Context.
Controversial studies on the jet collimation profile of BL Lacertae (BL Lac), the eponymous blazar of the BL Lac objects class, complicate the scenario in this already puzzling class of ...objects. Understanding the jet geometry in connection with the jet kinematics and the physical conditions in the surrounding medium is fundamental for better constraining the formation, acceleration, and collimation mechanisms in extragalactic jets.
Aims.
With the aim of investigating the jet geometry in the innermost regions of the BL Lac jet, and resolving the controversy, we explore the radio jet in this source using high-resolution millimeter-wave VLBI data.
Methods.
We collect 86 GHz GMVA and 43 GHz VLBA data to obtain stacked images that we use to infer the jet collimation profile by means of two comparable methods. We analyze the kinematics at 86 GHz, and we discuss it in the context of the jet expansion. Finally, we consider a possible implication of the Bondi sphere in shaping the jet of BL Lac.
Results.
The jet in BL Lac expands with an overall conical geometry. A higher expanding rate region is observed between ∼5 and 10 pc (de-projected) from the black hole. Such a region is associated with the decrease in brightness usually observed in high-frequency VLBI images of BL Lac. The jet retrieves the original jet expansion around 17 pc, where the presence of a recollimation shock is supported by both the jet profile and the 15 GHz kinematics (MOJAVE survey). The change in the jet expansion profile occurring at ∼5 pc could be associated with a change in the external pressure at the location of the Bondi radius (∼3.3 × 10
5
R
S
).
The quasar 3C 454.3 is a blazar known for its rapid and violent outbursts seen across the electromagnetic spectrum. Using γ-ray, X-ray, multiband optical, and very-long-baseline interferometric data ...we investigate the nature of two such events that occurred in 2013 and 2014 accompanied by strong variations in optical polarization, including a ∼230° electric vector position angle (EVPA) rotation. Our results suggest that a single disturbance was responsible for both flaring events. We interpret the disturbance as a shock propagating down the jet. Under this interpretation the 2013 flare originated most likely due to changes in the viewing angle caused by perhaps a bent or helical trajectory of the shock upstream of the radio core. The 2014 flare and optical polarization behavior are the result of the shock exiting the 43 GHz radio core, suggesting that shock crossings are one of the possible mechanisms for EVPA rotations.
The spatial scales of relativistic radio jets, probed by relativistic magneto-hydrodynamic (RMHD) jet launching simulations and by most very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations differ by ...an order of magnitude. Bridging the gap between these RMHD simulations and VLBI observations requires selecting nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN), the parsec-scale region of which can be resolved. The radio source 3C 84 is a nearby bright AGN fulfilling the necessary requirements: it is launching a powerful, relativistic jet powered by a central supermassive black hole, while also being very bright. Using 22 GHz globe-spanning VLBI measurements of 3C 84 we studied its sub-parsec region in both total intensity and linear polarisation to explore the properties of this jet, with a linear resolution of ∼0.1 parsec. We tested different simulation set-ups by altering the bulk Lorentz factor Γ of the jet, as well as the magnetic field configuration (toroidal, poloidal, helical). We confirm the persistence of a limb brightened structure, which reaches deep into the sub-parsec region. The corresponding electric vector position angles (EVPAs) follow the bulk jet flow inside but tend to be orthogonal to it near the edges. Our state-of-the-art RMHD simulations show that this geometry is consistent with a spine-sheath model, associated with a mildly relativistic flow and a toroidal magnetic field configuration.
Aims.
The
γ
-ray production mechanism and its localization in blazars are still a matter of debate. The main goal of this paper is to constrain the location of the high-energy emission in the blazar ...TXS 2013+370 and to study the physical and geometrical properties of the inner jet region on sub-pc scales.
Methods.
