arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A. Witzel.
The blazar, S5 2007+77 shows intraday variability in cm wavelengths. Seven epochs of VSOP observations were carried out in 1998 and 1999 at 5 GHz to look for the origin of the variability with the highest achievable angular resolution at cm wavelengths. Here the results of four epochs are analysed, which revealed ~10% variations in polarized flux density.
NRAO 150 -a compact and bright radio to mm source showing core/jet structure- has been recently identified as a quasar at redshift z=1.52 through a near-IR spectral observation. To study the jet kinematics on the smallest accessible scales and to compute the first estimates of its basic physical properties, we have analysed the ultra-high-resolution images from a new monitoring program at 86 GHz and 43 GHz with the GMVA and the VLBA, respectively. An additional archival and calibration VLBA data set, covering from 1997 to 2007, has been used. Our data shows an extreme projected counter-clock-wise jet position angle swing at an angular rate of up to ~11 deg./yr within the inner ~31 pc of the jet, which is associated with a non-ballistic superluminal motion of the jet within this region. The results suggest that the magnetic field could play an important role in the dynamics of the jet in NRAO 150, which is supported by the large values of the magnetic field strength obtained from our first estimates. The extreme characteristics of the jet swing make NRAO 150 a prime source to study the jet wobbling phenomenon.
During the period 1966.5 - 2006.2 the 15GHz and 8GHz lightcurves of 3C454.3 (z=0.859) show a qsasi-periodicity of ~12.8 yr (~6.9 yr in the rest frame of the source) with a double-bump structure. This periodic behaviour is interpreted in terms of a rotating double-jet model in which the two jets are created from the black holes in a binary system and rotate with the period of the orbital motion. The periodic variations in the radio fluxes of 3C454.3 are suggested to be mainly due to the lighthouse effects (or the variation in Doppler boosting) of the precessing jets which are caused by the orbital motion. In addition, variations in the mass-flow rates accreting onto the black holes may be also involved.
We present results from a large global VLBI(Very Long Baseline Interferometry) survey of compact radio sources at 86 GHz which started in October 2001. The main goal of the survey is to increase the total number of objects accessible for future 3mm-VLBI imaging by factors of 3-5. The survey data reach the baseline sensitivity of 0.1 Jy, and image sensitivity of better than 10 mJy/beam. To date, a total of 127 compact radio sources have been observed. The observations have yielded images for 109 sources, and only 6 sources have not been detected. Flux densities and sizes of core and jet components of all detected sources have been measured using Gaussian model fitting. From these measurements, brightness temperatures have been estimated, taking into account resolution limits of the data. Here, we compare the brightness temperatures of the cores and secondary jet components with similar estimates obtained from surveys at longer wavelengths (e.g. 15 GHz). This approach can be used to study questions related to mechanisms of initial jet acceleration (accelerating or decelerating sub-pc jets?) and jet composition (electron-positron or electron-proton plasma?).
Short time-scale radio variations of compact extragalactic radio quasars and blazars known as IntraDay Variability (IDV) can be explained in at least some sources as a propagation effect; the variations are interpreted as scintillation of radio waves in the turbulent interstellar medium of the Milky Way. One of the most convincing observational arguments in favor of a propagation-induced variability scenario is the observed annual modulation in the characteristic time scale of the variation due to the Earth's orbital motion. So far there are only two sources known with a well-constrained seasonal cycle. Annual modulation has been proposed for a few other less well-documented objects. However, for some other IDV sources source-intrinsic structural variations which cause drastic changes in the variability time scale were also suggested. J1128+592 is a recently discovered, highly variable IDV source. Previous, densely time-sampled flux-density measurements with the Effelsberg 100-m radio telescope (Germany) and the Urumqi 25-m radio telescope (China), strongly indicate an annual modulation of the time scale. The most recent 4 observations in 2006/7, however, do not fit well to the annual modulation model proposed before. In this paper, we investigate a possible explanation of this discrepancy.
