Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) allows for high-resolution and high-sensitivity observations of relativistic jets, that can reveal periodicities of several years in their structure. We ...perform an analysis of long-term VLBI data of the quasar S5 1928+738 in terms of a geometric model of a helical structure projected onto the plane of the sky. We monitor the direction of the jet axis through its inclination and position angles. We decompose the variation of the inclination of the inner 2 mas of the jet of S5 1928+738 into a periodic term with amplitude of ~0 ...89 and a linear decreasing trend with rate of ~0 ...05 yr... We also decompose the variation of the position angle into a periodic term with amplitude of ~3 ...39 and a linear increasing trend with rate of ~0 ...24 yr... We interpret the periodic components as arising from the orbital motion of a binary black hole inspiralling at the jet base and derive corrected values of the mass ratio and separation from the accumulated 18 yr of VLBI data. Then, we identify the linear trends in the variations as due to the slow reorientation of the spin of the jet emitter black hole induced by the spin-orbit precession and we determine the precession period TSO = 4852 plus or minus 646 yr of the more massive black hole, acting as the jet emitter. Our study provides indications, for the first time from VLBI jet kinematics, for the spinning nature of the jet-emitting black hole. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
We investigate the pc-scale kinematics and kpc-scale radio morphology of the quasar PG 1302–102, which may harbour a sub-pc separation supermassive binary black hole system at its centre as inferred ...from optical variability. High-resolution radio interferometric measurements obtained with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in the Monitoring Of Jets in Active galactic nuclei with VLBA Experiments programme at 15 GHz at 20 epochs spanning 17 years were analysed to investigate the pc-scale radio structure. Archival observations with the Very Large Array at 1.4 and 5 GHz were obtained to study the kpc-scale morphology. We find that the pc-scale jet is inclined within ∼2
$_{.}^{\circ}$
2 to the line of sight and has a half-opening angle of ∼0
$_{.}^{\circ}$
2. The parameters derived from the pc-scale radio jet are qualitatively consistent with those obtained from the analysis of the optical light curve of PG 1302–102. We obtain at least 0.08 for the mass ratio of the two black holes in the system. We find some indication for a helical jet structure on kpc-scale, but the directions of the inner and the extended radio jets are significantly different, obstructing a straightforward connection of the pc- and kpc-scale jets within the binary scenario.
The quasar PG 1302-102 is believed to harbour a supermassive binary black hole (SMBBH) system. Using the available 15 GHz and 2-8 GHz, multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array data, we constrain the ...pc-scale jet properties based on the inferred mean proper motion, including a bulk Lorentz factor greater than or equal to 5.1 plus or minus 0.8, jet inclination angle less than or equal to 11 ...4 plus or minus 1 ...7, projected position angle = 31 ...8, intrinsic half opening angle less than or equal to 0 ...9 plus or minus 0 ...1 and a mean 2-8 GHz spectral index of 0.31. A general relativistic helical jet model is presented and applied to predict quasi-periodic oscillations of ~10 d, power-law power spectrum shape and a contribution of up to ~53 per cent to the observed variable core flux density. The model is used to make a case for high resolution, moderately sampled, long duration radio interferometric observations to reveal signatures due to helical knots and distinguish them from those due to SMBBH orbital activity including a phase difference ~... and an amplitude ratio (helical light-curve amplitude/SMBBH light-curve amplitude) of 0.2-3.3. The prescription can be used to identify helical kinematic signatures from quasars, providing possible candidates for further studies with polarization measurements. It can also be used to infer promising SMBBH candidates for the study of gravitational waves if there are systematic deviations from helical signatures. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
Abstract
We report results from a one-week multiwavelength campaign to monitor the BL Lacertae object (BL Lac) S5 0716+714 (on 2009 December 9-16). Nine ground-based telescopes at widely separated ...longitudes and one space-based telescope aboard the Swift satellite collected optical data. Radio data were obtained from the Effelsberg and Urumqi observatories and X-ray data from Swift. In the radio bands, the source shows rapid ∼(0.5-1.5) d intraday variability with peak amplitudes of up to ∼10 per cent. The variability at 2.8 cm leads by about 1 d the variability at 6 and 11 cm. This time lag and more rapid variations suggest an intrinsic contribution to the source's intraday variability at 2.8 cm, while at 6 and 11 cm, interstellar scintillation (ISS) seems to predominate. Large and quasi-sinusoidal variations of ∼0.8 mag were detected in the V, R and I bands. The X-ray data (0.2-10 keV) do not reveal significant variability on a 4 d time-scale, favouring reprocessed inverse Compton over synchrotron radiation in this band. The characteristic variability time-scales in radio and optical bands are similar. A quasi-periodic variation of 0.9-1.1 d in the optical data may be present, but if so it is marginal and limited to 2.2 cycles. Cross-correlations between radio and optical bands are discussed. The lack of a strong radio-optical correlation indicates different physical causes of variability (ISS at long radio wavelengths, source intrinsic origin in the optical) and is consistent with a high jet opacity and a compact synchrotron component peaking at ≃100 GHz in an ongoing very prominent flux-density outburst. For the campaign period, we construct a quasi-simultaneous spectral energy distribution, including γ-ray data from the Fermi satellite. We obtain lower limits for the relativistic Doppler boosting of δ ≥ 12-26, which for a BL Lac-type object is remarkably high.
