Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Yingkang Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Yingkang Zhang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Is the X-ray bright z = 5.5 quasar SRGE J170245.3+130104 a blazar?

Jets may have contributed to promoting the growth of seed black holes in the early Universe, and thus observations of radio-loud high-redshift quasars are crucial to understanding the growth and evolution of the early supermassive black holes. Here we report the radio properties of an X-ray bright $z=5.5$ quasar, SRGE J170245.3+130104 (J1702+1301). Our high-resolution radio images reveal the radio counterpart at the optical position of J1702+1301, while another radio component is also detected at $\sim$23.5\arcsec\ to the southwest. Our analysis suggests that this southwest component is associated with a foreground galaxy at $z\approx 0.677$, which is mixed with J1702+1301 in low-frequency low-resolution radio images. After removing the contamination from this foreground source, we recalculated the radio loudness of J1702+1301 to be $R>$1100, consistent with those of blazars. J1702+1301 exhibits a flat radio spectrum ($α= -0.17 \pm 0.05$, $S \propto ν^α$) between 0.15 and 5 GHz; above 5 GHz, it shows a rising spectrum shape, and the spectral index $α^{8.2}_{4.7}$ appears to be correlated with the variation of the flux density: in burst states, $α^{8.2}_{4.7}$ becomes larger. J1702+1301 displays distinct radio variability on timescales from weeks to years in the source's rest frame. These radio properties, including high radio loudness, rising spectrum, and rapid variability, tend to support it as a blazar.

astro-ph.HE↗

VLBI Observations of a sample of Palomar-Green quasars I: parsec-scale morphology

We observed 20 Palomar-Green (PG) quasars at low redshift ($z<0.5$) with total flux density > 1 mJy, including 4 radio-loud quasars (RLQs) and 16 radio-quiet quasars (RQQs), using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 5 GHz. Ten RQQs are clearly detected in the VLBA images, and a compact radio core is identified in eight of them, indicating the prevalence of active galactic nucleus (AGN)-related radio emission in this flux-density-limited RQQ sample. The RQQs and RLQs in our sample have a division at $\sim$30~mJy. The radio emission from RQQs appears to be the result of a combination of star formation and AGN-associated activities. All RQQs in our sample have a 5 GHz flux density ratio of Very Large Array (VLA) A-array to D-array $f_{\rm c} = S_{\rm A}^{\rm VLA}/S_{\rm D}^{\rm VLA}$ above 0.2. The RQQs with $f_a$ (VLBA and VLA flux density ratio $S^{\rm VLBA}/S_{\rm A}^{\rm VLA}) > 0.2$ versus $f_a < 0.2$ show significant differences in morphology, compactness and total flux density. $f_{\rm a}$ of RQQs is systematically lower than that of RLQs, probably due to the extended jets or relic jets of RQQs on 10s to 100s parsecs which are resolved out in VLBA images. Future larger samples, especially with the addition of milli-arcsec resolution radio images of RQQs with total flux densities below 1 mJy, can test the conclusions of this paper and contributes to the understanding of the radio emission mechanism of RQQs, and the dichotomy and physical connection between RQQs and RLQs.

astro-ph.GA↗

VLBA reveals the absence of a compact radio core in the radio intermediate quasar J2242+0334 at z =5.9

High-resolution imaging is crucial for exploring the origin and mechanism of radio emission in quasars, especially at high redshifts. We present 1.5 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) images of the radio continuum emission from the radio-intermediate quasar (RIQ) J2242+0334 at $z = 5.9$. This object was previously detected at both 1.5 GHz and 3 GHz with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) as a point source. However, there is no clear detection in the VLBA images at both the full resolution of 10.7 milliarcsecond (mas) $\times$ 4.5 mas (61.7 pc $\times$ 26.0 pc) and a tapered resolution of 26 mas $\times$ 21 mas (150 pc $\times$ 121 pc). This suggests that the radio emission from the quasar is diffuse on mas scales with surface brightness fainter than the $3σ$ detection limit of 40.5 $μ\rm Jy \ beam^{-1}$ in the full resolution image. The radio emission in the RIQ J2242+0334 is likely to be wind-like (i.e., diffuse) rather than in the form of collimated jets. This is different from the previous radio detections of the most luminous quasars at $z \sim$6 which are usually dominated by compact, high brightness temperature radio sources. Meanwhile, compared with RIQs at low redshifts, the case of J2242+0334 suggests that not all RIQs are beamed radio-quiet quasars. This optically faint RIQ provides an important and unique example to investigate the radio activity in the less powerful active galactic nuclei at the earliest cosmic epoch.