Short time-scale radio variations of compact extragalactic radio sources, known as IntraDay Variability, can be explained in at least some sources by a source-extrinsic effect, in which the variations are interpreted as scintillation of radio waves caused by the turbulent ISM of the Milky Way. One of the most convincing observational arguments in favour of propagation-induced variability is the so called annual modulation of the characteristic variability time-scale, which is due to the orbital motion of the Earth. Data for the recently discovered and highly variable IDV source J1128+5925 are presented. We study the frequency and time dependence of the IDV in this compact quasar. We measure the characteristic variability time-scale of the IDV throughout the year, and analyze whether the observed changes in the variability time-scale are consistent with annual modulation. We monitored the flux density variability of J1128+5925 with dense time sampling between 2.7 and 10.45GHz with the 100m Effelsberg radio telescope of the MPIfR and with the 25m Urumqi radio telescope. From ten observing sessions, we determine the variability characteristics and time-scales. The observed pronounced changes of the variability time-scale of J1128+5925 are modelled with an anisotropic annual modulation model. The observed frequency dependence of the variation is in good agreement with the prediction from interstellar scintillation. Adopting a simple model for the annual modulation model and using also the frequency dependence of the IDV, we derive a lower limit to the distance of the scattering screen and an upper limit to the scintillating source size. The latter is found to be consistent with the measured core size from VLBI.
In radio bands, the study of compact radio sources can be affected by propagation effects through the Interstellar Medium. These are usually attributed to the presence of turbulent intervening plasma along the line of sight. Here, two of such effects are presented. The line of sight of B 2005+403 passes through the heavily scattered region of Cygnus, which causes substantial angular broadening of the source images obtained at frequencies between 0.6 GHz and 8 GHz. At higher frequencies, however the intrinsic source structure shines through. Therefore, multi-frequency VLBI observations allow to study the characteristics of the intervening material, the source morphology and the "coupling" of them in forming the observed image.
The BL Lac object S5 0716+71 was target of a coordinated and global multi-frequency campaign to search for rapid and correlated variability and signatures of the inverse-Compton catastrophe. Here we present first results obtained from a combined analysis of the cm- to sub-mm observations over a period of seven days aiming at a detailed study of the intra- to inter-day variability characteristics and to obtain constraints on the variability brightness temperatures and Doppler factors comparing the radio data with the high energy emission recorded by INTEGRAL. A more detailed description of the whole cm- to sub-mm observations and our analysis/results will be presented in a forthcoming paper. Our analysis reveals the source to be in a particular short-term variability phase when compared to the past with a correlated >~4 day time scale amplitude increase of up to 35%, which is systematically more pronounced towards higher frequencies. The obtained frequency dependent variability amplitudes and time lags contradict expectations from interstellar scintillation and strongly suggest a source intrinsic origin of this inter-day variability. A 7-day spectral evolution study indicate time-variable synchrotron self-absorption and expansion of the emission region, consistent with standard models. Assuming relativistic boosting, our different estimates of the Doppler factor yield robust lower limits of D_var,IC > 5-22 using the inverse-Compton limit and D_var,eq > 8-33 using the equipartition argument. Although high, these values are in good agreement with Doppler factors obtained from recent VLBI studies and from the inverse-Compton Doppler factors D_IC > 14-16 derived with the X-ray emission seen by INTEGRAL at 3-200 keV.
Compact galactic and extragalactic radio sources can be imaged with an unsurpassed angular resolution of a few ten micro-arcseconds, adopting the observing technique of global millimeter VLBI. Here we present the Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA) and discuss its present performance. For individual and partially archetypical radio sources with prominent VLBI jets (e.g. 3C120, Cygnus A, M87, 3C454.3, NRAO150),we show and discuss new results obtained with the GMVA. The variety of observed effects range from jet propagation and bending, partial fore-ground absorption in the nucleus, and jet component ejection after major flares to new and very small (15-20 Schwarzschild radii) upper limits to the jet base of M87. We also discuss the future development of mm-VLBI at 3mm and towards shorter wavelengths, and make suggestions for possible improvements.
We present the results of a multi-frequency analysis of the structural variability in the parsec-scale jet of the blazar S5 1803+784. More than 90 epochs of observations at 6 frequencies from 1.6 GHz up to 22 GHz have been combined and analyzed. We discuss an alternative jet model for the source. In contrast to previously discussed motion scenarios for S5 1803+784, we find that the jet structure within 12 mas of the core can most easily be described by seven "oscillating" jet features. We find that the parameters of jet features, such as core separation, position angle and flux density, change in a periodic way with a timescale of about 4 years. We also find evidence for a correlation between these parameters and the total flux density variability. We suggest a scenario incorporating a periodic form of motion (e.g. rotation, precession), with a non-negligible geometrical contribution to explain the observational results.
