Radioastron observations of the quasar 3C 273

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Radioastron observations of the quasar 3C 273

A challenge to the brightness temperature limit

Journal Article (2016)

Author(s)

Yuri Y. Kovalev (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy, Lebedev Physical Institute)

N. S. Kardashev (Lebedev Physical Institute)

K. I. Kellermann (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

A. P. Lobanov (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy, Hamburg University of Technology)

M. D. Johnson (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

L. Gurvits (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE))

Peter A. Voytsik (Lebedev Physical Institute)

J. A. Zensus (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy)

J. M. Anderson (VolcanoTectonics Junior Research Group)

U. Bach (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy)

D. L. Jauncey (Australian National University)

F. Ghigo (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

T. Ghosh (Arecibo Observatory)

A. Kraus (Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy)

Yu A. Kovalev (Lebedev Physical Institute)

Mikhail M. Lisakov (Lebedev Physical Institute)

L. Yu Petrov (Astrogeo Center)

J. D. Romney (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

C. J. Salter (Arecibo Observatory)

Kirill V. Sokolovsky (Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow State University)

Astrodynamics & Space Missions

DOI related publication

https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/820/1/L9

Techniques: interferometric Radio continuum: galaxies Galaxies: active Galaxies: jets Quasars: individual (3C273)

To reference this document use:

https://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:dbeec944-d912-4f9e-8281-451bc7427df3

More Info

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Publication Year

2016

Language

English

Astrodynamics & Space Missions

Issue number

1

Volume number

820

Abstract

Inverse Compton cooling limits the brightness temperature of the radiating plasma to a maximum of 10^11.5 K. Relativistic boosting can increase its observed value, but apparent brightness temperatures much in excess of 10¹³ K are inaccessible using ground-based very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) at any wavelength. We present observations of the quasar 3C 273, made with the space VLBI mission RadioAstron on baselines up to 171,000 km, which directly reveal the presence of angular structure as small as 26 μas (2.7 light months) and brightness temperature in excess of 10¹³ K. These measurements challenge our understanding of the non-thermal continuum emission in the vicinity of supermassive black holes and require a much higher Doppler factor than what is determined from jet apparent kinematics.

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