Multiwavelength VLBI observations of Sagittarius A*

TL;DR

This study used multiwavelength VLBI observations of Sagittarius A* over 10 days, revealing variability, spectral properties, and size measurements that inform models of the black hole's immediate environment.

Contribution

First simultaneous multi-frequency VLBI monitoring of Sgr A* over 10 days, providing detailed insights into its variability, spectral behavior, and intrinsic structure.

Findings

Variability amplitude increases with frequency.

Radio spectrum is inverted, indicating synchrotron self-absorption.

Intrinsic source size varies with wavelength as λ^{1.4-1.5}.

Abstract

The compact radio source Sgr\,A*, associated with the super massive black hole at the center of the Galaxy, has been studied with VLBA observations at 3 frequencies (22, 43, 86\,GHz) performed on 10 consecutive days in May 2007. The total VLBI flux density of Sgr\,A* varies from day to day. The variability is correlated at the 3 observing frequencies with higher variability amplitudes appearing at the higher frequencies. For the modulation indices, we find 8.4\,% at 22\,GHz, 9.3\,% at 43\,GHz, and 15.5\,% at 86\,GHz. The radio spectrum is inverted between 22 and 86\,GHz, suggesting inhomogeneous synchrotron self-absorption with a turnover frequency at or above 86\,GHz. The radio spectral index correlates with the flux density, which is harder (more inverted spectrum) when the source is brighter. The average source size does not appear to be variable over the 10-day observing interval. However, we see a tendency for the sizes of the minor axis to increase with increasing total flux, whereas the major axis remains constant. Towards higher frequencies, the position angle of the elliptical Gaussian increases, indicative of intrinsic structure, which begins to dominate the scatter broadening. At cm-wavelength, the source size varies with wavelength as $\lambda^{2.12\pm0.12}$, which is interpreted as the result of interstellar scatter broadening. After removal of this scatter broadening, the intrinsic source size varies as $\lambda^{1.4 ... 1.5}$. The VLBI closure phases at 22, 43, and 86\,GHz are zero within a few degrees, indicating a symmetric or point-like source structure. In the context of an expanding plasmon model, we obtain an upper limit of the expansion velocity of about 0.1\,c from the non-variable VLBI structure. This agrees with the velocity range derived from the radiation transport modeling of the flares from the radio to NIR wavelengths.}