243 research outputs found
VSOP observation of the quasar PKS 2215+020: a new laboratory for core-jet physics at z=3.572
We report results of a VSOP (VLBI Space Observatory Programme) observation of
a high redshift quasar PKS 2215+020 (z=3.572). The ~1 milliarcsecond resolution
image of the quasar reveals a prominent `core-jet' structure on linear scales
from 5/h to 300/h pc ($H_0=100*h km/(s*Mpc). The brightness temperatures and
sizes of bright features identified in the jet are consistent with emission
from relativistic shocks dominated by adiabatic energy losses. The jet is
powered by the central black hole with estimated mass of ~4*10^9 solar masses.
Comparisons with VLA and ROSAT observations indicate a possible presence of an
extended radio/X-ray halo surrounding 2215+020.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, aastex macros; accepted for publication in The
Astrophysical Journal, V.546, N.2 *(January 10 2001
Multi-frequency investigation of the parsec- and kilo-parsec-scale radio structures in high-redshift quasar PKS 1402+044
We investigate the frequency-dependent radio properties of the jet of the
luminous high-redshift (z = 3.2) radio quasar PKS 1402+044 (J1405+0415) by
means of radio interferometric observations. The observational data were
obtained with the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) at 1.6 and 5 GHz,
supplemented by other multi-frequency observations with the Very Long Baseline
Array (VLBA; 2.3, 8.4, and 15 GHz) and the Very Large Array (VLA; 1.4, 5, 15,
and 43 GHz). The observations span a period of 7 years. We find that the
luminous high-redshift quasar PKS 1402+044 has a pronounced "core-jet"
morphology from the parsec to the kilo-parsec scales. The jet shows a steeper
spectral index and lower brightness temperature with increasing distance from
the jet core. The variation of brightness temperature agrees well with the
shock-in-jet model. Assuming that the jet is collimated by the ambient magnetic
field, we estimate the mass of the central object as ~10^9 M_sun. The upper
limit of the jet proper motion of PKS 1402+044 is 0.03 mas/yr (~3c) in the
east-west direction.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures
M87 black hole mass and spin estimate through the position of the jet boundary shape break
We propose a new method of estimating a mass of a super massive black hole
residing in the center of an active galaxy. The active galaxy M87 offers a
convenient test case for the method due to the existence of a large amount of
observational data on the jet and ambient environment properties in the central
area of the object. We suggest that the observed transition of a jet boundary
shape from a parabolic to a conical form is associated with the flow transiting
from the magnetically dominated regime to the energy equipartition between
plasma bulk motion and magnetic field. By coupling the unique set of
observations available for the jet kinematics, environment and boundary profile
with our MHD modelling under assumption on the presence of a dynamically
important magnetic field in the M87 jet, we estimate the central black hole
mass and spin. The method leads us to believe that the M87 super massive black
hole has a mass somewhat larger than typically accepted so far.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables, accepted for publication by MNRA
VLBI imaging of extremely high redshift quasars at 5 GHz
We present very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images of ten very high
redshift (z>3) quasars at 5 GHz. The sources 0004+139, 0830+101, 0906+041,
0938+119 and 1500+045 were observed in September 1992 using a global VLBI
array, while 0046+063, 0243+181, 1338+381, 1428+423 and 1557+032 were observed
in October 1996 with the European VLBI Network and Hartebeesthoek, South
Africa. Most of the sources are resolved and show asymmetric structure. The
sample includes 1428+423, the most distant radio loud quasar known to date
(z=4.72). It is barely resolved with an angular resolution of about 2.0*1.4
mas.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press, Latex2e, 10 pages, 3 figures
(and lots of sub-figures
- …