@article {2012A\&A...537A..93R, title = {{VLBI imaging of M 81* at 43 GHz}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {537}, year = {2012}, month = {jan}, pages = {A93}, abstract = {Context. The nearby spiral galaxy M 81 harbours in its core a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN), and appears to be closely related to the more distant and powerful active galactic nuclei (AGNs) seen in quasars and radio galaxies. The intrinsic size of this object is unknown because of too much scattering, and it has shown a core-jet morphology with weak extended emission rotating with wavelength.
Aims: The proximity of M 81 (D = 3.63 Mpc) allows for a detailed investigation of its nucleus. The nucleus is four orders of magnitude more luminous than the Galactic centre, and is therefore considered to be a link between Sgr A$^{*}$ and the more powerful nuclei of radio galaxies and quasars. Our main goal was to determine the size of M 81{\l}owast} at a shorter wavelength to directly test whether the frequency-size dependent law {$\Theta$} {\prop} {$ν$}$^{-0.8}$ is still valid for wavelengths shorter than 1 cm. In addition, we also aimed to confirm the rotation of the source as a function of frequency.
Methods: We observed the continuum 7 mm radio emission of M 81{\l}owast} with the Very Long Baseline Array on Sep. 13, 2002, using nearby calibrators to apply their interferometric observables to the target source to increase the chances of detection. The source was detected on all baselines and hybrid mapping was possible.
Results: We present the first 7 mm VLBI image of the core of M 81{\l}owast}, which is the highest resolution image ever of this source. Modelling the interferometric visibilities with two Gaussian functions sets constraints on the angular size of its core down to 38 microarcseconds, corresponding to a maximum (projected) linear size of 138 AU, and shows extended emission towards the NE with a position angle of \~{}50{\deg}. A fit of a one Gaussian elliptical function yields a position angle of 28 {\plusmn} 8 degrees for its elongated, compact structure. Combining the 7 mm size with earlier measurements at other frequencies, we determine a frequency-size dependence of {$\Theta$} {\prop} {$ν$}$^{(-0.88 {\textpm} 0.04)}$.
Conclusions: Our VLBI imaging of M 81{\l}owast} has clearly detected its core-jet structure, and has allowed us to estimate a size for its core, with a minimum size of 138 AU ({\ap}100 Schwarzschild radii). Our work opens the way for future observations of M 81{\l}owast} at high-angular resolution, including the monitoring of its structure, given that much higher bandwidths are currently available on the interferometric networks. In particular, this would allow one to test for possible proper motions of the core or of its components in the inner jet of M 81{\l}owast}, and for the speed of the detected jet components.}, keywords = {galaxies: active, galaxies: individual: M 81, galaxies: nuclei, instrumentation: interferometers, radio continuum: galaxies}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201118399}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012A\%26A...537A..93R}, author = {Ros, E. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres} } @article {2011A\&A...533C...1M, title = {{Coherence loss in phase-referenced VLBI observations (Corrigendum)}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {533}, year = {2011}, month = {sep}, pages = {C1}, abstract = {We report an erratum in an equation that models the relation of the limiting dynamic range to the angular distance between target and calibrator.}, keywords = {addenda, atmospheric effects, errata, instrumentation: interferometers, techniques: interferometric}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201014203e}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011A\%26A...533C...1M}, author = {Mart{\'\i}-Vidal, I. and Ros, E. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Guirado, J.~C. and Jim{\'e}nez-Monferrer, S. and Marcaide, J.~M.} } @article {2010A\&A...515A..53M, title = {{Coherence loss in phase-referenced VLBI observations}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {515}, year = {2010}, month = {jun}, pages = {A53}, abstract = {Context. Phase-referencing is a standard calibration technique in radio interferometry, particularly suited for the detection of weak sources close to the sensitivity limits of the interferometers. However, effects from a changing atmosphere and inaccuracies in the correlator model may affect the phase-referenced images, and lead to wrong estimates of source flux densities and positions. A systematic observational study of signal decoherence in phase-referencing and its effects in the image plane has not been performed yet.
Aims: We systematically studied how the signal coherence in Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometry (VLBI) observations is affected by a phase-reference calibration at different frequencies and for different calibrator-to-target separations. The results obtained should be of interest for a correct interpretation of many phase-referenced observations with VLBI.
Methods: We observed a set of 13 strong sources (the S5 polar cap sample) at 8.4 and 15 GHz in phase-reference mode with 32 different calibrator/target combinations spanning angular separations between 1.5 and 20.5 degrees. We obtained phase-referenced images and studied how the dynamic range and peak flux-density depend on observing frequency and source separation.
Results: We obtained dynamic ranges and peak flux densities of the phase-referenced images as a function of frequency and separation from the calibrator. We compared our results with models and phenomenological equations previously reported.
Conclusions: The dynamic range of the phase-referenced images is strongly limited by the atmosphere at all frequencies and for all source separations. The limiting dynamic range is inversely proportional to the sine of the calibrator-to-target separation. Not surpriseingly, we also find that the peak flux densities decrease with source separation, relative to those obtained from the self-calibrated images.}, keywords = {atmospheric effects, instrumentation: interferometers, techniques: interferometric}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201014203}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010A\%26A...515A..53M}, author = {Mart{\'\i}-Vidal, I. and Ros, E. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Guirado, J.~C. and Jim{\'e}nez-Monferrer, S. and Marcaide, J.~M.} }