The Jet and Resolved Features of the Central Supermassive Black Hole of M87 Observed with EHT in 2017—Comparison with the GMVA 86 GHz Results

Abstract

M87 is the best target for studying black hole accretion and jet formation. Reanalysis of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) public data at 230 GHz shows a core–knots structure at the center and jet features. We here compare this with the new results of GMVA at 86 GHz showing a spatially resolved central core. There are similarities and differences between the two. At 86 GHz, “two bright regions” are seen on the ring in the core. The “core–knot–west knot” triple structure in the 230 GHz image shows apparent appearance of two peaks similar to the “two bright regions” when convolved with the GMVA beam. This similarity suggests that both frequencies reveal the same objects in the core area. Protrusions are observed on both the south and north sides of the core at both frequencies, becoming prominent and winglike at 230 GHz. The 86 GHz image shows a triple ridge jet structure, while the 230 GHz image shows only a bright central ridge with two roots. Both frequencies show a shade between the core and the central ridge. To detect the faint features from the EHT2017 data, we found that the use of all baseline data is essential. Using all baseline data, including the ultrashort data, revealed the jet and faint structures. Without the ultrashort baselines, these structures were not detectable. The lack of detection of any faint structures other than the ring in the M87 data by the EHTC is presumably due to the exclusion of ultrashort baselines from their analysis.