1. |
- Bååth, L.B. 1948-, et al.
(author)
-
Time-Dependent Radio Fine Structure of the Compact Sources NRAO 150 and 4C 39.25
- 1980
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 86:3, s. 364-372
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Very long baseline interferometer observations at 7.85 GHz have been used to probe the milliarcsecond structure of the unidentified, very compact radio source NRAO 150 and QSO 4 C 39.25. NRAO 150 exhibited no structural variations from 1972 to the end of 1974. A model with two circular Gaussian components fits the data well. NRAO 150 had a flux density of 7.6 plus or minus 0.5 Jy in the compact component; 4 C 39.25 showed a two-component structure, the components having a separation of (2.02 plus or minus 0.05 arc sec) x 10 to the -3rd power. The upper bound on the speed of transverse separation is 0.0001 arc sec per year or less than 2.7 c. From the spectrum there are also indications of a third, larger component.
|
|
2. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. IX. Detection of Near-horizon Circular Polarization
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 957:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations have revealed a bright ring of emission around the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. EHT images in linear polarization have further identified a coherent spiral pattern around the black hole, produced from ordered magnetic fields threading the emitting plasma. Here we present the first analysis of circular polarization using EHT data, acquired in 2017, which can potentially provide additional insights into the magnetic fields and plasma composition near the black hole. Interferometric closure quantities provide convincing evidence for the presence of circularly polarized emission on event-horizon scales. We produce images of the circular polarization using both traditional and newly developed methods. All methods find a moderate level of resolved circular polarization across the image (〈|v|〉 < 3.7%), consistent with the low image-integrated circular polarization fraction measured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (|vint| < 1%). Despite this broad agreement, the methods show substantial variation in the morphology of the circularly polarized emission, indicating that our conclusions are strongly dependent on the imaging assumptions because of the limited baseline coverage, uncertain telescope gain calibration, and weakly polarized signal. We include this upper limit in an updated comparison to general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation models. This analysis reinforces the previously reported preference for magnetically arrested accretion flow models. We find that most simulations naturally produce a low level of circular polarization consistent with our upper limit and that Faraday conversion is likely the dominant production mechanism for circular polarization at 230 GHz in M87*
|
|
3. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A∗ Event Horizon Telescope Results. VII. Polarization of the Ring
- 2024
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 964:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope observed the horizon-scale synchrotron emission region around the Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A∗ (Sgr A∗), in 2017. These observations revealed a bright, thick ring morphology with a diameter of 51.8 ± 2.3 μas and modest azimuthal brightness asymmetry, consistent with the expected appearance of a black hole with mass M≈ 4 × 106 M⊙. From these observations, we present the first resolved linear and circular polarimetric images of Sgr A∗. The linear polarization images demonstrate that the emission ring is highly polarized, exhibiting a prominent spiral electric vector polarization angle pattern with a peak fractional polarization of ∼40% in the western portion of the ring. The circular polarization images feature a modestly (∼5%°-10%) polarized dipole structure along the emission ring, with negative circular polarization in the western region and positive circular polarization in the eastern region, although our methods exhibit stronger disagreement than for linear polarization. We analyze the data using multiple independent imaging and modeling methods, each of which is validated using a standardized suite of synthetic data sets. While the detailed spatial distribution of the linear polarization along the ring remains uncertain owing to the intrinsic variability of the source, the spiraling polarization structure is robust to methodological choices. The degree and orientation of the linear polarization provide stringent constraints for the black hole and its surrounding magnetic fields, which we discuss in an accompanying publication.
|
|
4. |
- Akiyama, Kazunori, et al.