15 VLBA observations of the BL Lac object 0716+714, performed between 1994.67 and 2006.40 at 15 GHz, have been analyzed. Part of the data (12 epochs) were obtained within the Mojave-survey project and reanalyzed by us. We present a new motion scenario for jet model component motion in this source which suggests that no longterm-outward motion but rather an oscillation of components around an average core separation is taking place. Although no significant outward motion in the core separation can be found, motion with regard to the position angle is observed. We give lower limits for the derived apparent motions and Doppler factors and compare them with values published in the literature. We find a relation between the total flux-density evolution at 14.5 GHz (UMRAO data) and the position angle changes observed for the jet component closest to the core. We suggest a significant geometric contribution to the longterm flux-density variability in 0716+714.
We report on new developments in VLBI, with emphasis on experiments performed at the highest frequencies possible to date (so called mm-VLBI). We have observed the nucleus of M 87 (Virgo A) with global VLBI at 3 mm. We show a new image of the inner-most jet region with an angular resolution of approx. 300 x 60 micro-arcseconds. In terms of Schwarzschild radii, this leads to an upper limit of the jet base of approx. 100 x 20 Schwarzschild radii. We also report on two VLBI pilot-experiments, which demonstrate the technical feasibility of global VLBI at 150 and 230 GHz (2 mm and 1.3 mm). The experiments lead to upper limits to the size of the unresolved AGN-cores in the 25 - 30 micro-arcsecond range. The participation of new and near-future mm-telescopes (like APEX, CARMA, SMA, LMT, ALMA, etc.) in global mm-VLBI will provide the necessary sensitivity for the imaging of black holes and their immediate environment.
We present and discuss new result from mm-VLBI observations of M87 and SgrA*, using the Global mm-VLBI array (GMVA). New 3mm-VLBI images of the inner jet of M87 are presented, showing details with a spatial resolution down to 15 Schwarzschild radii. This resolution corresponds to a similar spatial resolution (in terms of R_s) obtained for Sgr A*. We discuss existing and new size determinations for this source provided by mm-VLBI at wavelengths of 3, 2, and 1.4 mm. With respect to the morphological difference between Sgr A* and M87 (the latter exhibits a long jet), a comparison of the sub-milliarcsecond structures seen with mm-VLBI may lead to a better understanding of the astro-physical processes acting in the vicinity of super-massive black holes.
We report on a densely time sampled polarimetric flux density monitoring of the BL Lac object S5 0716+71 at 86 GHz and 229 GHz with the IRAM 30 m telescope within a coordinated broad spectral band campaign, centred around an INTEGRAL observation during November 10 to 16, 2003. Our aim was to search for signatures of inverse-Compton "catastrophes". At 86 GHz, making use of a new calibration strategy, we reach a relative rms accuracy of the flux density measurements of 1.2%. At this frequency, S5 0716+71 showed no intra-day variability, but showed remarkable inter-day variability with a flux density increase of 34% during the first four observing days, which can not be explained by source extrinsic causes. The 86 GHz linear polarization fraction of S5 0716+71 was unusually large 15.0+-1.8%. Inter-day variability in linear polarization at 86 GHz, with significance level >~95%; sigma_P/ =15% and sigma_chi=6 deg., was also observed. From the emission variations at the synchrotron turnover frequency (~86 GHz) we compute an apparent brightness temperature T_B,app>1.4x10^14K at a redshift of 0.3, which exceeds by two orders of magnitude the inverse-Compton limit. A relativistic correction for T_B,app with a Doppler factor delta > 7.8 brings the observed brightness temperature down to the inverse Compton limit. A more accurate lower limit of delta > 14.0, is obtained from the comparison of the 86 GHz synchrotron flux density and the upper limits for the synchrotron self-Compton flux density obtained from the INTEGRAL observations. The relativistic beaming of the emission by this high Doppler factor explains the non-detection of "catastrophic" inverse-Compton avalanches by INTEGRAL.