astro-ph.GA↗

Status and progress of China SKA Regional Centre prototype

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project consists of delivering two largest radio telescope arrays being built by the SKA Observatory (SKAO), which is an intergovernmental organization bringing together nations from around the world with China being one of the major member countries. The computing resources needed to process, distribute, curate and use the vast amount of data that will be generated by the SKA telescopes are too large for the SKAO to manage on its own. To address this challenge, the SKAO is working with the international community to create a shared, distributed data, computing and networking capability called the SKA Regional Centre Alliance. In this model, the SKAO will be supported by a global network of SKA Regional Centres (SRCs) distributed around the world in its member countries to build an end-to-end science data system that will provide astronomers with high-quality science products. SRCs undertake deep processing, scientific analysis, and long-term storage of the SKA data, as well as user support. China has been actively participating in and promoting the construction of SRCs. This paper introduces the international cooperation and ongoing prototyping of the global SRC network, the construction plan of the China SRC and describes in detail the China SRC prototype. The paper also presents examples of scientific applications of SKA precursor and pathfinder telescopes completed using resources from the China SRC prototype. Finally, the future prospects of the China SRC are presented.

astro-ph.IM↗

Radio Jet Proper-motion Analysis of Nine Distant Quasars above Redshift 3.5

Up to now, jet kinematic studies of radio quasars have barely reached beyond the redshift range at $z>3.5$. This significantly limits our knowledge of high-redshift jets, which can provide key information for understanding the jet nature and the growth of the black holes in the early Universe. In this paper, we selected 9 radio-loud quasars at $z>3.5$ which display milliarcsec-scale jet morphology. We provided evidence on the source nature by presenting high-resolution very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images of the sample at 8.4~GHz frequency and making spectral index maps. We also consider Gaia optical positions that are available for 7 out of the 9 quasars, for a better identification of the jet components within the radio structures. We find that 6 sources can be classified as core--jet blazars. The remaining 3 objects are more likely young, jetted radio sources, compact symmetric objects. By including multi-epoch archival VLBI data, we also obtained jet component proper motions of the sample and estimated the jet kinematic and geometric parameters (Doppler factor, Lorentz factor, viewing angle). Our results show that at $z>3.5$, the jet apparent transverse speeds do not exceed 20 times the speed of light ($c$). This is consistent with earlier high-redshift quasar measurements in the literature and the tendency derived from low-redshift blazars that fast jet speeds ($>40\,c$) only occur at low redshifts. The results from this paper contribute to the understanding of the cosmological evolution of radio AGN.

astro-ph.HE↗

Deep VLBI Observations Challenge Previous Evidence of a Binary Supermassive Black Hole Residing in the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 7674

Previous Ku-band (15 GHz) imaging with data obtained from the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) had shown two compact, sub-pc components at the location of a presumed kpc-scale radio core in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7674. It was then presumed that these two unresolved and compact components were dual radio cores corresponding to two supermassive black holes (SMBHs) accreting surrounding gas and launching radio-bright relativistic jets. However, utilizing the original VLBA dataset used to claim the detection of a binary SMBH, in addition to later multi-epoch/multi-frequency datatsets obtained from both the VLBA and the European VLBI Network, we find no evidence to support the presence of a binary SMBH. We place stringent upper limits to the flux densities of any sub-pc-scale radio cores which are at least an order of magnitude lower than the original VLBI radio-core detections, directly challenging the original binary SMBH detection claim. With this in mind, we discuss the possible reasons for the non-detection of any VLBI radio cores in our imaging, the possibility of a binary SMBH still residing in NGC 7674, and the prospect of future observations shedding further light on the true nature of this active galactic nucleus.