(author)
-
First Sagittarius A∗ Event Horizon Telescope Results. VIII. Physical Interpretation of the Polarized Ring
- 2024
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 964:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In a companion paper, we present the first spatially resolved polarized image of Sagittarius A∗ on event horizon scales, captured using the Event Horizon Telescope, a global very long baseline interferometric array operating at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. Here we interpret this image using both simple analytic models and numerical general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations. The large spatially resolved linear polarization fraction (24%-28%, peaking at ∼40%) is the most stringent constraint on parameter space, disfavoring models that are too Faraday depolarized. Similar to our studies of M87∗, polarimetric constraints reinforce a preference for GRMHD models with dynamically important magnetic fields. Although the spiral morphology of the polarization pattern is known to constrain the spin and inclination angle, the time-variable rotation measure (RM) of Sgr A∗ (equivalent to ≈ 46° ± 12° rotation at 228 GHz) limits its present utility as a constraint. If we attribute the RM to internal Faraday rotation, then the motion of accreting material is inferred to be counterclockwise, contrary to inferences based on historical polarized flares, and no model satisfies all polarimetric and total intensity constraints. On the other hand, if we attribute the mean RM to an external Faraday screen, then the motion of accreting material is inferred to be clockwise, and one model passes all applied total intensity and polarimetric constraints: a model with strong magnetic fields, a spin parameter of 0.94, and an inclination of 150°. We discuss how future 345 GHz and dynamical imaging will mitigate our present uncertainties and provide additional constraints on the black hole and its accretion flow.
|
|
5. |
- Alberdi, A., et al.
(author)
-
The high-frequency compact radio structure of the peculiar quasar 4C 39.25
- 1997
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : Springer-Verlag. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 327:2, s. 513-521
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present new high angular resolution images of the compact non-thermal radio source 4C 39.25 obtained from VLBI observations at λ1.3cm, λ7mm, and λ3mm wavelengths. These maps and Gaussian model-fits show that the milli-arcsecond to sub-milliarcsecond structure of 4C 39.25 consists of a complex bent core-jet structure with embedded moving and stationary VLBI components. Facilitated by the small observing beams and high angular resolutions obtained at mm-wavelengths, we measured the relative positions of the jet components with an accuracy of a few hundred micro-arcseconds. This allows the detailed followup of the ongoing merging process of a westward superluminally moving component (b_) with a stationary component a_, located at ~2.9 mas east of the putative core d_. In contrast to the other components of the structure with steeper spectra, the westernmost component d_ exhibits an inverted spectrum peaking between λ7mm and λ3mm, thus further supporting its identification as the VLBI core, self-absorbed at longer wavelengths. From two VLBI maps obtained nearly simultaneously at λ7mm and λ1.3cm, we made the first spectral index map of 4C 39.25 in this wavelength regime. The main characteristics of the spectral index distribution of the jet are pronounced changes of the spectral index between orientations parallel and transverse to the jet axis. Near the merging components a_ and b_ the spectral index steepens with increasing separation from d_. However, in the bridge of emission c_, which connects d_ with a_ and b_, the spectral index gradient has a direction transverse to the jet axis, suggesting a frequency dependent jet curvature and edge-brightening. A brief discussion of this behaviour within current jet models is presented.
|
|
6. |
- Bartel, N., et al.
(author)
-
The Compact Radio Source 2021+614 : Simultaneous 2.3 and 8.3 GHz Mark III VLBI Observations
- 1984
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - Philadelphia, PA : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 279:1, s. 116-121
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Second-epoch VLBI observations of the flat-spectrum radio source 2021+614 made simultaneously at 2.3 and 8.3 GHz with the Mark III system are reported. The maps derived from these observations reveal a complex, frequency-dependent radio structure on the milliarcsecond scale. The object has four nearly collinear components oriented at a position angle of about 35 degrees and embedded in an extended region. Two of these are optically thin, one has a flat spectrum, and the other appears to be synchrotron self-absorbed in the frequency range 2.3-8.3 GHz. No significant structural variation is found at either frequency between epochs separated by about three years. The formal estimate of the transverse velocity between two components, one with a flat and the other with an inverted spectrum, is v/c = 0.7 + or - 2.3. Remarkable similarities between 2021+614 and the unusual source 0316+413 are discussed.
|
|
7. |
- Behrend, Dirk, et al.