Context. There is growing evidence of relativistic jets in radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (RL-NLS1) galaxies. Aims. We constrain the observational properties of the radio emission in the first ...RL-NLS1 galaxy ever detected in gamma-rays, PMN J0948+0022, i.e., its flux density and structure in both total intensity and polarization, its compactness, and variability. Methods. We performed three real-time e-VLBI observations of PMN J0948+0022 at 22 GHz, using a global array including telescopes in Europe, East Asia, and Australia. These are the first e-VLBI science observations ever carried out with a global array, reaching a maximum baseline length of 12 458 km. The observations were part of a large multiwavelength campaign in 2009. Results. The source is detected at all three epochs. The structure is dominated by a bright component, more compact than 55 μas, with a fainter component at a position angle θ ~ 35°. Relativistic beaming is required by the observed brightness temperature of 3.4 × 1011 K. Polarization is detected at a level of about 1%. Conclusions. The parameters derived by the VLBI observations, in addition to the broad-band properties, confirm that PMN J0948+0022 is similar to flat spectrum radio quasars. Global e-VLBI is a reliable and promising technique for future studies.
We present the results of a series of radio, optical, X-ray, and γ-ray observations of the BL Lac object S50716+714 carried out between April 2007 and January 2011. The multifrequency observations ...were obtained using several ground- and space-based facilities. The intense optical monitoring of the source reveals faster repetitive variations superimposed on a long-term variability trend on a time scale of ~350 days. Episodes of fast variability recur on time scales of ~60−70 days. The intense and simultaneous activity at optical and γ-ray frequencies favors the synchrotron self-Compton mechanism for the production of the high-energy emission. Two major low-peaking radio flares were observed during this high optical/γ-ray activity period. The radio flares are characterized by a rising and a decaying stage and agrees with the formation of a shock and its evolution. We found that the evolution of the radio flares requires a geometrical variation in addition to intrinsic variations of the source. Different estimates yield robust and self-consistent lower limits of δ ≥ 20 and equipartition magnetic field Beq ≥ 0.36 G. Causality arguments constrain the size of emission region θ ≤ 0.004 mas. We found a significant correlation between flux variations at radio frequencies with those at optical and γ-rays. Theoptical/GeV flux variations lead the radio variability by ~65 days. The longer time delays between low-peaking radio outbursts and optical flares imply that optical flares are the precursors of radio ones. An orphan X-ray flare challenges the simple, one-zone emission models, rendering them too simple. Here we also describe the spectral energy distribution modeling of the source from simultaneous data taken through different activity periods.
ABSTRACT According to hierarchical structure formation models, merging galaxies are expected to be seen in different stages of coalescence. However, there are currently no straightforward ...observational methods to either select or to confirm a large number of dual active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates. Most attempts involve obtaining a better understanding of double-peaked narrow emission line sources, in order to distinguish the objects for which the emission lines originate from narrow-line kinematics or jet-driven outflows, from those which might harbor dual AGNs. We observed four such candidate sources with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), at 1.5 GHz with a ∼10 mas angular resolution, for which the spectral profiles of AGN optical emission suggested the existence of dual AGNs. In SDSS J210449.13-000919.1 and SDSS J23044.82-093345.3 the radio structures are aligned with the optical emission features, thus the double-peaked emission lines might be the results of jet-driven outflows. In the third detected source SDSS J115523.74+150756.9, the radio structure is less extended and is oriented nearly perpendicular to the position angle derived from optical spectroscopy. The fourth source remained undetected with the VLBA, but it was imaged with the Very Large Array at arcsec resolution a few months before our observations, suggesting the existence of an extended radio structure. We did not detect two radio-emitting cores in any of the four sources, a convincing signature of duality.
We report on the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) follow-up observations using the Japanese VLBI Network array at 22 GHz for the largest X-ray flare of TeV blazar Mrk 421 that occurred in ...2010 mid-February. The total of five epochs of observations were performed at intervals of about 20 days between 2010 March 7 and May 31. No newborn component associated with the flare was seen directly in the total intensity images obtained by our multi-epoch VLBI observations. However, one jet component located at ~1 mas northwest from the core was able to be identified, and its proper motion can be measured as -1.66 + or - 0.46 mas yr super(-1), which corresponds to an apparent velocity of -3.48 + or - 0.97c. Here, this negative velocity indicates that the jet component was apparently moving toward the core. As the most plausible explanation, we discuss that the apparent negative velocity was possibly caused by the ejection of a new component, which could not be resolved with our observations. In this case, the obtained Doppler factor of the new component is around 10-20, which is consistent with the ones typically estimated by model fittings of spectral energy distribution for this source.
Context. The highest redshift quasars at z $\ga$ 6 receive considerable attention since they provide strong constraints on the growth of the earliest supermassive black holes. They also probe the ...epoch of reionisation and serve as “lighthouses” to illuminate the space between them and the observer. The source J1427+3312 ($z = 6.12$) has recently been identified as the first and so far the only known radio-loud quasar at $z > 6$. Aims. We investigated the compact radio structure of J1427+3312 on milli-arcsecond (mas) angular scales, to compare it with that of the second most distant radio-loud quasar J0836+0054 ($z = 5.77$) and with lower-redshift radio quasars in general. Methods. We observed J1427+3312 in phase-reference mode with ten antennas of the European Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Network (EVN) at 1.6 GHz on 11 March 2007 and at 5 GHz on 3 March 2007. Results. The source was clearly detected at both frequencies. At 1.6 GHz, it shows a prominent double structure. The two components are separated by 28.3 mas, corresponding to a projected linear distance of ~160 pc. Both components with sub-mJy flux densities appear resolved. In the position of the brightest component at 1.6 GHz, we detected mas-scale radio emission at 5 GHz as well. The radio spectrum of this feature is steep. The double structure and the separation of the components of J1427+3312 are similar to those of the young ($\la$104 yr) compact symmetric objects (CSOs).
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