The Two Mini-lobes of the CSO OQ208—— VLBI Observations at 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz

We present the results of VLBI observations at 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz of the compact symmetric object (CSO) OQ208. Images taken on four epochs at 5GHz and one at 8.4GHz show that the parsec radio structure of the source consists of two mini-lobes, both of them are resolved into two hot-spots. We note that the component D is stronger than the component C in the south-west region at 5 GHz, indicating that component D is less free-free absorbed than C at low frequency. On the basis of the separation of components A and D, a proper motion of 0.032±0.02 mas yr~(-1) between the two mini-lobes is estimated. This value is about half the previous estimates based on the separation of components A and C with 8.4 GHz VLBI data. The reason for the decrease in the expansion velocity is discussed.     

VLBI and VLA observations of intraday polarization variability in 0917+624 and 0954+658

Total intensity and polarization λ =6 cm Very Large Array (VLA) and global very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images of the quasar 0917+624 and the BL Lacertae object 0954+658 (both at epoch 1991.43) are analysed. Integrated measurements using the VLA during the VLBI observations indicated that, although there were no substantial total intensity variations, there were significant polarization variations for both sources during the 24-h VLBI experiment. The VLBI data were divided into 2–3 h segments in order to try to identify corresponding rapid variability in the VLBI structure. This analysis revealed intraday variability (IDV) in the VLBI core of 0917+624: both the polarized flux and the polarization position angle varied substantially on time-scales of ∼5–10 h. There is evidence that the VLA polarization variations for 0954+658 occurred in an inner VLBI jet component, where the polarized flux varied by ∼30–40 per cent on time-scales of ∼2 h. 0917+624 and 0954+658 were observed together with 0716+714, an object that also displayed IDV in the polarized flux density measured during our experiment (analysed in a separate paper). These three sources were targeted for the VLBI observations since they had been previously identified as intraday variables, but we had no way of knowing whether they would vary during our observations. The fact that all three exhibited IDV in polarization (but not in total intensity) during our experiment suggests that polarization IDV occurs frequently in at least some IDV sources.     

Japanese VLBI Network Observations of a Gamma-Ray Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy 1H 0323+342

We made simultaneous single-dish and VLBI observations of a gamma-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy 1H 0323+342. We found significant flux variation at 8 GHz on a time scale of one month. The total flux density varied by 5.5% in 32 days, corresponding to a variability brightness temperature of 7.0 × 10¹¹ K. We also obtained brightness temperatures of greater than 5.2 × 10¹⁰ K from the VLBI images. These high brightness temperatures suggest that the source has nonthermal processes in the central engine. The source structure could be modelled by two elliptical Gaussian components on the parsec scales. The flux of the central component decreases in the same way as the total flux density, showing that the short-term variability is mainly associated with this component.     

VLBI observation of giant radio galaxy J1313+696 at 2.3/8.4 GHz

We report the result of VLBI observation of the giant radio galaxy J1313+696 (4C +69.15) at 2.3/8.4 GHz, only the core component of the giant radio galaxy was detected in the VLBI observation at the dual frequencies. The result shows a steep spectrum core with α=?0.82 (S ∝ ν ^α ) between 2.3 GHz and 8.4 GHz. The steep spectrum core may be a sign of renewed activity. Considering also the upper limit flux density of 2.0 mJy at 0.6 GHz from Konar et al. 2004 (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 355:845, 2004) the core has a GHz-peaked spectrum, implying that the core is compact and absorbed. Further high resolution VLBI observations are needed to identify if the steep spectrum core is consisting of a core and steep spectrum jet.     

Is the jet of AO 0235+164 rotating?

We present the VLBI map of a superluminal radio source AO 0235+164 at 5 GHz. This shows that the object's radio structure is dominated by a strong, nearly unresolved core with two extended asymmetric weak jet components. Based on the variation of its flux density with time at 5 GHz, we suggest that the flux density of AO 0235+164 exhibits two periodic variations: a shorter-period variation of 1.81±0.06 yr and a longer-period one of 3.64±0.08 yr. These two periodic variations could be the result of the joint action of jet outbursts and jet rotation.     