(author)
-
Recent Progress in the VLBI2010 Development
- 2008
-
In: in Proceedings of the 2007 IAG General Assembly, Perugia, Italy, July 2-13, 2007, ed. M. Sideris, Springer. - Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg. - 0939-9585. - 9783540854258 ; 133:Part 5, s. 833-840
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- From October 2003 to September 2005, the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS) examined current and future requirements for geodetic VLBI, including all components from antennas to analysis. IVS Working Group 3 "VLBI 2010", which was tasked with this effort, concluded with recommendations for a new generation of VLBI systems. These recommendations were based on the goals of achieving 1mm measurement accuracy on global baselines, performing continuous measurements for time series of station positions and Earth orientation parameters, and reaching a turnaround time from measurement to initial geodetic results of less than 24 h. To realize these recommendations and goals, along with the need for low cost of construction and operation, requires a complete examination of all aspects of geodetic VLBI including equipment, processes, and observational strategies. Hence, in October 2005, the IVS VLBI2010 Committee (V2C) commenced work on defining the VLBI2010 system specifications. In this paper we give a summary of the recent progress of the VLBI2010 project. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.
|
|
8. |
- Broderick, Avery E., et al.
(author)
-
THEMIS: A Parameter Estimation Framework for the Event Horizon Telescope
- 2020
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 897:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) provides the unprecedented ability to directly resolve the structure and dynamics of black hole emission regions on scales smaller than their horizons. This has the potential to critically probe the mechanisms by which black holes accrete and launch outflows, and the structure of supermassive black hole spacetimes. However, accessing this information is a formidable analysis challenge for two reasons. First, the EHT natively produces a variety of data types that encode information about the image structure in nontrivial ways; these are subject to a variety of systematic effects associated with very long baseline interferometry and are supplemented by a wide variety of auxiliary data on the primary EHT targets from decades of other observations. Second, models of the emission regions and their interaction with the black hole are complex, highly uncertain, and computationally expensive to construct. As a result, the scientific utilization of EHT observations requires a flexible, extensible, and powerful analysis framework. We present such a framework, Themis, which defines a set of interfaces between models, data, and sampling algorithms that facilitates future development. We describe the design and currently existing components of Themis, how Themis has been validated thus far, and present additional analyses made possible by Themis that illustrate its capabilities. Importantly, we demonstrate that Themis is able to reproduce prior EHT analyses, extend these, and do so in a computationally efficient manner that can efficiently exploit modern high-performance computing facilities. Themis has already been used extensively in the scientific analysis and interpretation of the first EHT observations of M87.
|
|
9. |
- Bååth, L.B. 1948-, et al.
(author)
-
The microarcsecond structure of 3C 273 at 3 MM
- 1991
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 241:1, s. L1-L4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent improvements in data analysis and receiver techniques have allowed us to produce a map of the 100GHz emission from the compact radio source 3C273 with the unsurpassed resolution of 50-mu-as (microarcseconds). Our map shows that the structure within 300-mu-as (approximately 1.5.10(18).h-1 cm) has a position angle significantly different from the position angle of the jet observed at lower frequencies. There are also indications in our map that the inner structure has a more pronounced wiggling structure than has been observed on larger scales. The observations were made about 60 days from the start of the outburst of 1988. Most of the flux from the outburst is concentrated in a component which is elongated approximately (56 x 5).10(16).h-1 cm perpendicular to the overall jet-axis. The distance between this component and the core is approximately 128-mu-as, which corresponds to the distance expected from an apparent velocity of approximately 800-mu-as year-1.
|
|
10. |
- Bååth, L.B. 1948-, et al.
(author)
-
VLBI observations of active galactic nuclei at 3 MM
- 1992
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 257:1, s. 31-46
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent improvements in data analysis and receiver techniques have allowed us to produce maps of the 100 GHz emission from the compact cores of active galactic nuclei with the unsurpassed resolution of 50-mu-as (microarcseconds). We present here hybrid maps of a set of compact radio sources observed at two epochs with a global VLBI array. The high resolution enables us to show details of active galactic nuclei on size scales of 10(16)-10(17) cm. Jets are shown to be more curved in these inner parts than further out in the areas mapped with VLBI at lower frequencies. Our maps of the quasar 3C345 show that the curvature seen with lower resolution instruments continues very close to the core. New components are seen separating from the cores of 3C84 and BL Lac. We observe a component in 3C84 separating from the core with an apparent speed approximately 21000 km sec-1. The radio source OJ287 is still unresolved with our array, having a core size of less-than-or-similar-to 10(17) cm. There is no indication of any compact component in 3C279 which would be associated with the outburst in integrated flux density which happened some months before our observation. The flux density of the most compact component we observe in 3C279 agrees well with that of the quiet core as extrapolated from its radio spectrum at lower frequencies. The inner part of the radio jet of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 also shows a continuation of the structure on a larger size scale, with a structure we interpret as parts of a helical pattern. No fringes were found for 4C39.25 or Sgr A.
|
|
11. |
- Davis, J.L, et al.
