OQ208, a non-ideal VLBI calibrator of flux density

OQ208 is used ore and more frequently as a VLBI calibrator of flux density. A VLBI image of OQ208 at 5 GHz is firstly provided in this paper. Its structure consists of a compact core and a component. The angular distance between the core and the component is about 7 milli-arcsecond; the position angle is −125 degrees. In principle, OQ208 is not an ideal VLBI calibrator of flux density. This paper provides the structural information for correcting the structure effect when OQ208 is to be used as a calibrator.     

VLBI Polarisation Properties of a Complete Sample of Radio-Loud BL Lacs

The paper summarises the results to date of an ongoing multi-epoch, multi-frequency polarisation VLBI study of a complete sample of northern 1-Jy BL Lac objects. We discuss the physical origin of the characteristic polarisation properties of the core and jet structures as revealed by both general trends for the sample as a whole and more detailed observations of individual objects. It has been known for a decade that the distribution of the core polarisation position angles at moderate centimeter wavelengths is bimodal, with the corepolarisation angle being either aligned with or perpendicular to the direction of the inner VLBI jet. A preliminary analysis of the VLBI core spectral indices from 15–5 GHz suggests that this is the result of optical depth effects and that the two peaks in the distribution correspond to cores dominated by optically thin and thick regions of emission. This interpretation is supported by the results of quasi-simultaneous VLBI and optical polarisation observations, and also by VSOP polarisation observations of OJ287. Evidence for the presence of helical or toroidal magnetic fields associated with the VLBIjets is discussed. The collected results are discussed in the context of their possible implications for circular-polarisation studies of AGN. We are now beginning a search for parsec-scale circular polarisation in the complete sample BL Lac objects and hope to have our first results by June 2003.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

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．     

Results of VLBI monitoring of 3C273 at 22 GHz and 43 GHz

The results of VLBI observations of the quasar 3C273, obtained during a multi-band campaign, are presented. The changes in separation from the core of the components along the first 2 mas of the jet were measured. The jet starts wiggling well inside the first parsec from the core. We derived the period of the oscillating jet path around the principal jet-axis in the range 2–8 mas from the core. The components' angular sizes, their peak fluxes, and turnover frequencies were also derived from the VLBI observations. We have derived lower limits to the Doppler factor by comparing the observed X-ray fluxes with those predicted by the synchrotron self-Compton model. Independent estimates were obtained through the assumption of energy equipartition between particles and magnetic field.     

高灵敏度VLBI和FAST计划

概述了VLBI天体物理的近期发展，主要成就及其受到的灵敏度制约，简要地回顾的目前还处在不太成熟阶段的低频VLBI的探索及近十余牛对提高VLBI灵敏度的硬件和软件两方面的尝试，并在此基础上，着重讲座了我国坟划中的FAST射电望远镜对提高VLBI灵敏度的可能贡献，展望了因为FAST的参与而获得的中低频高灵敏度VLBI的天体物理课及其意义。     

在6厘米波长对类星体3C454.3的九站VLBI观测

3C454.3是近几年引起广泛注意的一个强活动射电类星体,它有毫角秒尺度的核——喷流结构,其核在1981年的一次流量密度大爆发之后,显示出“超光速增亮”现象,在6厘米波长,用包括欧洲、美国及南非的9个射电望远镜,于1983年10月对3C454.3进行了甚长基线干涉网观测。观测结果除了证实其核——喷流结构,显示了从毫角秒到角秒尺度上该类星体结构的系统弯曲外,还清楚地揭示了“超光速增亮”所预期的,在1981年8月到1983年1月期间,核的超光速膨胀现象。     

VLBI标准接口的发展

VLBI标准接口是近年来在VLBI技术中诞生的一个新概念,它旨在解决多年来各VLBI数据传输系统不兼容的问题．该文阐述了VLBI数据传输系统的发展历史,包括传统的记录／回放系统和新兴的网络数据传输两方面的内容;说明了VLBI标准接口的作用和意义;并分别介绍了VLBI标准接口规范3方面的内容:VLBI标准接口件规范(VSI-H)、VLBI标准接口软件规范(VSI-S)和VLBI标准接口网络规范(VSI-E)．     

Evidence for parsec-scale absorption from VSOP observations of the BL Lacertae object 0735+178

VLBI total intensity and linear polarization images of the BL Lacertae object 0735+178 have been obtained at     using the     VLA as a ground array together with the HALCA orbiting antenna, and at     about a month later using the VLBA. The most surprising result to come from a comparison of these two images, which have nearly equivalent resolution, is that the path of the jet appears to be appreciably different at the two wavelengths. We have interpreted this as evidence for free–free absorption to the east of the core, near a bend of about 90° in the 2-cm image where the emission is very weak in the 6-cm image. Overall, the polarization structures seen in corresponding regions at the two wavelengths are in good agreement. We find tentative evidence for enhanced rotation measures near two sharp bends in the VLBI jet.     

