VLBI Images Research Articles

Internal Proper Motion of 6.7 GHz Methanol Masers in Ultra Compact HII Region S269

AbstractWe present the internal proper motion of 6.7-GHz methanol masers in S269, an Ultra Compact HII region. The maser distribution in S269 consists of several maser groups, and the spatial structure of the main groups A and B are consistent with the past VLBI image. The remarkable result of comparing the two VLBI maps is that 6.7-GHz methanol maser distribution and velocity range within each group have been kept for eight years. Angular separation between the two groups A and B increases by 3.6 mas, which corresponds to a velocity of 11.5 km s−1.

VLBI observations of SN 2011dh: imaging of the youngest radio supernova

We report on the VLBI detection of supernova SN2011dh at 22GHz using a subset of the EVN array. The observations took place 14 days after the discovery of the supernova, thus resulting in a VLBI image of the youngest radio-loud supernova ever. We provide revised coordinates for the supernova with milli-arcsecond precision, linked to the ICRF. The recovered flux density is a factor 2 below the EVLA flux density reported by other authors at the same frequency and epoch of our observations. This discrepancy could be due to extended emission detected with the EVLA or to calibration problems in the VLBI and/or EVLA observations.

Oscillation Phenomena in the Disk around the Massive Black Hole Sagittarius A*

We report the detection of radio QPOs with structure changes using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 43 GHz. We found conspicuous patterned changes of the structure with $P$$=$ 16.8$\ \pm\ $1.4, 22.2$\ \pm\ $1.4, 31.4$\ \pm\ $1.5, 56.4$\ \pm\ $6 min roughly in a 3:4:6:10 ratio. The first two periods show a rotating one-arm structure, while $P$$=$ 31.4 min shows a rotating 3-arm structure, as if viewed edge-on. At the central 50$\ \mu$as the $P$$=$ 56.4 min period shows a double-amplitude variation of those in its surroundings. The spatial distributions of the oscillation periods suggest that the disk of Sgr A$^{*}$ is roughly edge-on, rotating around an axis with $PA$$=$$-$10$^{\circ}$. Presumably, the observed VLBI images of Sgr A$^{*}$ at 43 GHz retain several features of the black hole accretion disk of Sgr A$^{*}$ in spite of being obscured and broadened by scattering of surrounding plasma.

Revealing the extended radio emission from the gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057

Context. After the detection of a 321-days periodicity in X-rays, HESS J0632+057 can be robustly considered a new member of the selected group of gamma-ray binaries. These sources are known to show extended radio structure at scales of milliarcseconds (mas). Aims. We present the expected extended radio emission on mas scales from HESS J0632+057. Methods. We observed HESS J0632+057 with the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 1.6 GHz in two epochs: during the January/February 2011 X-ray outburst and 30 days later. Results. The VLBI image obtained during the outburst shows a compact ~0.4 mJy radio source, whereas 30 days later the source has faded and appears extended, with a projected size of ~75 AU. The peak of the emission is displaced between runs 21+/-5 AU, which is bigger than the orbit size. The position of the radio source is compatible with the Be star MWC 148, which sets the proper motion of the binary system below 3 mas yr^-1 in each coordinate. The brightness temperature of the source is above 2 \times 10^6 K. We compare the multiwavelength properties of HESS J0632+057 with those of the previously known gamma-ray binaries. Conclusions. HESS J0632+057 displays extended and variable non-thermal radio emission. Its morphology, size, and displacement at AU scales are similar to those found in the other gamma-ray binaries, PSR B1259-63, LS 5039 and LS I +61 303, supporting a similar nature for HESS J0632+057.

MODELING VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRIC IMAGES WITH THE CROSS-ENTROPY GLOBAL OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUE

We present a new technique for obtaining model fittings to VLBI images of astrophysical jets. The method minimizes a performance function proportional to the sum of the squared difference between the model and observed images. The model image is constructed by summing elliptical Gaussian sources characterized by six parameters: two-dimensional peak position, peak intensity, eccentricity, amplitude and orientation angle of the major axis. We present results for the fitting of two main benchmark jets: the first, constructed from three individual Gaussian sources, the second formed by five Gaussian sources. Both jets were analyzed by our cross-entropy technique in finite and infinite signal-to-noise regimes, the background noise chosen to mimic that found in interferometric radio maps. We show that our technique is capable of recovering the parameters of the sources with a similar accuracy to that obtained from the traditional AIPS task IMFIT when the image is relatively simple (e.g., few components). For more complex maps, our method displays superior performance in recovering the parameters of the jet components. Our methodology is also able to show quantitatively the number of individual components present in an image. An additional application of the cross-entropy technique to a real image of a BL Lac object is shown and discussed. Our results indicate that our cross-entropy technique must be used in situations involving the analysis of complex emission regions having more than three sources, even though it is substantially slower than current model fitting tasks (at least 10,000 times slower for a single processor, depending on the number of sources to be optimized). As in the case of any model fitting performed in the image plane, caution is required in analyzing images constructed from a poorly sampled (u,v) plane.

