Fast jet proper motion discovered in a blazar at z = 4.72

High-resolution observations of high-redshift ($z>4$) radio quasars offer a unique insight into jet kinematics at early cosmological epochs, as well as constraints on cosmological model parameters. Due to the general weakness of extremely distant objects and the apparently slow structural changes caused by cosmological time dilation, only a couple of high-redshift quasars have been studied with parsec-scale resolutions, and with limited number of observing epochs. Here we report on very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of a high-redshift blazar J1430+4204 ($z=4.72$) in the 8 GHz frequency band at five different epochs spanning 22 years. The source shows a compact core--jet structure with two jet components being identified within 3 milli-arcsecond (mas) scale. The long time span and multiple-epoch data allow for the kinematic studies of the jet components. That results in a jet proper motion of $\mu {\rm (J1)}$ = 0.017$\pm$0.002~mas\,yr$^{-1}$ and $\mu({\rm J2})$=0.156$\pm$0.015~mas\,yr$^{-1}$, respectively. For the fastest-moving outer jet component J2, the corresponding apparent transverse speed is $19.5 \pm 1.9 \,c$. The inferred bulk jet Lorentz factor $\Gamma = 14.6 \pm 3.8$ and viewing angle $\theta = 2.2^{\circ} \pm 1.6^{\circ}$ indicate highly relativistic beaming. The Lorentz factor and apparent proper motion are the highest measured to date among the $z>4$ jetted radio sources, while the jet kinematics is still consistent with the cosmological interpretation of quasar redshifts.Comment: Science Bulletin, submitte

A method for checking high-redshift identification of radio AGNs

In large-scale optical spectroscopic surveys, there are many objects found to have multiple redshift measurements due to the weakness of their emission lines and the different automatic identification algorithms used. These include some suspicious high-redshift (z >= 5) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Here we present a method for inspecting the high-redshift identification of such sources provided that they are radio-loud and have very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging observations of their milli-arcsec (mas) scale jet structure available at multiple epochs. The method is based on the determination of jet component proper motions, and the fact that the combination of jet physics (the observed maximal values of the bulk Lorentz factor) and cosmology (the time dilation of observed phenomena in the early Universe) constrain the possible values of apparent proper motions. As an example, we present the case of the quasar J2346+0705 that was reported with two different redshifts, $z_{1} = 5.063$ and $z_{2} = 0.171$, in the literature. We measured the apparent proper motions ($\mu$) of three components identified in its radio jet by utilizing VLBI data taken from 2014 to 2018. We obtained $\mu_{J1} = 0.334 \pm 0.099$ mas yr$^{-1}$, $\mu_{J2} = 0.116 \pm 0.029$ mas yr$^{-1}$, and $\mu_{J3} = 0.060 \pm 0.005$ mas yr$^{-1}$. The maximal proper motion is converted to an apparent transverse speed of $\beta_{\rm app} = 41.2\pm12.2\,c$. if the source is at redshift 5.063. This value exceeds the blazar jet speeds known to date. This and other arguments suggest that J2346+0705 is hosted by a low-redshift galaxy. Our method may be applicable for other high-redshift AGN candidates lacking unambiguous spectroscopic redshift determination or having photometric redshift estimates only, but showing prominent radio jets allowing for VLBI measurements of fast jet proper motions.Comment: accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

An Emergency Disposal Decision-making Method with Human--Machine Collaboration

Rapid developments in artificial intelligence technology have led to unmanned systems replacing human beings in many fields requiring high-precision predictions and decisions. In modern operational environments, all job plans are affected by emergency events such as equipment failures and resource shortages, making a quick resolution critical. The use of unmanned systems to assist decision-making can improve resolution efficiency, but their decision-making is not interpretable and may make the wrong decisions. Current unmanned systems require human supervision and control. Based on this, we propose a collaborative human--machine method for resolving unplanned events using two phases: task filtering and task scheduling. In the task filtering phase, we propose a human--machine collaborative decision-making algorithm for dynamic tasks. The GACRNN model is used to predict the state of the job nodes, locate the key nodes, and generate a machine-predicted resolution task list. A human decision-maker supervises the list in real time and modifies and confirms the machine-predicted list through the human--machine interface. In the task scheduling phase, we propose a scheduling algorithm that integrates human experience constraints. The steps to resolve an event are inserted into the normal job sequence to schedule the resolution. We propose several human--machine collaboration methods in each phase to generate steps to resolve an unplanned event while minimizing the impact on the original job plan.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figure

Imaging and variability studies of CTA~102 during the 2016 January γ\gamma-ray flare

The $\gamma$-ray bright blazar CTA 102 is studied using imaging (new 15 GHz and archival 43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array, VLBA data) and time variable optical flux density, polarization degree and electric vector position angle (EVPA) spanning between 2015 June 1 and 2016 October 1, covering a prominent $\gamma$-ray flare during 2016 January. The pc-scale jet indicates expansion with oscillatory features upto 17 mas. Component proper motions are in the range 0.04 - 0.33 mas/yr with acceleration upto 1.2 mas followed by a slowing down beyond 1.5 mas. A jet bulk Lorentz factor $\geq$ 17.5, position angle of 128.3 degrees, inclination angle $\leq$ 6.6 degrees and intrinsic half opening angle $\leq$ 1.8 degrees are derived from the VLBA data. These inferences are employed in a helical jet model to infer long term variability in flux density, polarization degree, EVPA and a rotation of the Stokes Q and U parameters. A core distance of $r_{\rm core,43 \ GHz}$ = 22.9 pc, and a magnetic field strength at 1 pc and the core location of 1.57 G and 0.07 G respectively are inferred using the core shift method. The study is useful in the context of estimating jet parameters and in offering clues to distinguish mechanisms responsible for variability over different timescales.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables; accepted for publication in Ap