TXS 2013+370 was monitored during 2002–2013 with VLBI at 15, 22, 43, and 86 GHz, which allowed us to image the jet base with an angular resolution of ≥0.4 pc. By employing CLEAN imaging and Gaussian model-fitting, we performed a thorough kinematic analysis at multiple frequencies, which provided estimates of the jet speed, orientation, and component ejection times. Additionally, we studied the jet expansion profile and used the information on the jet geometry to estimate the location of the jet apex. VLBI data were combined with single-dish measurements to search for correlated activity between the radio, mm, and
γ
-ray emission. For this purpose, we employed a cross-correlation analysis, supported by several significance tests.
Results.
The high-resolution VLBI imaging revealed the existence of a spatially bent jet, described by co-existing moving emission features and stationary features. New jet features, labeled as A1, N, and N1, are observed to emerge from the core, accompanied by flaring activity in radio/mm- bands and
γ
-rays. The analysis of the transverse jet width profile constrains the location of the mm core to lie ≤2 pc downstream of the jet apex, and also reveals the existence of a transition from parabolic to conical jet expansion at a distance of ∼54 pc from the core, corresponding to ∼1.5 × 10
6
Schwarzschild radii. The cross-correlation analysis of the broad-band variability reveals a strong correlation between the radio-mm and
γ
-ray data, with the 1 mm emission lagging ∼49 days behind the
γ
-rays. Based on this, we infer that the high energy emission is produced at a distance of the order of ∼1 pc from the jet apex, suggesting that the seed photon fields for the external Compton mechanism originate either in the dusty torus or in the broad-line region.
Context.
In February 2017 the blazar OJ 287, one of the best super-massive binary-black-hole-system candidates, was detected for the first time at very high energies (VHEs;
E
> 100 GeV) with the ...ground-based
γ
-ray observatory VERITAS.
Aims.
Very high energy
γ
rays are thought to be produced in the near vicinity of the central engine in active galactic nuclei. For this reason, and with the main goal of providing useful information for the characterization of the physical mechanisms connected with the observed teraelectronvolt flaring event, we investigate the parsec-scale source properties by means of high-resolution very long baseline interferometry observations.
Methods.
We use 86 GHz Global Millimeter-VLBI Array (GMVA) observations from 2015 to 2017 and combine them with additional multiwavelength radio observations at different frequencies from other monitoring programs. We investigate the source structure by modeling the brightness distribution with two-dimensional Gaussian components in the visibility plane.
Results.
In the GMVA epoch following the source VHE activity, we find a new jet feature (labeled K) at ∼0.2 mas from the core region and located in between two quasi-stationary components (labeled S1 and S2). Multiple periods of enhanced activity are detected at different radio frequencies before and during the VHE flaring state.
Conclusions.
Based on the findings of this work, we identify as a possible trigger for the VHE flaring emission during the early months of 2017 the passage of a new jet feature through a recollimation shock (represented by the model-fit component S1) in a region of the jet located at a de-projected distance of ∼10 pc from the radio core.
Context. Blazar AO 0235+164 , located at a redshift of z = 0.94, has undergone several sharp multi-spectral-range flaring episodes over recent decades. In particular, the episodes that peaked in 2008 ...and 2015, which were subject to extensive multi-wavelength coverage, exhibited an interesting behavior. Aims. We study the actual origin of these two observed flares by constraining the properties of the observed photo-polarimetric variability as well as of the broadband spectral energy distribution and the observed time-evolution behavior of the source. We use ultra-high-resolution total-flux and polarimetric very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging. Methods. The analysis of VLBI images allowed us to constrain kinematic and geometrical parameters of the 7 mm jet. We used the discrete correlation function to compute the statistical correlation and the delays between emission at different spectral ranges. The multi-epoch modeling of the spectral energy distributions allowed us to propose specific models of the emission; in particular, with the aim to model the unusual spectral features observed in this source in the X-ray region of the spectrum during strong multi spectral-range flares. Results. We find that these X-ray spectral features can be explained by an emission component originating in a separate particle distribution than the one responsible for the two standard blazar bumps. This is in agreement with the results of our correlation analysis, where we did not find a strong correlation between the X-ray and the remaining spectral ranges. We find that both external Compton-dominated and synchrotron self-Compton-dominated models are able to explain the observed spectral energy distributions. However, the synchrotron self-Compton models are strongly favored by the delays and geometrical parameters inferred from the observations.