WMAP extragalactic point sources as potential Space VLBI calibrators

The point source list of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) is a uniform, all-sky catalogue of bright sources with flux density measurements at high (up to 94 GHz) radio frequencies. We investigated the five-year WMAP list to compile a new catalogue of bright and compact extragalactic radio sources to be potentially studied with Very Long Baseline Interferometry at millimeter wavelengths (mm-VLBI) and Space VLBI (SVLBI). After comparing the WMAP data with the existing mm-VLBI catalogues, we sorted out the yet unexplored sources. Using the 41, 61 and 94 GHz WMAP flux densities, we calculated the spectral indices. By collecting optical identifications, lower-frequency radio flux densities and VLBI images from the literature, we created a list of objects which have not been investigated with VLBI at 86 GHz before. With total flux density at least 1 Jy and declination above −40°, we found 37 suitable new targets. It is a nearly 25% addition to the known mm-VLBI sources. Such objects are also potentially useful as phase-reference calibrators for the future Japanese SVLBI mission ASTRO-G at its highest observing frequency (43 GHz). The phase-referencing capability of ASTRO-G would allow long integrations and hence better sensitivity for observing faint target sources close to suitable phase calibrators in the sky.

Testing the no-hair theorem with observations of black holes in the electromagnetic spectrum

According to the no-hair theorem, astrophysical black holes are uniquely described by their mass and spin. In this paper, we review a new framework for testing the no-hair hypothesis with observations in the electromagnetic spectrum. The approach is formulated in terms of a Kerr-like spacetime containing a quadrupole moment that is independent of both mass and spin. If the no-hair theorem is correct, then any deviation from the Kerr metric quadrupole has to be zero. We show how upcoming VLBI imaging observations of Sgr A∗ as well as spectroscopic observations of iron lines from accreting black holes with IXO may lead to the first astrophysical test of the no-hair theorem.

The first VLBI image of the young, oxygen-rich supernova remnant in NGC 4449

We report on sensitive 1.4-GHz VLBI radio observations of the unusually luminous supernova remnant SNR 4449-1 in the galaxy NGC 4449, which gave us the first well-resolved image of this object. The remnant's radio morphology consists of two approximately parallel bright ridges, suggesting similarities to the barrel shape seen for many older Galactic supernova remnants or possibly to SN 1987A. The angular extent of the remnant is 65 x 40 mas, corresponding to (3.7 x 2.3) x 10^{18} (D/3.8 Mpc) cm. We also present a new, high signal-to-noise optical spectrum. By comparing the remnant's linear size to the maximum velocities measured from optical lines, as well as using constraints from historical images, we conclude that the supernova explosion occurred between ~1905 and 1961, likely around 1940. The age of the remnant is therefore likely ~70 yr. We find that SNR 4449-1's shock wave is likely still interacting with the circumstellar rather than interstellar medium.

Analysing VLBI images of astrophysical jets via cross-entropy global optimisation method

AbstractMost of jets detected in AGN blazar sources exhibit a morphological structure usually composed by a spatially unresolved core and jet knots receding from it at relativistic velocities. In some cases, the trajectories of the jet components on the plane of the sky seem to be bent, indicating the existence of some kind of acceleration in the respective motion. However, such claims depend strongly on the correct determination of the structural parameters of the jet components, usually obtained from model fitting procedures performed either in the (u,v) or in the image planes. In this work we introduce a new model fitting technique to obtain structural parameters of knots present in VLBI jet images. Our method that is based on the cross-entropy technique minimises an performance function that depends on the sum of the squared residuals obtained from the comparison of an VLBI image and a model image, constructed by summing Ns elliptical Gaussian synthetic sources. We present in this work the cross-entropy model fittings of benchmark images that were built to simulate most of the conditions encountered in typical VLBI images of active galactic nuclei. Besides recovering the parameters of the jet components in all validation tests, our method is able to point out quantitatively the number of the sources present in the image.