(author)
-
Geodesy by radio interferometry: Effects of atmospheric modeling errors on estimates of baseline length
- 1985
-
In: Radio Science. - 0048-6604 .- 1944-799X. ; 20:6, s. 1593-1607
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Analysis of very long baseline interferometry data indicates that systematic errors in prior estimatesof baseline length, of order 5 cm for ~8000-km baselines, were due primarily to mismodeling of theelectrical path length of the troposphere and mesosphere ("atmospheric delay"). Here we discussobservational evidence for the existence of such errors in the previously used models for the atmosphericdelay and develop a new "mapping" function for the elevation angle dependence of this delay. Thedelay predicted by this new mapping function differs from ray trace results by less than ~5 mm, at allelevations down to 5° elevation, and introduces errors into the estimates of baseline length of •
|
|
12. |
|
|
13. |
- Eatough, Ralph P., et al.
(author)
-
Verification of Radiative Transfer Schemes for the EHT
- 2020
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 897:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration has recently produced the first resolved images of the central supermassive black hole in the giant elliptical galaxy M87. Here we report on tests of the consistency and accuracy of the general relativistic radiative transfer codes used within the collaboration to model M87∗ and Sgr A∗. We compare and evaluate (1) deflection angles for equatorial null geodesics in a Kerr spacetime; (2) images calculated from a series of simple, parameterized matter distributions in the Kerr metric using simplified emissivities and absorptivities; (3) for a subset of codes, images calculated from general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations using different realistic synchrotron emissivities and absorptivities; (4) observables for the 2017 configuration of EHT, including visibility amplitudes and closure phases. The error in total flux is of order 1% when the codes are run with production numerical parameters. The dominant source of discrepancies for small camera distances is the location and detailed setup of the software "camera"that each code uses to produce synthetic images. We find that when numerical parameters are suitably chosen and the camera is sufficiently far away the images converge and that for given transfer coefficients, numerical uncertainties are unlikely to limit parameter estimation for the current generation of EHT observations. The purpose of this paper is to describe a verification and comparison of EHT radiative transfer codes. It is not to verify EHT models more generally.
|
|
14. |
- Georgiev, Boris, et al.
(author)
-
A Universal Power-law Prescription for Variability from Synthetic Images of Black Hole Accretion Flows
- 2022
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 930:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a framework for characterizing the spatiotemporal power spectrum of the variability expected from the horizon-scale emission structure around supermassive black holes, and we apply this framework to a library of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations and associated general relativistic ray-traced images relevant for Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of Sgr A*. We find that the variability power spectrum is generically a red-noise process in both the temporal and spatial dimensions, with the peak in power occurring on the longest timescales and largest spatial scales. When both the time-averaged source structure and the spatially integrated light-curve variability are removed, the residual power spectrum exhibits a universal broken power-law behavior. On small spatial frequencies, the residual power spectrum rises as the square of the spatial frequency and is proportional to the variance in the centroid of emission. Beyond some peak in variability power, the residual power spectrum falls as that of the time-averaged source structure, which is similar across simulations; this behavior can be naturally explained if the variability arises from a multiplicative random field that has a steeper high-frequency power-law index than that of the time-averaged source structure. We briefly explore the ability of power spectral variability studies to constrain physical parameters relevant for the GRMHD simulations, which can be scaled to provide predictions for black holes in a range of systems in the optically thin regime. We present specific expectations for the behavior of the M87* and Sgr A* accretion flows as observed by the EHT.
|
|
15. |
- Janssen, Michael, et al.
