The VSOP 5-GHz AGN Survey: IV. The Angular Size/Brightness Temperature Distribution

Abstract

The VSOP (VLBI Space Observatory Programme) mission is a Japanese-led project to study radio sources with sub-milliarcsec angular resolution, using an orbiting 8-m telescope on board the satellite HALCA with a global earth-based array of telescopes. A major program is the 5 GHz VSOP Survey Program, which we supplement here with VLBA observations to produce a complete and flux-density limited sample. Using statistical methods of analysis of the observed visibility amplitude versus projected (u,v) spacing, we have determined the angular size and brightness temperature distribution of bright AGN radio cores. On average, the cores have a diameter (full-width, half-power) of 0.20 mas which contains about 20% of the total source emission, and (14+/-6)% of the cores are <0.04 mas in size. About (20+/-5)% of the radio cores have a source frame brightness temperature 10^{13}K, and (3+/-2)% have 10^{14}K. A model of the high brightness temperature tail suggests that the radio cores have a brightness temperatures approx 10^{12}K, and are beamed toward the observer with an average bulk motion of v/c=0.993 +/- 0.004.