The follow-up European VLBI Network observations of twelve GPS radio sources at 5 GHz

We defined a sub-sample of twelve GPS sources which have not been observed with the VLBI before, from the Parkes half-Jansky sample, and carried out VLBI observations at 1.6 GHz and 5 GHz with the European VLBI Network (EVN) in 2006 and 2008, respectively, to classify the source structure and to find compact symmetric objects (CSOs). Additionally, we carried out the 4.85 GHz flux density observations for these sources with the Urumqi 25-m telescope between the years 2007 and 2009 to study whether there is any variability in the total flux density of the GPS sources. The results of the 5 GHz VLBI observations and total flux densities of these sources are presented in this paper. From the VLBI morphologies, the spectral indices of components and the total flux variability of the twelve targets, we firmly classify three sources J0210+0419, J1135$-$0021, and J2058+0540 as CSOs, and classify J1057+0012, J1203+0414, and J1600$-$0037 as core-jet sources. The others J0323+0534, J0433$-$0229, J0913+1454, J1109+1043, and J1352+0232 are labelled CSO candidates, and J1352+1107 is a complex feature. Apart from core-jet sources, the total flux densities of the CSOs and candidates are quite stable at 5 GHz both during a long-term of $\sim$20 years relative to the PKS90 data and in a period between 2007 and 2009. The total flux densities are resolved-out by more than 20\% in the 5 GHz VLBI images for 6 sources, probably because of diffuse emission. In addition, we estimated the jet viewing angles $\Theta$ for the confirmed CSOs by using the double-lobe flux ratio of the sources, the result being indicative of relatively large $\Theta$ for the CSOs.

VLBI observations of SN 2008iz

We present observations of the recently discovered supernova 2008iz in M 82 with the VLBI High Sensitivity Array at 22 GHz, the Very Large Array at frequencies of 1.4, 4.8, 8.4, 22 and 43 GHz, and the Chandra X-ray observatory. The supernova was clearly detected in two VLBI images separated by 11 months. The source shows a ring-like morphology and expands with a velocity of ~23 000 km s<sup>-1<sup/>. The most likely explosion date is in mid-February 2008. The measured expansion speed is a factor of ~2 higher than expected under the assumption that synchrotron self-absorption dominates the light curve at the peak, indicating that this absorption mechanism may not be important for the radio emission. We find no evidence for an asymmetric explosion. The VLA spectrum shows a broken power law, indicating that the source was still optically thick at 1.4 GHz in April 2009. Finally, we report upper limits on the X-ray emission from SN 2008iz and a second radio transient recently discovered by MERLIN observations.

HIGH-SENSITIVITY ARRAY OBSERVATIONS OF THEz= 1.87 SUBMILLIMETER GALAXY GOODS 850-3

We present sensitive phase-referenced VLBI results on the radio continuum emission from the z=1.87 luminous submillimeter galaxy (SMG) GOODS 850-3. The observations were carried out at 1.4 GHz using the High Sensitivity Array (HSA). Our sensitive tapered VLBI image of GOODS 850-3 at 0.47 x 0.34 arcsec (3.9 x 2.9 kpc) resolution shows a marginally resolved continuum structure with a peak flux density of 148 \pm 38 uJy/beam, and a total flux density of 168 \pm 73 uJy, consistent with previous VLA and MERLIN measurements. The derived intrinsic brightness temperature is > 5 \pm 2 x 10^3 K. The radio continuum position of this galaxy coincides with a bright and extended near-infrared source that nearly disappears in the deep HST optical image, indicating a dusty source of nearly 9 kpc in diameter. No continuum emission is detected at the full VLBI resolution (13.2 x 7.2 mas, 111 x 61 pc), with a 4-sigma point source upper limit of 26 uJy/beam, or an upper limit to the intrinsic brightness temperature of 4.7 x 10^5 K. The extent of the observed continuum source at 1.4 GHz and the derived brightness temperature limits are consistent with the radio emission (and thus presumably the far-infrared emission) being powered by a major starburst in GOODS 850-3, with a star formation rate of ~2500 M_sun/yr. Moreover, the absence of any continuum emission at the full resolution of the VLBI observations indicates the lack of a compact radio AGN source in this z=1.87 SMG.