astro-ph.GA↗

Observing the inner parsec-scale region of candidate neutrino-emitting blazars

Context. Many questions on the nature of astrophysical counterparts of high-energy neutrinos remain unanswered. There is increasing evidence of a connection between blazar jets and neutrino events, with the flare of the gamma-ray blazar TXS0506+056 in spatial and temporal proximity of IC170922A representing one of the most outstanding associations of high-energy neutrinos with astrophysical sources reported so far. Aims. With the purpose of characterising potential blazar counterparts to high-energy neutrinos, we analysed the parsec-scale regions of gamma-ray blazars in spatial coincidence with neutrinos detected by IceCube. Specifically, we intended to investigate peculiar radio properties of the candidate counterparts related to neutrino production, as radio flares coincident to the neutrino detection or features in jets morphology (limb brightening, transverse structures). Methods. We collected multi-frequency VLBI follow-up observations of candidate counterparts of four high-energy neutrino events detected by IceCube between January 2019 and November 2020. We analysed their radio characteristics soon after the neutrino arrival in comparison with archival VLBI observations and low-frequency radio observations. We discussed our results with respect to previous statistical works and studies on the case of TXS 0506+056. Results. We identified and analysed in detail five potential neutrino emitting blazars. Our results suggest an enhanced state of radio activity for one source, PKS1725+123. However, the lack of adequate monitoring prior to the neutrino events was a limitation in tracing radio activity and morphological changes in all the sources. Conclusions. We suggest that PKS1725+123 is a promising neutrino source candidate. For the other four sources, our results alone do not allow us to reveal a strong connection between the radio activity state at neutrino arrival.

astro-ph.HE↗

A compact symmetric radio source born at one-tenth the current age of the Universe

Studies of high redshift radio galaxies can shed light on the activity of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in massive elliptical galaxies, and on the assembly and evolution of galaxy clusters in the Universe. J1606+3124 has been tentatively identified as a radio galaxy at a redshift of 4.56, at an era of one-tenth of the current age of the Universe. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images show a compact triple structure with a size of 68 parsecs. The radio properties of J1606+3124, including the edge-brightening morphology, peaked GHz radio spectrum, slow variability, and low jet speed, consistently indicate that it is a compact symmetric object (CSO). The radio source size and expansion rate of the hotspots suggest that J1606+3124 is a young (kinematic age of ~3600 years) radio source. Infrared observations reveal a gas- and dust-rich host galaxy environment, which may hinder the growth of the jet; however, the ultra-high jet power of J1606+3124 gives it an excellent chance to grow into a large-scale double-lobe radio galaxy. If its redshift and galaxy classification can be confirmed by further optical spectroscopic observations, J1606+3124 will be the highest redshift CSO galaxy known to date.

astro-ph.GA↗

High-resolution VLBI observations of and modelling the radio emission from the TDE AT2019dsg

A tidal disruption event (TDE) involves the shredding of a star in the proximity of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nearby ($\approx$230 Mpc) relatively radio-quiet, thermal emission dominated source AT2019dsg is the first TDE with a potential neutrino association. The origin of non-thermal emission remains inconclusive; possibilities include a relativistic jet or a sub-relativistic outflow. Distinguishing between them can address neutrino production mechanisms. High-resolution very long baseline interferometry 5-GHz observations provide a proper motion of 0.94 $\pm$ 0.65 mas yr$^{-1}$ ($3.2 \pm 2.2~c$; $1-σ$). Modelling the radio emission favors an origin from the interaction between a decelerating outflow (velocity $\approx$ 0.1 $c$) and a dense circum-nuclear medium. The transition of the synchrotron self-absorption frequency through the observation band marks a peak flux density of 1.19 $\pm$ 0.18 mJy at 152.8 $\pm$ 16.2 days. An equipartition analysis indicates an emission region distance of $\geqslant$ 4.7 $\times$ 10$^{16}$ cm, magnetic field strength $\geqslant$ 0.17 G, and number density $\geqslant$ 5.7 $\times$ 10$^{3}$ cm$^{-3}$. The disruption involves a $\approx$ 2 $M_\odot$ star with a penetration factor $\approx 1$ and a total energy output of $\leqslant$ 1.5 $\times$ 10$^{52}$ erg. The outflow is radiatively driven by accretion of stellar debris onto the SMBH. Neutrino production is likely related to the acceleration of protons to PeV energies and the availability of a suitable cross-section at the outflow base. The present study thus helps exclude jet-related origins for non-thermal emission and neutrino production, and constrains non-jetted scenarios.

