Solid Identification of Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Source Using High-Resolution Radio Interferometric Observation

TL;DR

High-resolution VLBI observations identified the NLS1 galaxy as the true source of gamma-ray emission in a previously ambiguous case, demonstrating the importance of multiwavelength follow-up for accurate source identification.

Contribution

This study provides the first high-resolution VLBI evidence confirming the NLS1 galaxy as the gamma-ray source, refining the identification process of extragalactic gamma-ray emitters.

Findings

Detected relativistically boosted jet emission from the NLS1 galaxy

Did not detect compact radio emission from the radio galaxy

Confirmed the NLS1 as the gamma-ray source

Abstract

The dominant fraction of the extragalactic $\gamma$-ray sources are blazars, active galactic nuclei with jets inclined at a small angle to the line of sight. Apart from blazars, a few dozen narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1) and a number of radio galaxies are associated with $\gamma$-ray sources. The identification of $\gamma$-ray sources requires multiwavelength follow-up observations since several candidates could reside within the relatively large $\gamma$-ray localisation area. The $\gamma$-ray source 4FGL 0959.6+4606 was originally associated with a radio galaxy. However, follow-up multiwavelength work suggested a nearby NLS1 as the more probable origin of the $\gamma$-ray emission. We performed high-resolution very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observation at 5 GHz of both proposed counterparts of 4FGL 0959.6+4606. We clearly detected the NLS1 source SDSS J095909.51+460014.3 with relativistically boosted jet emission. On the other hand, we did not detect milliarcsecond-scale compact emission in the radio galaxy 2MASX J09591976+4603515. Our VLBI imaging results suggest that the NLS1 object is the origin of the $\gamma$-ray emission in 4FGL 0959.6+4606.