R. H. Ferris

The Subparsec-Scale Structure and Evolution of Centaurus A: The Nearest Active Radio Galaxy

?????The subparsec-scale structure of Cen A is complex, consisting of a bright jet and a fainter counterjet. The bright jet contains components that have subluminal speeds of approximately 0.1c and undergo irregular episodes of rapid internal evolution. The rapid evolution sometimes observed could be interpreted as evidence for an underlying jet flow much faster (>0.45c) than observed from the proper motion of components (~0.1c). Considering the large-scale morphology of the source, the motions and temporal variations in the jet, and the detection of a counterjet, we conclude that the axis of the Cen A jet lies between ~50? and ~80? to our line of sight. We find that the estimated times of component ejection from the compact core are reasonably coincident with enhancements in hard X-ray intensity and 22 GHz flux density. In the context of the radio galaxy population, Cen A is a low-luminosity FR I?type source and in general has the properties observed in other FR I radio galaxies. Overall, the observations of Cen A presented here, and from other investigations, are consistent with the idea that sources with an FR I appearance are not aligned with our line of sight and have relativistic flow on the subparsec scale. The apparently subluminal subparsec-scale jet components are interpreted as being slow patterns on the relativistic flow.

Methanol Masers as Tracers of Circumstellar Disks

We show that in many methanol maser sources the masers are located in lines, with a velocity gradient along them which suggests that the masers are situated in edge-on circumstellar, or protoplanetary, disks. We present VLBI observations of the methanol maser source G309.92 + 0.48, in the 12.2 GHz (2 0-3 -1 E) transition, which confirm previous observations that the masers in this source lie along a line. We show that such sources are not only linear in space but, in many cases, also have a linear velocity gradient. We then model these and other data in both the 6.7 GHz (5 1-6 0 A +) and the 12.2 GHz (2 0-3 -1 E) transition from a number of star formation regions and show that the observed spatial and velocity distribution of methanol masers, and the derived Keplerian masses, are consistent with a circumstellar disk rotating around an OB star. We consider this and other hypotheses and conclude that about half of these methanol masers are probably located in edge-on circumstellar disks around young stars. This is of particular significance for studies of circumstellar disks because of the detailed velocity information available from the masers.

Discovery of a Subparsec Radio Counterjet in the Nucleus of Centaurus A

A subparsec scale radio counterjet has been detected in the nucleus of the closest radio galaxy, Centaurus A (NGC 5128), with VLBI imaging at 2.3 and 8.4 GHz. This is one of the first detections of a VLBI counterjet and provides new constraints on the kinematics of the radio jets emerging from the nucleus of Cen A. A bright, compact core is seen at 8.4 GHz, along with a jet extending along P.A. 51°. The core is completely absorbed at 2.3 GHz. Our images show a much wider gap between the base of the main jet and the counterjet at 2.3 GHz than at 8.4 GHz and also that the core has an extraordinarily inverted spectrum. These observations provide evidence that the innermost 0.4-0.8 pc of the source is seen through a disk or torus of ionized gas which is opaque at low frequencies due to free-free absorption.

Astrometric Detection of a Low Mass Companion Orbiting the Star AB Doradus

We report submilliarcsecond-precise astrometric measurements for the late-type star AB Doradus via a combination of VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) and HIPPARCOS data. Our astrometric analysis results in the precise determination of the kinematics of this star, which reveals an orbital motion readily explained as caused by gravitational interaction with a low-mass companion. From the portion of the reflex orbit covered by our data and using a revised mass of the primary star (0.76 M☉) derived from our new value of the parallax (66.3 mas < π < 67.2 mas), we find the dynamical mass of the newly discovered companion to be between 0.08 and 0.11 M☉. If accurate photometric information can be obtained for the low-mass companion, our precise mass estimate could serve as an accurate calibration point for different theoretical evolutionary models of low-mass objects. This represents the first detection of a low-mass stellar companion using VLBI, a technique that will become an important tool in future searches for planets and brown dwarfs orbiting other stars.