在18及6厘米波长对4C 39.25的VLBI观测

在18及6厘米,以基线长分别达15及23兆波长的欧洲长基线干涉网(EVN),对类星体4C 39.25作了VLBI观测,试图搜寻该类星体的中等尺度——10到100毫角秒(mas)的结构。 观测未曾检测到这种尺度上超过核峰值亮度5％的明显结构。但核自身看来有2到4毫角秒的延伸,而且其流量可变。     

Intraday polarization variability outside the VLBI core of the active galactic nucleus 0716+714

Rapid ('intraday') cm-wavelength variations in both total and polarized flux density have been observed in a number of strong extragalactic radio sources. It is difficult to explain these variations purely as propagation effects, but if they are intrinsic to the sources, implausibly high brightness temperatures are required. We discuss here rapid polarization variability during our λ =6 cm global very long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the active galactic nucleus 0716+714. Measurements made with the Very Large Array (VLA) during the VLBI observations indicate a ≃50° swing in the position angle χ of the VLA core polarization in 12 hours. Corresponding variations were observed only for short VLBI baselines, so that they could not have occurred in the VLBI core (the only feature detected in our VLBI polarization map). The fact that the variations appear both in the VLA data and in the VLBI data for short baselines makes it difficult to explain them as instrumental effects. This leads us to conclude that the rapid variations occurred outside the area covered by our VLBI map; we estimate that the variability occurred in some compact feature roughly 25 milliarcseconds from the nucleus. It is clear that compact structures on a wide range of scales must be taken into account in studies of intraday variability in AGN.     

Studies of the quasar OH 471

Based on the 1964–1996 observations in the frequency range 0.325–90 GHz, we study peculiarities of the variability of the quasar OH 471 (z=3.4). The double-humped spectrum had peaks at frequencies near 1 and 20 GHz. The flux density of the low-frequency component first decreased and then began to increase. The high-frequency component rose to 2.5 Jy in the late 1970s. The peak frequencies were virtually constant. VLBI observations at 1.6 GHz revealed a core-jet structure with the jet extended eastward to 5 mas. The object is a powerful quasar.     

Space very long baseline interferometry observations of polarization in the jet of 3C 380

A comparison between low-frequency space very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) and high-frequency ground-based VLBI images can, in principle, be used to detect small variations in rotation measure (RM) on fine angular scales inaccessible to ground arrays alone. This paper reports an attempt to perform such a comparison using the jet in the quasar 3C 380. Observations made with the VSOP antenna HALCA together with a ground array at wavelength 1.6 GHz provide total intensity and polarization images of comparable resolution to those from the ground array alone at 5 GHz. The results provide an image showing derotated magnetic vector position angle of somewhat higher resolution than that available earlier. The results show variations in an RM around component A of the order of 10 rad m⁻² that could not have been detected with the ground array alone. It is concluded that satellite VLBI observations provide a promising means to study the distribution of matter and magnetic fields around parsec-scale jets.
The ground observations used here follow the steady outward drift of component A, which has approximately doubled its distance from the core since the first observations in 1982. They also reveal total intensity and polarization structure associated with a bright knot 0.7 arcsec from the core which is reminiscent of that expected for a conical shock wave.     

Phase-reference mapping of a weak-cored double-lobed source in the 1636+473 system using MERLIN and Global VLBI

We present maps and astrometric results from first epoch, simultaneous MERLIN and Global VLBI observations of the very weak core of a double-lobed radio source, using as reference the bright, compact, flat-spectrum quasar 1636+473 A, 20 arcsec away. The observations were made in May 1995 at 5 GHz. The phase-referenced VLBI map of the weak core, of resolution 1.5 mas, contains a high percentage of the core flux density seen in the MERLIN map. Further hybrid mapping iterations reveal a faint, one-sided core extension on the same side as the MERLIN jet. We explore the effect of both temporal and other coherence losses on the phase-reference map. We relate our results to the structural asymmetry in weak AGN cores within the context of unification models.     

