TANAMI: Milliarcsecond Resolution Observations of Extragalactic Gamma-ray Sources

TL;DR

The TANAMI program uses high-resolution radio interferometry combined with gamma-ray and optical observations to study the emission regions of extragalactic gamma-ray sources, helping to distinguish between different blazar emission models.

Contribution

This paper introduces early results from TANAMI, a comprehensive multi-wavelength monitoring program that spatially resolves emission regions in gamma-ray sources.

Findings

High-resolution VLBI resolves sub-parsec emission regions.

Joint observations help discriminate between blazar emission models.

Multi-wavelength data provide a comprehensive view of gamma-ray sources.

Abstract

The TANAMI (Tracking AGN with Austral Milliarcsecond Interferometry) and associated programs provide comprehensive radio monitoring of extragalactic gamma-ray sources south of declination -30 degrees. Joint quasi-simultaneous observations between the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and ground based observatories allow us to discriminate between competing theoretical blazar emission models. High resolution VLBI observations are the only way to spatially resolve the sub-parsec level emission regions where the high-energy radiation originates. The gap from radio to gamma-ray energies is spanned with near simultaneous data from the Swift satellite and ground based optical observatories. We present early results from the TANAMI program in the context of this panchromatic suite of observations.