To determine the location of the intra-day variable (IDV) emission region within the jet of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714, a multi-epoch VSOP polarization experiment was performed in Autumn 2000. To detect, image, and monitor the short term variability of the source, three space-VLBI experiments were performed with VSOP at 5 GHz, separated in time by six days and by one day. Quasi-contemporaneous flux density measurements with the Effelsberg 100 m radio telescope during the VSOP observations revealed variability of about 5% in total intensity and up to 40% in linear polarization in less than one day. Analysis of the VLBI data shows that the variations are located inside the VLBI core component of 0716+714. In good agreement with the single-dish measurements, the VLBI ground array images and the VSOP images, both show a decrease in the total flux density of ~20 mJy and a drop of ~5 mJy in the linear polarization of the VLBI core. During the observing interval, the polarization angle rotated by about 15 degrees. No variability was found in the jet. The high angular-resolution VSOP images are not able to resolve the variable component and set an upper limit of <0.1 mas to the size of the core component. From the variability timescales we estimate a source size of a few micro-arcseconds and brightness temperatures exceeding 10^15 K. We discuss the results in the framework of source-extrinsic (interstellar scintillation induced) and source-intrinsic IDV models.
Some intra-day variable, compact extra-galactic radio sources show brightness temperatures severely exceeding 10^{12} K, the limit set by catastrophic inverse-Compton (IC) cooling in sources of incoherent synchrotron radiation. The violation of the IC limit, possible under non-stationary conditions, would lead to IC avalanches in the soft-gamma-ray energy band during transient periods. For the first time, broadband signatures of possible IC catastrophes were searched for in S5 0716+71. A multifrequency observing campaign targetting S5 0716+71 was carried out in November 2003 under the framework of the European Network for the Investigation of Galactic nuclei through Multifrequency Analysis (ENIGMA) together with a campaign by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT), involving a pointing by the soft-gamma-ray satellite INTEGRAL, optical, near-infrared, sub-millimeter, millimeter, radio, and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) monitoring. S5 0716+71 was very bright at radio frequencies and in a rather faint optical state during the INTEGRAL pointing; significant inter-day and low intra-day variability was recorded in the radio regime, while typical fast variability features were observed in the optical band. No correlation was found between the radio and optical emission. The source was not detected by INTEGRAL, neither by the X-ray monitor JEM-X nor by the gamma-ray imager ISGRI, but upper limits to the source emission in the 3-200 keV energy band were estimated. A brightness temperature Tb>2.1x10^{14} K was inferred from the radio variability, but no corresponding signatures of IC avalanches were recorded at higher energies. The absence of IC-catastrophe signatures provides either a lower limit delta>8 to the Doppler factor affecting the radio emission or strong constraints for modelling of the Compton catastrophes in S5 0716+71.
The quasar B2005+403 located behind the Cygnus region, is a suitable object for studying the interplay between propagation effects, which are extrinsic to the source and source intrinsic variability. On the basis of VLBI experiments performed at 1.6, 5, 8, 15, 22, and 43GHz between 1992-2003 and parallel multi-frequency monitoring of the total flux density, we investigated the variability of total flux density and source structure. Below 8 GHz, the point-like VLBI source is affected by scatter-broadening of the turbulent interstellar medium, which is located along the line of sight and likely associated with the Cygnus region. We present and discuss the measured frequency dependence of the source size, which shows a power-law with slope of -1.91+/-0.05. From the measured scattering angle at 1GHz of 77.1+/-4.0mas a SM=0.43+/-0.04 m^{-20/3} kpc is derived, consistent with the general properties of the ISM in this direction. The decreasing effect of angular broadening towards higher frequencies allows to study the internal structure of the source. Above 8GHz new VLBI observations reveal a one-sided slightly south-bending core-jet structure, with stationary and apparent superluminally moving jet components. The jet components move on non-ballistic trajectories. In AGN, total flux density variations are often related to the emergence of new VLBI components. However, during almost eleven years no new component was ejected in B2005+403. In the flux density variability a trough is observed at 5-37 GHz between 1996 and 2001. This can be explained as a blending effect of jet component fluxes. Dense in time sampled flux density monitoring observations reveal intra-day variability at 1.6GHz impling a second, less dense or turbulent scattering screen at few to hundred parsec distance.
The Global mm-VLBI Array is at present the most sensitive 3 mm-VLBI interferometer and provides images of up to 40 micro-arcsecond resolution. Using this array, we have monitored the rotation of the innermost jet in the quasar NRAO 150, which shows an angular speed of ~ 7 deg./yr. Future 3 mm arrays could include additional stations like ALMA, GBT, LMT, CARMA, SRT, Yebes, Nobeyama and Noto, which would allow to push VLBI at this wavelength to sensitivity and image quality levels comparable to those of present VLBI at centimeter wavelengths. This would improve our knowledge of the accretion systems and the magneto-hydrodynamics of the innermost jets in AGN and microquasars.