1999/10/22 by F. H. Briggs, Briggs, F. H.
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Statistical and numerical algorithms
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9910415
openalex publication_date 1999/10/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A Square Kilometer Array radio telescope will detect tens of thousands of galaxies per square degree in the 21cm emission line of neutral hydrogen. The telescope will be sensitive to ordinary galaxy populations at redshifts z>3 when the mass density in neutral gas greatly exceeded the mass in luminous stars. Spectroscopy in the HI line will trace the kinematics of evolving galactic potentials, as well as monitoring consumption of the fuel for star formation. The OH megamaser population may be a significant indicator of merger and interaction rates for galaxies over cosmic time. Spectroscopy of the redshifted HI and OH lines provides a major incentive for designing a large radio telescope with continuous frequency coverage below 2 GHz.