1,692 research outputs found
The Role of Millimeter VLBI Observations in AGN Research
VLBI at millimeter wavelengths (mm-VLBI) allows the detailed imaging of
compact galactic and extragalactic radio sources with micro-arcsecond scale
resolution, unaccessible by other observing techniques. Here we discuss the
scientific potential of mm-VLBI for present and future research on `Active
Galactic Nuclei' (AGN) and their powerful relativistic jets. With the new
generation of large radio telescopes and interferometer arrays operating in the
millimeter radio bands (e.g. ALMA), the ultimate vicinity of super massive
Black Holes, and eventually even their event horizon, could be imaged. With its
large collecting area, and in combination with these future telescopes, the
Sardinia Radio Telescope could form the World's `sharpest' astronomical imaging
machine.Comment: 10 pages, 1 table, 7 figures. An inveited talk held at the Sardinia
Radiotelescope Conference in Cagliari, Sardinia, on November 7-10, 200
Dual frequency VSOP imaging of the jet in S5 0836+710
The luminous high-redshift (z=2.17) quasar S50836+710 has been observed in
October 1997 with the VSOP at 1.6 GHz and 5 GHz. We report here a previously
unpublished image made from the data at 1.6 GHz and compare the structure of a
relativistic jet in this quasazr at the two frequencies. We present a spectral
index image tracing spectral properties of the jet up to ~40 milliarcsecond
distance from the nucleus. The curved jet ridge line observed in the images and
the spectral index distribution can be described by Kelvin-Helmholtz
instability developing in a relativistic outflow with a Mach number of ~6. In
this description, the overall ridge line of the jet is formed by the helical
surface mode of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, while areas of flatter spectral
index embedded into the flow correspond to pressure enhancements produced by
the elliptical surface mode of the instability. An alternative explanation
involving a sequence of slowly dissipating shocks cannot be ruled out at this
point.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, pasj00.cls. Submitted to PASJ. (Corrected figure
orientation
A formal method for identifying distinct states of variability in time-varying sources: SgrA* as an example
Continuously time variable sources are often characterized by their power
spectral density and flux distribution. These quantities can undergo dramatic
changes over time if the underlying physical processes change. However, some
changes can be subtle and not distinguishable using standard statistical
approaches. Here, we report a methodology that aims to identify distinct but
similar states of time variability. We apply this method to the Galactic
supermassive black hole, where 2.2 um flux is observed from a source associated
with SgrA*, and where two distinct states have recently been suggested. Our
approach is taken from mathematical finance and works with conditional flux
density distributions that depend on the previous flux value. The discrete,
unobserved (hidden) state variable is modeled as a stochastic process and the
transition probabilities are inferred from the flux density time series. Using
the most comprehensive data set to date, in which all Keck and a majority of
the publicly available VLT data have been merged, we show that SgrA* is
sufficiently described by a single intrinsic state. However the observed flux
densities exhibit two states: a noise-dominated and a source-dominated one. Our
methodology reported here will prove extremely useful to assess the effects of
the putative gas cloud G2 that is on its way toward the black hole and might
create a new state of variability.Comment: Submitted to ApJ; 33 pages, 4 figures; comments welcom
Cultural influences and the mediating role of socio-cultural integration processes on the performance of cross-border mergers and acquisitions
This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.This paper reports findings from a longitudinal case study (2005–2011) of a merger between an Austrian and a German energy provider. I develop a model of socio-cultural integration processes based on an analysis of critical incidents expressed in 71 problem-centred interviews and observations with acquired and acquiring employees at four different points of time: immediately before the takeover and during the first negotiation talks, and one, three and six years after the takeover. The findings suggest that the relationship between national and organizational cultural differences and M&A outcomes is mediated by socio-cultural integration processes defined in terms of the formation of interpersonal relationships, trust and shared identity. Based on these findings I formulate specific propositions and build an evidence-based model of M&A socio-cultural integration processes that guides future research and practice
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