A VLBI Study of Compact Steep Spectrum Sources 3C43, 3C48 and 3C454

We used the VLBA(NRAO, USA) and made VLBI observations towards the compact steep spectrum sources 3C43, 3C48 and 3C454 at the central frequency 1.6 GHz, and obtained their total flux density maps and information on the structures of their components. By comparison with the previous data, we analyzed the variations of their flux densities as well as the displacements of their components. It is found that the total flux density of the source 3C43, as well as the flux densities and relative positions of its components are quite stable in 14 years. For the source 3C454, the total flux density and the flux densities of its components are also relatively stable, but two of the components moved away from the central core with superluminal velocities of 21.6c and 17.7c. Fitted to their flux densities at 4 L-band frequencies, the spectral indexes of the sources 3C43 and 3C454 were obtained to be 0.63 and 0.86, respectively, in good agreement with previous results, and consistent with the definition of α ≥0.5 for compact steep spectrum sources.     

Bi-periodic variation in the BL Lac AO 0235+164

High resolution VLBI hybrid map of the BL Lacertae object AO 0235+164 has been produced at a wavelength of 6 cm. The map shows that the object's radio structure is dominated by a strong, nearly unresolved core with a weak and clear component in northeast direction and a faint one in southwest direction. The positional angle of its jet component are equal to66.4^°, which is the biggest one in comparison with previous results. Based on the variation of its flux density with time at three different frequencies, we find that the flux density of AO 0235+164 shows bi-periodic variation, i.e., the shorter periodic variation of ∼ 1.81 years and a longer periodic variation of ∼ 3.63 years. The later is essentially in agreement with our earlier predicted results that the existence of the periodic variation of ∼ 3.63 years may be caused by the precession of its `central engine'. This bi-periodic variation is probably the results of the joint action of jet outbursts and jet rotation. With the binary black hole models of Kaastra and Roos, we get the minimum total mass of the binary system of 1.46 × 10⁸ M _⊙. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A VLBI and MERLIN Survey of faint,compact radio sources

We present preliminary results from a VLBI survey at λ=6 cm of a sample of 35 sources with flux densities of 2–100 mJy. These sources were selected from the VLA FIRST survey at λ=20 cm, in a 3 degree field around the bright calibrator 1156+295, simply by imposing S₂₀>10 mJy and θ<5 arcsec. MERLIN observations at λ6 cm detected 70/127 of these sources with a threshold of 2 mJy at 50 mas resolution and the closest 35 of these to the calibrator were observed with the VLBA+EVN in snapshot mode at λ6 cm. These sources are a mixture of flat and steep-spectrum sources and include: weak flat-spectrum nuclei of large radio galaxies, low power AGN in nearby galaxies and radio quiet quasars. With these short observations, the sensitivity is limited and most appear as either core-jets or simple point sources on the milliarcsec scale. Nonetheless, it is encouraging that with only 10 minutes observation per source, at least 35% of all sources with S₂₀>10 mJy can be detected and imaged with global 6 cm VLBI.     

Compact Symmetric Objects in a complete flux density limited sample

This paper discusses the content of Compact Symmetric Objects in flux density limited VLBI surveys. We present new multi-wavelength VLBA observations confirming the CSO classification of some objects and two epoch 4 cm global VLBI observations from which we measure the hotspot expansion velocity in a CSO and confirm the expansion velocities previously measured at other wavelengths for 3 other CSOs.     

致密陡谱源3C43、3C48和3C454的VLBI研究

利用美国甚长基线阵对3个致密陡谱源3C43、3C48和3C454进行中心频率1.6GHz的观测,获得总流量图和各个子源的结构等信息.对比已有的数据,分析源3C43和3C454的流量变化和各个子源的位置移动,发现3C43的总流量、各子源流量、各子源的相对位置在14年内比较稳定;3C454的总流量和各子源流量也比较稳定,但两个子源相对核心的偏离速度分别是光速的21.6和17.7倍,存在明显的视超光速现象.同时通过对L波段4个频率的总流量结果进行谱指数拟合,获得源3C43和3C454的谱指数分别是0.63和0.86,符合致密陡谱源谱指数α≥0.5的定义,也与已有的结果吻合较好.     