astro-ph.HE↗

The intrinsic structure of Sagittarius A* at 1.3 cm and 7 mm

Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the Galactic Center supermassive black hole (SMBH), is one of the best targets to resolve the innermost region of SMBH with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). In this study, we have carried out observations toward Sgr A* at 1.349 cm (22.223 GHz) and 6.950 mm (43.135 GHz) with the East Asian VLBI Network, as a part of the multi-wavelength campaign of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) in 2017 April. To mitigate scattering effects, the physically motivated scattering kernel model from Psaltis et al. (2018) and the scattering parameters from Johnson et al. (2018) have been applied. As a result, a single, symmetric Gaussian model well describes the intrinsic structure of Sgr A* at both wavelengths. From closure amplitudes, the major-axis sizes are ~704$\pm$102 $μ$as (axial ratio $\sim$1.19$^{+0.24}_{-0.19}$) and $\sim$300$\pm$25 $μ$as (axial ratio $\sim$1.28$\pm$0.2) at 1.349 cm and 6.95 mm respectively. Together with a quasi-simultaneous observation at 3.5 mm (86 GHz) by Issaoun et al. (2019), we show that the intrinsic size scales with observing wavelength as a power-law, with an index $\sim$1.2$\pm$0.2. Our results also provide estimates of the size and compact flux density at 1.3 mm, which can be incorporated into the analysis of the EHT observations. In terms of the origin of radio emission, we have compared the intrinsic structures with the accretion flow scenario, especially the radiatively inefficient accretion flow based on the Keplerian shell model. With this, we show that a nonthermal electron population is necessary to reproduce the source sizes.

astro-ph.HE↗

A small radio galaxy at z=4.026

Less than $200$ radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) are known above redshift $4$. Around $40$ of them have been observed at milliarcsecond (mas) scale resolution with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) technique. Some of them are unresolved, compact, relativistically beamed objects, blazars with jets pointing at small angles to the observer's line of sight. But there are also objects with no sign of relativistic beaming possibly having larger jet inclination angles. In a couple of cases, X-ray observations indicate the presence of relativistic beaming in contrary to the VLBI measurements made with the European VLBI Network (EVN). J1420$+$1205 is a prominent example, where our $30-100$ mas-scale enhanced Multi Element Remotely Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) radio observations revealed a rich structure reminiscent of a small radio galaxy. It shows a bright hotspot which might be related to the denser interstellar medium around a young galaxy at an early cosmological epoch.

astro-ph.GA↗

J2102+6015: a young radio source at z = 4.575

Jets of high-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGNs) can be used to directly probe the activity of the black holes in the early Universe. Radio sources with jets misaligned with respect to the line of sight are expected to dominate the high-redshift AGN population. In this paper, we present the high-resolution imaging results of a z=4.57 AGN J2102+6015 by analyzing its multi-epoch dual-frequency very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data. The 8.4-GHz VLBI images reveal two major features along the east-west direction separated by $\sim$ 10 milli-arcsec (mas). From the spectral index map, both features show flat/inverted spectra. The separation between the two features remains almost unchanged over an observation period of $\sim$ 13 years, placing an upper limit of the separation speed as about 0.04 mas year$^{-1}$. Previous studies have classified the source as a GHz-peaked spectrum quasar. Our results indicate that J2102+6015 is most likely a young, compact symmetric object rather than a blazar-type core-jet source.