The WISSH quasars project Bischetti, M.; Feruglio, C.; Piconcelli, E. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
01/2021, Volume:
645
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Context.
Sources at the brightest end of the quasi-stellar object (QSO) luminosity function, during the peak epoch in the history of star formation and black hole accretion (
z
∼ 2−4, often referred ...to as “Cosmic noon”) are privileged sites to study the cycle of feeding & feedback processes in massive galaxies.
Aims.
We aim to perform the first systematic study of cold gas properties in the most luminous QSOs, by characterising their host-galaxies and environment. These targets exhibit indeed widespread evidence of outflows at nuclear and galactic scales.
Methods.
We analyse ALMA, NOEMA and JVLA observations of the far-infrared continuum, CO and CII emission lines in eight QSOs (bolometric luminosity
L
Bol
≳ 3 × 10
47
erg s
−1
) from the WISE-SDSS selected hyper-luminous (WISSH) QSOs sample at
z
∼ 2.4−4.7.
Results.
We report a 100% emission line detection rate and a 80% detection rate in continuum emission, and we find CO emission to be consistent with the steepest CO ladders observed so far. Sub-millimetre data reveal presence of (one or more) bright companion galaxies around ∼80% of WISSH QSOs, at projected distances of ∼6−130 kpc. We observe a variety of sizes for the molecular gas reservoirs (∼1.7−10 kpc), mostly associated with rotating disks with disturbed kinematics. WISSH QSOs typically show lower CO luminosity and higher star formation efficiency than infrared matched,
z
∼ 0−3 main-sequence galaxies, implying that, given the observed SFR ∼170−1100
M
⊙
yr
−1
, molecular gas is converted into stars in ≲50 Myr. Most targets show extreme dynamical to black-hole mass ratios
M
dyn
/
M
BH
∼ 3−10, two orders of magnitude smaller than local relations. The molecular gas fraction in the host-galaxies of WISSH is lower by a factor of ∼10−100 than in star forming galaxies with similar
M
*
.
Conclusions.
Our analysis reveals that hyper-luminous QSOs at Cosmic noon undergo an intense growth phase of both the central super-massive black hole and of the host-galaxy. These systems pinpoint the high-density sites where giant galaxies assemble, where we show that mergers play a major role in the build-up of the final host-galaxy mass. We suggest that the observed low molecular gas fraction and short depletion timescale are due to AGN feedback, whose presence is indicated by fast AGN-driven ionised outflows in all our targets.
Context. PKS 1510–089 is a flat spectrum radio quasar strongly variable in the optical and GeV range. To date, very high-energy (VHE, > 100 GeV) emission has been observed from this source either ...during long high states of optical and GeV activity or during short flares. Aims. We search for low-state VHE gamma-ray emission from PKS 1510–089. We characterize and model the source in a broadband context, which would provide a baseline over which high states and flares could be better understood. Methods. PKS 1510–089 has been monitored by the MAGIC telescopes since 2012. We use daily binned Fermi-LAT flux measurements of PKS 1510–089 to characterize the GeV emission and select the observation periods of MAGIC during low state of activity. For the selected times we compute the average radio, IR, optical, UV, X-ray, and gamma-ray emission to construct a low-state spectral energy distribution of the source. The broadband emission is modeled within an external Compton scenario with a stationary emission region through which plasma and magnetic fields are flowing. We also perform the emission-model-independent calculations of the maximum absorption in the broad line region (BLR) using two different models. Results. The MAGIC telescopes collected 75 hr of data during times when the Fermi-LAT flux measured above 1 GeV was below 3 × 10−8 cm−2 s−1, which is the threshold adopted for the definition of a low gamma-ray activity state. The data show a strongly significant (9.5σ) VHE gamma-ray emission at the level of (4.27 ± 0.61stat) × 10−12 cm−2 s−1 above 150 GeV, a factor of 80 lower than the highest flare observed so far from this object. Despite the lower flux, the spectral shape is consistent with earlier detections in the VHE band. The broadband emission is compatible with the external Compton scenario assuming a large emission region located beyond the BLR. For the first time the gamma-ray data allow us to place a limit on the location of the emission region during a low gamma-ray state of a FSRQ. For the used model of the BLR, the 95% confidence level on the location of the emission region allows us to place it at a distance > 74% of the outer radius of the BLR.