A 5 GHz Southern Hemisphere VLBI Survey of Compact Radio Sources. II.

We report the results of a 5 GHz Southern Hemisphere snapshot VLBI observation of a sample of blazars. The observations were performed with the Southern Hemisphere VLBI Network plus the Shanghai station in 1993 May. Twenty-three flat-spectrum, radio-loud sources were imaged. These are the first VLBI images for 15 of the sources. Eight of the sources are EGRET (>100 MeV) γ-ray sources. The milliarcsecond morphology shows a core-jet structure for 12 sources and a single compact core for the remaining 11. No compact doubles were seen. Compared with other radio images at different epochs and/or different frequencies, three core-jet blazars show evidence of bent jets, and there is some evidence for superluminal motion in the cases of two blazars. Detailed descriptions for individual blazars are given.

Application of commercial antennas to very long baseline interferometry radio astronomy

Groundstation antennas located in Western Australia have been used as elements in the Southern Hemisphere very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment. These commercial antennas of 27.5 and 15 m diameter provide a very economical improvement to the imaging capability of this array and the practice of using such antennas can be extended to other sites in the Southern Hemisphere in preparation for the forthcoming space‐VLBI experiments.

The Southern Hemisphere Contribution to the VSOP Mission

Abstract The Space VLBI mission, VSOP, involves the participation of 15 countries with up to 40 radio telescopes spread across the Earth observing in close coordination with the 8 m radio telescope on board the Japanese spacecraft HALCA (Hirabayashi, 1998, and this Proceedings). This paper describes the contributions to the missions success from Southern Hemisphere radio telescopes, facilities and Institutes.

Evidence of a Low-Mass Companion to AB Doradus

A b s t r a c t . From the combination of VLBI phase-referenced observations and Hipparcos satellite data, we have found evidence of a low-mass object orbiting the late-type star AB Doradus. The mass of the new object is near the hydrogen burning limit and will constitute a precise point for calibrating the low end of the main sequence. This represents the first detection of a low-mass stellar companion using the VLBI technique, which could become an important tool in future searches for planets and brown dwarfs orbiting other stars.

Monitoring the Jet in Centaurus a at 0.1 Parsec Resolution

Centaurus A is the closest active extragalactic radio source, at a distance of approximately 3.5 Mpc, and is identified with the peculiar elliptical galaxy NGC 5128. As such it is a very important target for observations of the small-scale (sub-parsec) and large-scale (kpc) structures in extragalactic jets. Here we present Mk-II VLBI observations made at 8.4 GHz over a 4.3 year period from early 1991 until mid-1995, as well as a 4.8 GHz observation that was co-eval with one of the 8.4 GHz observations. All of the observations were made with the SHEVE array except for the last observation which was made with the VLBA. The dual-frequency observations identify the core of the radio source, while the multi-epoch observations show the complex structural evolution at a resolution of 0.1 pc. Subluminal motion of ≈ 0.15c is evident. Structural changes are observed on time scales shorter than four months.

A Counterjet in the Nucleus of Centaurus A

Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is the nearest giant radio galaxy. It is a Fanaroff-Riley type 1 (low luminosity) radio source, but the compact radio source in the nucleus is strong enough that VLBI imaging has been possible with both the SHEVE array and the VLBA at several frequencies. These observations have detected a sub-parsec scale counterjet. This shows that jet formation in at least some FR I sources is intrinsically two-sided over very small distances and the radio jets in Centaurus A are probably only moderately relativistic. We also find evidence that the center of activity in Centaurus A is partially obscured by a disk or torus of dense plasma. We observed Centaurus A at 8.4 GHz with a global (SHEVE+VLBA) array in October 1993. The resulting image is shown in figure la. The brightest peak corresponds to the inverted-spectrum core (as determined from nearly-simultaneous 4.8 and 8.4 GHz SHEVE images; Jauncey et al. 23 R. Ekers et al. (eds.), Extragalactic Radio Sources, 23-24.