(author)
-
Event Horizon Telescope observations of the jet launching and collimation in Centaurus A
- 2021
-
In: Nature Astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2397-3366. ; 5:10, s. 1017-1028
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of active galactic nuclei at millimetre wavelengths have the power to reveal the launching and initial collimation region of extragalactic radio jets, down to 10–100 gravitational radii (rg ≡ GM/c2) scales in nearby sources1. Centaurus A is the closest radio-loud source to Earth2. It bridges the gap in mass and accretion rate between the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in Messier 87 and our Galactic Centre. A large southern declination of −43° has, however, prevented VLBI imaging of Centaurus A below a wavelength of 1 cm thus far. Here we show the millimetre VLBI image of the source, which we obtained with the Event Horizon Telescope at 228 GHz. Compared with previous observations3, we image the jet of Centaurus A at a tenfold higher frequency and sixteen times sharper resolution and thereby probe sub-lightday structures. We reveal a highly collimated, asymmetrically edge-brightened jet as well as the fainter counterjet. We find that the source structure of Centaurus A resembles the jet in Messier 87 on ~500 rg scales remarkably well. Furthermore, we identify the location of Centaurus A’s SMBH with respect to its resolved jet core at a wavelength of 1.3 mm and conclude that the source’s event horizon shadow4 should be visible at terahertz frequencies. This location further supports the universal scale invariance of black holes over a wide range of masses5,6.
|
|
16. |
- Kim, Jae-Young, et al.
(author)
-
Event Horizon Telescope imaging of the archetypal blazar 3C 279 at an extreme 20 microarcsecond resolution
- 2020
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 640
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 3C 279 is an archetypal blazar with a prominent radio jet that show broadband flux density variability across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. We use an ultra-high angular resolution technique - global Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm (230 GHz) - to resolve the innermost jet of 3C 279 in order to study its fine-scale morphology close to the jet base where highly variable-ray emission is thought to originate, according to various models. The source was observed during four days in April 2017 with the Event Horizon Telescope at 230 GHz, including the phased Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, at an angular resolution of ∼20 μas (at a redshift of z = 0:536 this corresponds to ∼0:13 pc ∼ 1700 Schwarzschild radii with a black hole mass MBH = 8 × 108 M⊙). Imaging and model-fitting techniques were applied to the data to parameterize the fine-scale source structure and its variation.We find a multicomponent inner jet morphology with the northernmost component elongated perpendicular to the direction of the jet, as imaged at longer wavelengths. The elongated nuclear structure is consistent on all four observing days and across diffierent imaging methods and model-fitting techniques, and therefore appears robust. Owing to its compactness and brightness, we associate the northern nuclear structure as the VLBI "core". This morphology can be interpreted as either a broad resolved jet base or a spatially bent jet.We also find significant day-to-day variations in the closure phases, which appear most pronounced on the triangles with the longest baselines. Our analysis shows that this variation is related to a systematic change of the source structure. Two inner jet components move non-radially at apparent speeds of ∼15 c and ∼20 c (∼1:3 and ∼1:7 μas day-1, respectively), which more strongly supports the scenario of traveling shocks or instabilities in a bent, possibly rotating jet. The observed apparent speeds are also coincident with the 3C 279 large-scale jet kinematics observed at longer (cm) wavelengths, suggesting no significant jet acceleration between the 1.3mm core and the outer jet. The intrinsic brightness temperature of the jet components are ≤1010 K, a magnitude or more lower than typical values seen at ≥7mm wavelengths. The low brightness temperature and morphological complexity suggest that the core region of 3C 279 becomes optically thin at short (mm) wavelengths.
|
|
17. |
- Krischbaum, T.T., et al.
(author)
-
Towards the event horizon - the vicinity of AGN at micro-arcsecond resolution
- 2004
-
In: in "Proceedings of the 7th European VLBI Network Symposium", Oct. 2004, Toledo, eds. R. Bachiller, F. Colomer, J.F. Desmurs, P. de Vicente, Obs. Astronómico Nacional, Alcala de Henares, Spain. ; , s. 15-18
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)
|
|
18. |
- Lerner, M.S., et al.