SUPERNOVA 1986J VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY. II. THE EVOLUTION OF THE SHELL AND THE CENTRAL SOURCE

We present new VLBI images of supernova 1986J, taken at 5, 8.4 and 22 GHz between t=22 to 25 yr after the explosion. The shell expands as t^(0.69+-0.03). We estimate the progenitor's mass-loss rate at (4 ~ 10) * 10^-5 Msol/yr (for v_w = 10 km/s). Two bright spots are seen in the images. The first, in the northeast, is now fading. The second, very near the center of the projected shell and unique to SN1986J, is still brightening relative to the shell, and now dominates the VLBI images. It is marginally resolved at 22 GHz (diameter ~0.3 mas; ~5 * 10^16 cm at 10 Mpc). The integrated VLA spectrum of SN1986J shows an inversion point and a high-frequency turnover, both progressing downward in frequency and due to the central bright spot. The optically-thin spectral index of the central bright spot is indistinguishable from that of the shell. The small proper motion of 1500+-1500 km/s of the central bright spot is consistent with our previous interpretation of it as being associated with the expected black-hole or neutron-star remnant. Now, an alternate scenario seems also plausible, where the central bright spot, like the northeast one, results when the shock front impacts on a condensation within the circumstellar medium (CSM). The condensation would have to be so dense as to be opaque at cm wavelengths (~1000x denser than the average corresponding CSM) and fortuitously close to the center of the projected shell. We include a movie of the evolution of SN1986J at 5 GHz from t=0 to 25 yr.

Kinematics of the parsec-scale radio jet in 3C 48

We present results on the compact steep-spectrum quasar 3C 48 from observations with the VLBA, MERLIN and EVN at multiple radio frequencies. In the 1.5-GHz VLBI images, the radio jet is characterized by a series of bright knots. The active nucleus is embedded in the southernmost VLBI component A, which is further resolved into two sub-components A1 and A2 at 4.8 and 8.3 GHz. A1 shows a flat spectrum and A2 shows a steep spectrum. The most strongly polarized VLBI components are located at component C $\sim$0.25 arcsec north of the core. The polarization angles at C show gradual changes across the jet width at all observed frequencies, indicative of a gradient in the emission-weighted intrinsic polarization angle across the jet and possibly a systematic gradient in the rotation measure; moreover, the percentage of polarization increases near the curvature at C, likely consistent with the presence of a local jet-ISM interaction and/or changing magnetic-field directions. The hot spot B shows a higher rotation measure, and has no detected proper motion. These facts provide some evidence for a stationary shock in the vicinity of B. Comparison of the present VLBI observations with those made 8.43 years ago suggests a proper motion of $\beta_{app}=3.7\pm0.4 c$ for A2 to the north. The apparent superluminal motion suggests that the relativistic jet plasma moves at a velocity of $\gtrsim0.96 c$ if the jet is viewed at an inclination angle less than $20\degr$. A simple precessing jet model and a hydrodynamical isothermal jet model with helical-mode Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are used to fit the oscillatory jet trajectory of 3C 48 defined by the bright knots.

HIGH RESOLUTION 36 GHz IMAGING OF THE SUPERNOVA REMNANT OF SN 1987A

The aftermath of supernova (SN) 1987A continues to provide spectacular insights into the interaction between a SN blastwave and its circumstellar en- vironment. We here present 36 GHz observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array of the radio remnant of SN 1987A. These new images, taken in 2008 Apr and 2008 Oct, substantially extend the frequency range of an ongo- ing monitoring and imaging program conducted between 1.4 and 20 GHz. Our 36.2 GHz images have a diffraction-limited angular resolution of 0.3-0.4 arcseconds, which covers the gap between high resolution, low dynamic range VLBI images of the remnant and low resolution, high dynamic range images at frequencies between 1 and 20 GHz. The radio morphology of the remnant at 36 GHz is an elliptical ring with enhanced emission on the eastern and western sides, similar to that seen previously at lower frequencies. Model fits to the data in the Fourier domain show that the emitting region is consistent with a thick inclined torus of mean radius 0.85 arcsec, and a 2008 Oct flux density of 27 +/- 6 mJy at 36.2 GHz. The spectral index for the remnant at this epoch, determined between 1.4 GHz and 36.2 GHz, is -0.83. There is tentative evidence for an unresolved central source with flatter spectral index.