利用VLBI数据确定"探测一号"卫星的轨道

双星计划的“探测一号”是中国首颗真正严格意义上的科学实验卫星,其运行轨道为中国迄今所发射的卫星中距地球最远,远地点地心距达7．8万公里．采用射电天文的VLBI技术可以对“探测一号”以及更远的深空目标,如探月飞行器实现跟踪．为了验证VLBI技术在我国探月计划中的作用,上海天文台组织了国内目前仅有的上海、乌鲁木齐和昆明3个台站对“探测一号”进行试跟踪,利用对“探测一号”约两天的VLBI观测数据,确定“探测一号”卫星的轨道,对VLBI的定轨能力做初步的探讨．按照测控部门提供的初轨 (其精度仅保证跟踪)推算的轨道与VLBI时延的拟合误差平均约2 km,时延率的拟合误差平均约15 cm／s．而利用VLBI数据定轨后的拟合程度相对于初轨有了很大的改善,结果表明,单独利用VLBI时延定轨,时延的拟合精度约5．5 m,作为外部检核的VLBI时延率的拟合精度在2 cm／s左右．单独利用VLBI时延率定轨,时延率的拟合精度约为1．3 cm／s,作为外部检核的VLBI时延的拟合精度约为29 m．而若将时延和时延率数据联合定轨,采用其内符精度加权,VLBI时延和时延率的残差分别为5．5 m和 2 cm／s．为了合理地评估VLBI定轨的真实精度,利用模拟数据进行误差协方差分析,结果表明VLBI定轨精度受动力学模型误差的影响较大,由于"探测一号”卫星的动力学模型难以精确确定,所以利用两天弧段的VLBI数据确定“探测一号”卫星轨道的位置误差为km量级,而速度误差可达cm／s量级．模拟计算还表明, VLBI和USB数据联合定轨可以大大提高定轨精度．     

1-Gbps VLBI, The First Detection of Fringes

We report on the detection of VLBI fringes from quasars by a new VLBI system operating at 1 Gbps (1024 Mbits-per-second). Newly developed 1024 Msps (mega sample-per-second) AD samplers and 1024 Mbps recorders were used for the observations. A correlator with external buffers was used for the 1024 Mbps correlation processing of the tapes data.Our new VLBI system enabled 1024 Mbps VLBI, and this allowed the sampling of a 512 MHz bandwidth from a radio telescope receiver. This is the highest sampling speed ever used for VLBI, and the widest bandwidth used for VLBI observation. Initial sensitivity as evaluated by SNR comparison with earlier VLBI systems produced results to matched the expanded bandwidth. In our first observations, simultaneous optical fibre linked real-time VLBI observations were made to check the validity of data and precisely detemine the clock offsets among the radio telescopes.     

Combined-array images of quasar 3C 286 at 18 cm wavelength

MERLIN, VLBI and MERLIN+VLBI images of QSO 3C286 at wave-length 18cm are presented. Low-brightness features in the MERLIN image are just resolved in the MERLIN+VLBI image. But some vestiges still remain. The extension of the central part of the MERLIN+VLBI image is longer than that of the VLBI image. Even though the dynamic range of the MERLIN+VLBI image is better than 1000:1, the counter jet is not found. Several models are used to interpret the observed structures.     

VLBI MK5B通道检测软件的设计与实现

针对国际上VLBI专用硬盘记录终端升级到MK5B后,数据记录格式发生了显著变化,设计了能够适应MK5B数据格式的通道检测软件。MK5B通道检测软件主要用于检查硬盘记录器记录数据的可读性以及确认接收机和VLBI终端等观测设备的参数设定。在软件设计过程中,考虑到软件的可维护性及可移植性,采用面向对象的设计方法。通过对两段观测数据的处理表明,MK5B通道检测软件工作稳定,处理结果正确,能够满足工作需要。     

星载氢钟VLBI观测实验及分析

中国计划于2025年左右建立月球轨道VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometer)测站,将会搭载被动型星载氢钟作为时间频率标准.由于是首次在VLBI观测中使用星载氢钟,需要研究和验证其可行性.因此,利用星载氢钟作为频率基准开展了VLBI观测.实验时,分别使用主动型地面氢钟和被动型星载氢钟作为频率基准,利用上海天文台佘山25 m射电望远镜和其他测站对我国火星探测器天问一号进行了交替VLBI观测.数据处理分析结果表明,基于地面氢钟与星载氢钟的VLBI残余群时延标准差均在0.5 ns以内,表明星载氢钟可满足深空探测VLBI测定轨的精度要求,验证了其作为月球VLBI测站频率基准的可行性.     

The Experiment and Analysis on VLBI Observations of Space Passive Hydrogen Maser

China plans to establish a lunar orbital VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometer) station around 2025, which will carry a space passive hydrogen maser as the time and frequency reference. Since it is the first time to use a space passive hydrogen maser for VLBI observation, its feasibility needs to be studied and verified. Therefore, we carried out VLBI observations using the space passive hydrogen maser as the frequency reference. In the experiment, the active hydrogen atomic clock and space passive hydrogen maser were used as the frequency standard, and the alternate VLBI observations of China’s Mars probe TW1 (Tianwen 1) were carried out using the 25 m radio telescope at Sheshan, Shanghai, and other VLBI stations. The results of data processing and analysis show that the standard deviation of VLBI residual group delay based on both active hydrogen atomic clock and space passive hydrogen maser are within 0.5 ns, which indicates that the space passive hydrogen maser can meet the accuracy requirements of VLBI measurement for deep space exploration, and verify its feasibility as the frequency standard of lunar orbital VLBI stations.