|
FLASH --
The First Large Absorption Survey in HI --
is an AKSAP Survey Science Project.
FLASH will detect and measure several hundred HI (neutral hydrogen) absorption lines --
from both intervening and associated absorbers. This will provide a
unique dataset for studies of galaxy evolution as well as a new
estimate of the HI mass density at intermediate redshifts.
ASKAP's large spectral bandwidth (288 MHz bandwidth over the frequency
range 700-1800 MHz) and wide field of view (30 square degrees) will
open up a completely new parameter space for large, blind HI
absorption-line surveys using background radio continuum
sources. Since the detection limit for such surveys is independent of
redshift, ASKAP-FLASH is allowing us to learn about the neutral gas
content of galaxies in the poorly-explored redshift range 0.4 < z <
1.0, where the HI emission line is too weak to be detectable in even
the deepest ASKAP surveys.
This week the FLASH team is having a busy week in Marsfield (and on-line)
to review progress, examine issues, and make plans for writing up results.
|