The flat spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ) PKS 1510−089 is known for its complex multiwavelength behaviour and it is one of only a few FSRQs detected in very-high-energy (VHE,
E
> 100 GeV)
γ
rays. The ...VHE
γ
-ray observations with H.E.S.S. and MAGIC in late May and early June 2016 resulted in the detection of an unprecedented flare, which revealed, for the first time, VHE
γ
-ray intranight variability for this source. While a common variability timescale of 1.5 h has been found, there is a significant deviation near the end of the flare, with a timescale of ∼20 min marking the cessation of the event. The peak flux is nearly two orders of magnitude above the low-level emission. For the first time, a curvature was detected in the VHE
γ
-ray spectrum of PKS 1510–089, which can be fully explained by the absorption on the part of the extragalactic background light. Optical
R
-band observations with ATOM revealed a counterpart of the
γ
-ray flare, even though the detailed flux evolution differs from the VHE
γ
-ray light curve. Interestingly, a steep flux decrease was observed at the same time as the cessation of the VHE
γ
-ray flare. In the high-energy (HE,
E
> 100 MeV)
γ
-ray band, only a moderate flux increase was observed with
Fermi
-LAT, while the HE
γ
-ray spectrum significantly hardens up to a photon index of 1.6. A search for broad-line region (BLR) absorption features in the
γ
-ray spectrum indicates that the emission region is located outside of the BLR. Radio very-long-baseline interferometry observations reveal a fast-moving knot interacting with a standing jet feature around the time of the flare. As the standing feature is located ∼50 pc from the black hole, the emission region of the flare may have been located at a significant distance from the black hole. If this is indeed a true correlation, the VHE
γ
rays must have been produced far down in the jet, where turbulent plasma crosses a standing shock.
Context.
Realistic synthetic observations of theoretical source models are essential for our understanding of real observational data. In using synthetic data, one can verify the extent to which ...source parameters can be recovered and evaluate how various data corruption effects can be calibrated. These studies are the most important when proposing observations of new sources, in the characterization of the capabilities of new or upgraded instruments, and when verifying model-based theoretical predictions in a direct comparison with observational data.
Aims.
We present the SYnthetic Measurement creator for long Baseline Arrays (
SYMBA
), a novel synthetic data generation pipeline for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations.
SYMBA
takes into account several realistic atmospheric, instrumental, and calibration effects.
Methods.
We used
SYMBA
to create synthetic observations for the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a millimetre VLBI array, which has recently captured the first image of a black hole shadow. After testing
SYMBA
with simple source and corruption models, we study the importance of including all corruption and calibration effects, compared to the addition of thermal noise only. Using synthetic data based on two example general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) model images of M 87, we performed case studies to assess the image quality that can be obtained with the current and future EHT array for different weather conditions.
Results.
Our synthetic observations show that the effects of atmospheric and instrumental corruptions on the measured visibilities are significant. Despite these effects, we demonstrate how the overall structure of our GRMHD source models can be recovered robustly with the EHT2017 array after performing calibration steps, which include fringe fitting, a priori amplitude and network calibration, and self-calibration. With the planned addition of new stations to the EHT array in the coming years, images could be reconstructed with higher angular resolution and dynamic range. In our case study, these improvements allowed for a distinction between a thermal and a non-thermal GRMHD model based on salient features in reconstructed images.
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