Bayesian model selection on SPICE-RACS DR2 data for source RACS_0900-28_7036 favors one Burn-slab plus two external Faraday dispersion components, with dominant RM of 345.5 rad m^{-2}.
The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey VII: Spectra and Polarisation In Cutouts of Extragalactic Sources (SPICE-RACS) Second Data Release -- Unveiling the Magnetised Sky
2 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We present the second data release (DR2) of Spectra and Polarisation in Cutouts of Extragalactic sources from RACS (SPICE-RACS). SPICE-RACS DR2 is derived from the third low-band epoch of the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS-low3) and covers the entire sky from the South celestial pole up to a declination of $+49^\circ$; approximately 87.5% of the celestial sphere. We produce 'cutout' spectral cubes in Stokes $I$, $Q$, $U$ around 4 million radio sources and extract spectra towards 5 million radio components. Across our observed band of 799.5--1087.5 MHz we find an $rms$ noise of $\sim200\mu\mathrm{Jy/PSF}$, an angular resolution of $\sim15''$, and residual wide-field instrumental polarisation on the order of 0.1%. After de-duplication, our polarisation catalogue contains the detection of $2.5\times10^5$ ($3.4\times10^5$) Faraday rotation measures (RM) for components with a linearly polarised signal above $8\sigma$ ($6\sigma$). This places SPICE-RACS DR2 as the largest single RM catalogue ever produced by nearly an order of magnitude; the number of RMs in our catalogue alone is $\sim5$ times larger than every previous RM catalogue combined. Our resulting RM grid has an areal density of $6.7^{+1.8}_{-1.7}\mathrm{deg}^{-2}$, providing an effective 'resolution' of $\sim23'$, and reveals striking features across the sky. The broad-band RMs have a median uncertainty of $\sim2\ \mathrm{rad\ m}^{-2}$, and include complexity metrics and information from the time domain. The breadth and quality of the SPICE-RACS DR2 dataset will enable a new generation of RM science. Further, SPICE-RACS will provide an ideal reference for forthcoming deep polarisation surveys such as the ASKAP POSSUM survey. All of our data products are publicly available on the CSIRO Data Access Portal (DAP) and the CSIRO ASKAP Science Data Archive (CASDA).
years
2026 2verdicts
UNVERDICTED 2representative citing papers
The paper describes the expected capabilities of the SKA-Mid survey to produce a complete map of the Milky Way's magnetic field in the southern hemisphere using rotation measures and polarized emission.
citing papers explorer
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Faraday Complexity and Depolarisation in a High-Rotation-Measure Radio Galaxy from the Spectra and Polarisation In Cutouts of Extragalactic Sources (SPICE-RACS) DR2
Bayesian model selection on SPICE-RACS DR2 data for source RACS_0900-28_7036 favors one Burn-slab plus two external Faraday dispersion components, with dominant RM of 345.5 rad m^{-2}.
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The magnetic field in the Milky Way Galaxy: from large to small scales
The paper describes the expected capabilities of the SKA-Mid survey to produce a complete map of the Milky Way's magnetic field in the southern hemisphere using rotation measures and polarized emission.