Radio emission and nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration of cosmic rays in the supernova SN 1993J

The extensive observations of the supernova SN 1993J at radio wavelengths make this object a unique target for the study of particle acceleration in a supernova shock. To describe the radio synchrotron emission we use a model that couples a semianalytic description of nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration with self-similar solutions for the hydrodynamics of the supernova expansion. The synchrotron emission, which is assumed to be produced by relativistic electrons propagating in the postshock plasma, is worked out from radiative transfer calculations that include the process of synchrotron self-absorption. The model is applied to explain the morphology of the radio emission deduced from high-resolution VLBI imaging observations and the measured time evolution of the total flux density at six frequencies. Both the light curves and the morphology of the radio emission indicate that the magnetic field was strongly amplified in the blast wave region shortly after the explosion, possibly via the nonresonant regime of the cosmic-ray streaming instability operating in the shock precursor. The turbulent magnetic field was not damped behind the shock but carried along by the plasma flow in the downstream region. Cosmic-ray protons were efficiently produced by diffusive shock acceleration at the blast wave. We find that during the first ~8.5 years after the explosion, about 19% of the total energy processed by the forward shock was converted to cosmic-ray energy. However, the shock remained weakly modified by the cosmic-ray pressure. The high magnetic field amplification implies that protons were rapidly accelerated to energies well above 1 PeV. The results obtained for this supernova support the scenario that massive stars exploding into their former stellar wind are a major source of high-energy Galactic cosmic rays.

Multi-frequency synthesis of VLBI images using a generalized maximum entropy method

A new multi-frequency synthesis algorithm for reconstructing images from multi-frequency VLBI data is proposed. The algorithm is based on a generalized maximum entropy method, and makes it possible to derive an effective spectral correction for images over a broad frequency bandwidth, while simultaneously reconstructing the spectral-index distribution over the source. The results of numerical simulations demonstrating the capabilities of the algorithm are presented.

The sub-millimeter emission and the visibility of Sagittarius A*

We adopt the ray-tracing algorithm to simulate the emission from Sagittarius (Sgr) A* with three theoretical models, i.e., the radiatively inefficient accretion flow, jet model, and MRI-driven Keplerian accretion flow with highly-magnetized plasma. By compared to the millimeter VLBI imaging and polarization results, our simulation imposes some constraints on the orientation of the central black hole with regard to the accretion flow or jet. These models can further predict black hole shadow images and corresponding visibility profiles along specific sub-millimeter VLBI baselines, providing reasonable explanations for the preliminary data at 1.3mm.

The first VLBI image of an infrared-faint radio source

Context: To investigate the joint evolution of active galactic nuclei and star formation in the Universe. Aims: In the 1.4 GHz survey with the Australia Telescope Compact Array of the Chandra Deep Field South and the European Large Area ISO Survey - S1 we have identified a class of objects which are strong in the radio but have no detectable infrared and optical counterparts. This class has been called Infrared-Faint Radio Sources, or IFRS. 53 sources out of 2002 have been classified as IFRS. It is not known what these objects are. Methods: To address the many possible explanations as to what the nature of these objects is we have observed four sources with the Australian Long Baseline Array. Results: We have detected and imaged one of the four sources observed. Assuming that the source is at a high redshift, we find its properties in agreement with properties of Compact Steep Spectrum sources. However, due to the lack of optical and infrared data the constraints are not particularly strong.

The 2006 Radio Outbursts of a Microquasar Cygnus X-3: Observations and Data

Abstract We present the results of multi-frequency observations of radio outbursts of the microquasar Cygnus X-3 in 2006 February and March with the Nobeyama 45-m telescope, the Nobeyama Millimeter Array, and the Yamaguchi 32-m telescope. Since the prediction of a flare by RATAN-600, the source was monitored from January 27 (UT) with these radio telescopes. At the eighteenth day after the quench of activity, successive flares exceeding 1Jy were successfully observed. The time scale of the variability in the active phase is presumably shorter in higher frequency bands. We also present the result of a follow-up VLBI observation at 8.4GHz with the Japanese VLBI Network 2.6d after the first rise. A VLBI image exhibits a single core with a size of $&amp;lt;8$ mas (80AU). The observed image is almost stable, although the core shows a rapid variation in the flux density. No jet structure can be seen at a sensitivity of $T_{\rm b}$ (brightness temperature) $=$ 7.5$\times$10$^{5}$K.