astro-ph.HE↗

Artificial intelligence for celestial object census: the latest technology meets the oldest science

Large surveys using modern telescopes are producing images that are increasing exponentially in size and quality. Identifying objects in the generated images by visual recognition is time-consuming and labor-intensive, while classifying the extracted radio sources is even more challenging. To address these challenges, we develop a deep learning-based radio source detector, named \textsc{HeTu}, which is capable of rapidly identifying and classifying radio sources in an automated manner for both compact and extended radio sources. \textsc{HeTu} is based on a combination of a residual network (ResNet) and feature pyramid network (FPN). We classify radio sources into four classes based on their morphology. The training images are manually labeled and data augmentation methods are applied to solve the data imbalance between the different classes. \textsc{HeTu} automatically locates the radio sources in the images and assigns them to one of the four classes. The experiment on the testing dataset shows an average operation time of 5.4 millisecond per image and a precision of 99.4\% for compact point-like sources and 98.1\% for double-lobe sources. We applied \textsc{HeTu} to the images obtained from the GaLactic and the Galactic Extragalactic All-Object Murchison Wide-field Array (GLEAM) survey project. More than 96.9\% of the \textsc{HeTu}-detected compact sources are matched compared to the source finding software used in the GLEAM. We also detected and classified 2,298 extended sources (including Fanaroff-Riley type I and II sources, and core-jet sources) above $5σ$. The cross-matching rates of extended sources are higher than 97\%, showing excellent performance of \textsc{HeTu} in identifying extended radio sources. \textsc{HeTu} provides an efficient tool for radio source finding and classification and can be applied to other scientific fields.

astro-ph.IM↗

The obstructed jet in Mrk 231

Mrk~231 is the closest radio-quiet quasar known and one of the most luminous infrared galaxies in the local Universe. It is characterised by the co-existence of a radio jet and powerful multi-phase multi-scale outflows, making it an ideal laboratory to study active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. We analyse the multi-epoch very long baseline interferometry data of Mrk~231 and estimate the jet head advance speed to be $\lesssim0.013\ c$, suggesting a sub-relativistic jet flow. The jet position angle changes from $-113^\circ$ in the inner parsec to $-172^\circ$ at a projected distance of 25 parsec. The jet structure change might result from either a jet bending following the rotation of the circum-nuclear disc or the projection of a helical jet on the plane of the sky. In the large opening angle ($\sim60^\circ$) cone, the curved jet interacts with the interstellar medium and creates wide-aperture-angle shocks which subsequently dissipate a large portion of the jet power through radiation and contribute to powering the large-scale outflows. The low power and bent structure of the Mrk~231 jet, as well as extensive radiation dissipation, are consistent with the obstruction of the short-length jet by the host galaxy's environment.

astro-ph.GA↗

A method for checking high-redshift identification of radio AGNs

In large-scale optical spectroscopic surveys, there are many objects found to have multiple redshift measurements due to the weakness of their emission lines and the different automatic identification algorithms used. These include some suspicious high-redshift (z >= 5) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Here we present a method for inspecting the high-redshift identification of such sources provided that they are radio-loud and have very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging observations of their milli-arcsec (mas) scale jet structure available at multiple epochs. The method is based on the determination of jet component proper motions, and the fact that the combination of jet physics (the observed maximal values of the bulk Lorentz factor) and cosmology (the time dilation of observed phenomena in the early Universe) constrain the possible values of apparent proper motions. As an example, we present the case of the quasar J2346+0705 that was reported with two different redshifts, $z_{1} = 5.063$ and $z_{2} = 0.171$, in the literature. We measured the apparent proper motions ($μ$) of three components identified in its radio jet by utilizing VLBI data taken from 2014 to 2018. We obtained $μ_{J1} = 0.334 \pm 0.099$ mas yr$^{-1}$, $μ_{J2} = 0.116 \pm 0.029$ mas yr$^{-1}$, and $μ_{J3} = 0.060 \pm 0.005$ mas yr$^{-1}$. The maximal proper motion is converted to an apparent transverse speed of $β_{\rm app} = 41.2\pm12.2\,c$. if the source is at redshift 5.063. This value exceeds the blazar jet speeds known to date. This and other arguments suggest that J2346+0705 is hosted by a low-redshift galaxy. Our method may be applicable for other high-redshift AGN candidates lacking unambiguous spectroscopic redshift determination or having photometric redshift estimates only, but showing prominent radio jets allowing for VLBI measurements of fast jet proper motions.