(author)
-
A 100 GHZ map of 3C 446
- 1993
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 280:1, s. 117-120
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The first map made from 100 GHz VLBI observations of the quasar/BL Lac object 3C446 is presented. This map represents a 25-fold increase in resolution compared to earlier maps. Our main conclusions are that the core of 3C 446 is still almost unresolved (less than or similar to 30 muas) at this frequency and that a jet extends several hundred microarcseconds at position angle almost-equal-to -142-degrees. A comparison is also made with observations at other size scales.
|
|
19. |
|
|
20. |
- Marcaide, J. M., et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of shell-like radio-structure in SN1993J
- 1995
-
In: Nature. - London : Nature Publishing Group. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 373:6509, s. 44-45
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- SUPERNOVA explosions are poorly understood, partly because of difficulties in modelling them theoretically(1), and partly because there have been no supernovae observed in our Galaxy since the invention of the telescope. But the recent discovery(2) of supernova SN1993J in the nearby galaxy M81 offers an opportunity to investigate the evolution of the remnant, and its interaction with the surrounding interstellar medium, at high resolution. Here we present radio observations of SN1993J, made using very-long-baseline interferometry, which show the development of a shell structure. This 8-month-old radio shell is the youngest ever discovered in a supernova. The data suggest that the supernova explosion and the expanding shell of the remnant have nearly spherical symmetry, with small deviations where some parts of the shell are brighter than others. If these deviations arise because of variations in the density of the shell, this may reconcile earlier reports of symmetric radio emission(3) with the observed optical asymmetry(4,5), as the density variations could easily cause the latter. We infer that the radio emission is generated at the interface(6-9), where the surrounding gas is shocked by the ejecta.
|
|
21. |
- Marcaide, J. M., et al.
(author)
-
The quasars 1038+528 A and B
- 1985
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Les Ulis : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 142:1, s. 71-84
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The results of VLBI observations of the quasars 1038 + 528 A and B at 2.8, 3.6, 13, and 18 cm at various times between November 1979 and March 1981 are reported. The observations and data calibration are described, as are the mapping and astrometric techniques applied in the study. Both quasars are found to have 'core-jet' morphologies. The core of the A quasar dominates its morphology at centrimetric wavelengths with the brightness temperature of its 400 pc long jet being about 1/100 that of the core. By contrast, the 'jet' in the B quasar is very short (about 70 pc); the tail of this jet has the steepest spectral index found to date in extragalactic compact sources, indicating that high electron losses are responsible for the shortness of the jet. No evidence for appreciable morphological change in the B quasar was found over the time span of the study, whereas a new feature may be emerging from the A quasar core at superluminal speed.
|
|
22. |
- Paraschos, Georgios Filippos, et al.
(author)
-
Ordered magnetic fields around the 3C 84 central black hole
- 2024
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 682
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context . 3C 84 is a nearby radio source with a complex total intensity structure, showing linear polarisation and spectral patterns. A detailed investigation of the central engine region necessitates the use of very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) above the hitherto available maximum frequency of 86 GHz. Aims. Using ultrahigh resolution VLBI observations at the currently highest available frequency of 228 GHz, we aim to perform a direct detection of compact structures and understand the physical conditions in the compact region of 3C 84. Methods . We used Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) 228 GHz observations and, given the limited (u, v)-coverage, applied geometric model fitting to the data. Furthermore, we employed quasi-simultaneously observed, ancillary multi-frequency VLBI data for the source in order to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the core structure. Results . We report the detection of a highly ordered, strong magnetic field around the central, supermassive black hole of 3C 84. The brightness temperature analysis suggests that the system is in equipartition. We also determined a turnover frequency of νm = (113 ± 4) GHz, a corresponding synchrotron self-absorbed magnetic field of BSSA = (2.9 ± 1.6) G, and an equipartition magnetic field of Beq = (5.2 ± 0.6) G. Three components are resolved with the highest fractional polarisation detected for this object (mnet = (17.0 ± 3.9)%). The positions of the components are compatible with those seen in low-frequency VLBI observations since 2017-2018. We report a steeply negative slope of the spectrum at 228 GHz. We used these findings to test existing models of jet formation, propagation, and Faraday rotation in 3C 84. Conclusions . The findings of our investigation into different flow geometries and black hole spins support an advection-dominated accretion flow in a magnetically arrested state around a rapidly rotating supermassive black hole as a model of the jet-launching system in the core of 3C 84. However, systematic uncertainties due to the limited (u, v)-coverage, however, cannot be ignored. Our upcoming work using new EHT data, which offer full imaging capabilities, will shed more light on the compact region of 3C 84.
|
|
23. |
- Rantakyrö, F.T., et al.