Concentration Polarization of High-Density Lipoprotein and Its Relation with Shear Stress in an In Vitro Model

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration polarization of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) at the surface of the carotid artery under conditions of steady flow and to establish its relationship with shear stress using an in vitro vascular simulation model of carotid bifurcation. Shear stress, HDL concentration at the surface, and the ratio of HDL concentration at the surface to concentration in bulk flow were measured at different locations within the model under high-speed (1.451 m/s) and low-speed (0.559 m/s) flow. HDL showed concentration polarization at the surface of the carotid artery model, particularly in the internal carotid artery sinus. With decreasing flow velocity, the shear stress at the surface also decreased, and HDL concentration polarization increased. The concentration polarization of HDL was negatively and strongly correlated with shear stress at both low- (r = −0.872, P < .001) and high-speed flow (r = −0.592, P = .0018)

Relationship between Concentration Difference of Different Density Lipoproteins and Shear Stress in Atherosclerosis

Previous research has observed concentration polarization in LDL and HDL in the arterial system. However, there is no report that links this concentration polarization to the development of vascular atherosclerosis (AS). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between concentration difference of LDL and HDL and shear stress using a carotid bifurcation vascular model. PTFE was employed to create the carotid bifurcation model. Endothelial cells were coated on the inner wall of the graft. In a recirculation system, HDL and LDL concentration were measured under two different ICA flow velocities at 5 different locations within our model. We report the following: (1) LDL and HDL concentration difference was observed in both high flow and low flow environments; (2) the degree of LDL and HDL concentration polarization varied depending of high flow and low flow environment; (3) absolute values of concentration difference between LDL and HDL at the inner wall surface decreased with the increase in shear stress when shear stress was more than 1.5 Pa. This variation trend would be more pronounced if shear stress were less than 0.5 Pa. Our study suggests that under the action of shear stress, concentration differences of LDL or HDL create a disturbance in the balance of atherogenic factors and anti-As factors, resulting in the occurrence of AS

Radio Jet Proper-motion Analysis of Nine Distant Quasars above Redshift 3.5

Up to now, jet kinematic studies of radio quasars have barely reached beyond the redshift range at $z>3.5$. This significantly limits our knowledge of high-redshift jets, which can provide key information for understanding the jet nature and the growth of the black holes in the early Universe. In this paper, we selected 9 radio-loud quasars at $z>3.5$ which display milliarcsec-scale jet morphology. We provided evidence on the source nature by presenting high-resolution very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images of the sample at 8.4~GHz frequency and making spectral index maps. We also consider Gaia optical positions that are available for 7 out of the 9 quasars, for a better identification of the jet components within the radio structures. We find that 6 sources can be classified as core--jet blazars. The remaining 3 objects are more likely young, jetted radio sources, compact symmetric objects. By including multi-epoch archival VLBI data, we also obtained jet component proper motions of the sample and estimated the jet kinematic and geometric parameters (Doppler factor, Lorentz factor, viewing angle). Our results show that at $z>3.5$, the jet apparent transverse speeds do not exceed 20 times the speed of light ($c$). This is consistent with earlier high-redshift quasar measurements in the literature and the tendency derived from low-redshift blazars that fast jet speeds ($>40\,c$) only occur at low redshifts. The results from this paper contribute to the understanding of the cosmological evolution of radio AGN.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures, 8 tables. To appear in Ap

Decelerated non-relativistic expansion in a tidal disruption event with a potential neutrino association

A tidal disruption event (TDE) involves the tidal shredding of a star in the vicinity of a dormant supermassive black hole. The nearby ($\approx$230 mega-parsec) radio-quiet (radio luminosity of $4 \times 10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$) AT2019dsg is the first TDE potentially associated with a neutrino event. The origin of the non-thermal emission in AT2019dsg remains inconclusive; possibilities include a relativistic jet or a sub-relativistic outflow. Distinguishing between them can address neutrino production mechanisms. High resolution very long baseline interferometry monitoring provides uniquely constraining flux densities and proper motion of the ejecta. A non-relativistic (outflow velocity of $\approx$0.1 $c$) decelerated expansion in a relatively dense environment is found to produce the radio emission. Neutrino production may be related to the acceleration of protons by the outflow. The present study thus helps exclude jet-related origins for the non-thermal emission and neutrino production, and constrains non-jetted scenarios.Comment: 40 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Submitted after revisio

Status and progress of China SKA Regional Centre prototype

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project consists of delivering two largest radio telescope arrays being built by the SKA Observatory (SKAO), which is an intergovernmental organization bringing together nations from around the world with China being one of the major member countries. The computing resources needed to process, distribute, curate and use the vast amount of data that will be generated by the SKA telescopes are too large for the SKAO to manage on its own. To address this challenge, the SKAO is working with the international community to create a shared, distributed data, computing and networking capability called the SKA Regional Centre Alliance. In this model, the SKAO will be supported by a global network of SKA Regional Centres (SRCs) distributed around the world in its member countries to build an end-to-end science data system that will provide astronomers with high-quality science products. SRCs undertake deep processing, scientific analysis, and long-term storage of the SKA data, as well as user support. China has been actively participating in and promoting the construction of SRCs. This paper introduces the international cooperation and ongoing prototyping of the global SRC network, the construction plan of the China SRC and describes in detail the China SRC prototype. The paper also presents examples of scientific applications of SKA precursor and pathfinder telescopes completed using resources from the China SRC prototype. Finally, the future prospects of the China SRC are presented.Comment: T. An, et al. Status and progress of China SKA Regional Centre prototype. Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 65: 129501 (2022