SKA Simulated Skies project, consistent with previous P(D) analyses. Our measured source counts suggest a steeper luminosity function evolution for these faint star-forming sources. The semi-empirical Tiered Radio Extragalactic Continuum Simulation (T-RECS) predicts this steeper evolution and is in better agreement with our results. The $10$ GHz radio number counts also agree with the counts predicted by the T-RECS simulation within the expected variations from cosmic variance. In summary, the multi-band, matched-resolution COSMOS-XS survey in the well-studied COSMOS field provides a high-resolution view of the ultra-faint radio sky that can help guide next generation radio facilities.