(author)
-
50 μas resolution VLBI images of AGN’s at λ3 mm
- 1998
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - Berlin : Springer-Verlag. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 131, s. 451-467
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present 15 images from the global mm-VLBI sessions in 1990 April at 100 GHz and 1993 April at 86 GHz. These observations probe the central engines of the 16 observed AGN's with up to 50 mu as resolution. Among other sources previously observed with lambda 3 mm VLBI we present the first lambda 3 mm maps of 0735+178, 0748+126, 1055+018, 2145+067, and CTA102, in total we have been able to image 13 out of the 16 observed sources. 6 out of the 13 imaged sources observed exhibit curvature and rapid structural changes, although the low dynamic range in two thirds of the maps limits the detection of weak features. Most of the sources have unresolved cores even at this high resolution. There is substantial evidence that the observed sources can be grouped into two general groups: A misaligned population with parsec scale jets in the form of low pitch helices and an aligned population with straight jets with small changes in PA due to intrinsic bends.
|
|
24. |
- Roelofs, F., et al.
(author)
-
Polarimetric Geometric Modeling for mm-VLBI Observations of Black Holes
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 957:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a millimeter very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) array that has imaged the apparent shadows of the supermassive black holes M87* and Sagittarius A*. Polarimetric data from these observations contain a wealth of information on the black hole and accretion flow properties. In this work, we develop polarimetric geometric modeling methods for mm-VLBI data, focusing on approaches that fit data products with differing degrees of invariance to broad classes of calibration errors. We establish a fitting procedure using a polarimetric “m-ring” model to approximate the image structure near a black hole. By fitting this model to synthetic EHT data from general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic models, we show that the linear and circular polarization structure can be successfully approximated with relatively few model parameters. We then fit this model to EHT observations of M87* taken in 2017. In total intensity and linear polarization, the m-ring fits are consistent with previous results from imaging methods. In circular polarization, the m-ring fits indicate the presence of event-horizon-scale circular polarization structure, with a persistent dipolar asymmetry and orientation across several days. The same structure was recovered independently of observing band, used data products, and model assumptions. Despite this broad agreement, imaging methods do not produce similarly consistent results. Our circular polarization results, which imposed additional assumptions on the source structure, should thus be interpreted with some caution. Polarimetric geometric modeling provides a useful and powerful method to constrain the properties of horizon-scale polarized emission, particularly for sparse arrays like the EHT.
|
|
25. |
- Standke, K. J., et al.
(author)
-
High Sensitivity VLBI at 86 GHz : First Fringes with the 100 m Radio Telescope at Effelsberg
- 1993
-
In: VLBI Technology. - Tokyo : Terra Scientific. - 4887041128 ; , s. 75-85
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Inclusion of large and sensitive antennas is of essential importance to further improve the imaging capabilities of VLBI at 3.5 mm wavelength. The combination of the 100 m radio telescope at Effelsberg (illuminated diameter ~60 m at lambda = 3.5 mm) with the 30 m radio telescope at Pico Veleta presently allows the detection of compact flux down to a level of 0.2 Jy (for τ=360 seconds integration time). Fringes have been found for 23 radio sources many of them not observed previously with VLBI at 86 GHz. On European baselines to Effelsberg the SNR typically was 10 to 30 (and ranged up to 107 for 3C279), facilitating model fitting for the brightest sources. Even in spite of chaning weather conditions during the observations (coherence times ranged between 10 to 100 seconds) and a still non-optimum pointing model for the 100 m antenna for observations at high frequencies, these results demonstrate that the 100 m radio telescope can be successfully incorporated in global VLBI experiments at 3.5 mm wavelength.
|
|