活动星系致密核的研究

本文对几个大样本ＶＬＢＩ观测的致密核（ｃｏｒｅ） 进行了统计研究,包括核的谱指数, 核的角大小随ＶＬＢＩ观测频率的变化,核角大小与致密喷流角大小的关系以及核角大小随红移的变化,并在非均匀喷流模型下估算了喷流中磁场和相对论性电子密度的分布。     

A new quadruple gravitational lens system: CLASS B0128+437

High-resolution MERLIN observations of a newly discovered four-image gravitational lens system, B0128+437, are presented. The system was found after a careful re-analysis of the entire CLASS data set. The MERLIN observations resolve four components in a characteristic quadruple-image configuration; the maximum image separation is 542 mas and the total flux density is 48 mJy at 5 GHz. A best-fitting lens model with a singular isothermal ellipsoid results in large errors in the image positions. A significantly improved fit is obtained after the addition of a shear component, suggesting that the lensing system is more complex and may consist of multiple deflectors. The integrated radio spectrum of the background source indicates that it is a gigahertz peaked spectrum source. It may therefore be possible to resolve structure within the radio images with deep VLBI observations and thus to constrain the lensing mass distribution better.     

几个河外射电源第二历元的327MHz VLBI观测

１９９１年３月，我们利用上海２５ｍ射电望远镜和欧洲ＶＬＢＩ网联合对几个河外射电源进行了第二历元的３２７ＭＨｚＶＬＢＩ观测．数据的相关处理先后在上海天文台三台站ＭＫ２相关处理机和美国的Ｃａｌｔｅｃｈ／ＪＰＬ相关处理机进行，以便于比较相关结果。本文给出３Ｃ８４、３Ｃ３４５和３Ｃ３８０的混合图。与第一历元的观测比较，３Ｃ３４５和３Ｃ３８０的流量密度没有明显的变化，但３Ｃ３４５的结构变化明显。３Ｃ８４和３Ｃ３４５有喷流的迹象．３Ｃ４５４．３的总流量在不到两年的时间内增加了２５％，如果这个变化是内禀的话，那么可能意味着一次新的流量爆发。     

视超光速源0106 013的观测研究

我们在利用上海和ＳＨＥＶＥ组成的ＶＬＢＩ网做南天区５ＧＨｚＶＬＢＩ普查的过程中，对致密射电源０１０６＋０１３的视超光速运动作了进一步的研究．结果表明：（１）分量１最有可能是核；（２）原视超光速喷流分量仍以０．２ｍａｓ／ｙｒ的自行速度向外运动；（３）发现一个新分量的爆发，新分量也是视超光速的，自行速度为０．１８ｍａｓ／ｙｒ；（４）喷流在大约５ｍａｓ处有较明显的弯曲，然后趋于与ＶＬＡ喷流的方向一致．     

Free–free absorber surrounding GHz-peaked spectrum sources

We present multi-frequency observations towards GHz-Peaked Spectrum (GPS) sources with the VLBA. Recent VSOP observations of a GPS source OQ208 have shown that its convex spectrum is caused by free–free absorption (FFA) due to external ionized gas surrounding the source. The keys are: (1) sharp cut-off at low frequency in the spectrum, and (2) asymmetric peak frequency in double lobe. In order to investigate the nature of FFA in GPS sources, we observed nine objects (five QSOs, two RGs, two Sy2s) selected from GPS catalog. We tried spectral fitting using FFA model for each source. All QSOs show asymmetric FFA opacities like OQ208 does, while the opacity of RGs and Sy2s are symmetric. This supports the unification model between RGs and QSOs.