astro-ph.GA↗

Evolving parsec-scale radio structure in the most distant blazar known

Blazars are a sub-class of quasars with Doppler boosted jets oriented close to the line of sight, and thus efficient probes of supermassive black hole growth and their environment, especially at high redshifts. Here we report on Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations of a blazar J0906+6930 at z = 5.47, which enabled the detection of polarised emission and measurement of jet proper motion at parsec scales. The observations suggest a less powerful jet compared with the general blazar population, including lower proper motion and bulk Lorentz factor. This coupled with a previously inferred high accretion rate indicate a transition from an accretion radiative power to a jet mechanical power based transfer of energy and momentum to the surrounding gas.While alternative scenarios could not be fully ruled out, our results indicate a possibly nascent jet embedded in and interacting with a dense medium resulting in a jet bending.

astro-ph.GA↗

Fast jet proper motion discovered in a blazar at z = 4.72

High-resolution observations of high-redshift ($z>4$) radio quasars offer a unique insight into jet kinematics at early cosmological epochs, as well as constraints on cosmological model parameters. Due to the general weakness of extremely distant objects and the apparently slow structural changes caused by cosmological time dilation, only a couple of high-redshift quasars have been studied with parsec-scale resolutions, and with limited number of observing epochs. Here we report on very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of a high-redshift blazar J1430+4204 ($z=4.72$) in the 8 GHz frequency band at five different epochs spanning 22 years. The source shows a compact core--jet structure with two jet components being identified within 3 milli-arcsecond (mas) scale. The long time span and multiple-epoch data allow for the kinematic studies of the jet components. That results in a jet proper motion of $μ{\rm (J1)}$ = 0.017$\pm$0.002~mas\,yr$^{-1}$ and $μ({\rm J2})$=0.156$\pm$0.015~mas\,yr$^{-1}$, respectively. For the fastest-moving outer jet component J2, the corresponding apparent transverse speed is $19.5 \pm 1.9 \,c$. The inferred bulk jet Lorentz factor $Γ= 14.6 \pm 3.8$ and viewing angle $θ= 2.2^{\circ} \pm 1.6^{\circ}$ indicate highly relativistic beaming. The Lorentz factor and apparent proper motion are the highest measured to date among the $z>4$ jetted radio sources, while the jet kinematics is still consistent with the cosmological interpretation of quasar redshifts.

astro-ph.HE↗

East Asia VLBI Network observations of the TeV Gamma-Ray Burst 190114C

Observations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at Very High Energy (VHE) offer a unique opportunity to investigate particle acceleration processes, magnetic fields and radiation fields in these events. Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations have been proven to be a powerful tool providing unique information on the source size of the GRBs at mas scales, as well as their accurate positions and possible expansion speeds. This paper reports on the follow-up observations of GRB 190114C, the first ever GRB detected with high significance at TeV photon energies by the MAGIC telescope, conducted with the East Asia VLBI Network (EAVN) at 22 GHz on three epochs, corresponding to 6, 15 and 32 days after the burst. The derived maps do not show any significant source above 5 sigma. The inferred upper limits on the GRB 190114C flux density at 22 GHz are used here to constrain the allowable two-dimensional parameter space for the afterglow emission. We find that our limits are consistent with most afterglow parameter combinations proposed so far in the literature. This is the first effort for the EAVN to search and monitor a radio transient in the Target of Opportunity mode. In addition to the useful constraints on GRB 190114C radio emission, experience gained from these observations is very helpful for future routine operation of EAVN transient program.

astro-ph.HE↗