A Multi-Epoch VLBI Survey of the Kinematics of CJF Sources; Part I: Model-Fit Parameters and Maps

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive VLBI survey of 293 flat-spectrum radio sources, providing model-fit parameters, images, and initial kinematic analysis to facilitate statistical studies of AGN jet velocities.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed multi-epoch VLBI data set and analysis for the CJF sample, including model-fitting procedures and source parameter cataloging.

Findings

VLBI images produced for 288 sources at multiple epochs

Kinematic analysis conducted on 266 AGN sources

Data set enables statistical studies of apparent jet velocities

Abstract

Context: This is the first of a series of papers presenting VLBI observations of the 293 Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-Spectrum (hereafter CJF) sources and their analysis. Aims: One of the major goals of the CJF is to make a statistical study of the apparent velocities of the sources. Methods: We have conducted global VLBI and VLBA observations at 5 GHz since 1990, accumulating thirteen separate observing campaigns. Results: We present here an overview of the observations, give details of the data reduction and present the source parameters resulting from a model-fitting procedure. For every source at every observing epoch, an image is shown, built up by restoring the model-fitted components, convolved with the clean beam, into the residual image, which was made by Fourier transforming the visibility data after first subtracting the model-fitted components in the uv-plane. Overplotted we show symbols to represent the model components. Conclusions: We have produced VLBI images of all but 5 of the 293 sources in the complete CJF sample at several epochs and investigated the kinematics of 266 AGN.