LoTSS-DR3 Gaussian catalog cone search
In this data release from the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR) Two-metre
Sky Survey (LoTSS) we present 120-168 MHz images covering 88% of the
northern sky. The individual pointing images (at 6'' and 20''
resolution) were derived from 12,950 hrs (18.6 PB) of LOFAR High Band
Antenna data which were processed through fully automated
direction-independent and direction-dependent calibration pipelines
that correct for instrumental effects as well as spatially and
temporally varying ionospheric distortions. The Stokes I images were
then combined, accounting for the rms noise level and telescope beam,
to form the final Stokes I mosaic images at 6'' and 20'' resolution,
with a central frequency of 144MHz. From the 6'' resolution Stokes
mosaics we derived a catalogue of 13,664,379 radio sources (consisting
of 16,943,656 Gaussian components), the majority of which have never
been detected at radio wavelengths before. These mosaics have a median
rms sensitivity of 92 μJy/beam; a random and systematic flux density
scale accuracy of approximately 6% and 2%, respectively; an
astrometric accuracy of 0.24''; and we estimate that we detect more
than 95% of sources with integrated flux densities exceeding nine
times the local root mean square noise. To enable thorough scientific
exploitation of this unique dataset, we have published two
sub-collections. The first contains all the Stokes I mosaic products
described above. The second contains the individual pointing products,
including calibrated uv data (measurement sets and direction-dependent
calibration solutions) to allow for re-imaging or post-processing;
Stokes I images at 6' ' and 20'' resolution (with associated scaling
factors required to reproduce the mosaic images); Stokes V images at
6'' resolution for each observing epoch; and Stokes Q and U image
cubes at 20'' and 4' resolution. This service queries the Stokes I
continuum mosaic gaussian component catalogue.