A pilot VLBI study of the SQUAB quasar sample featuring multiple Gaia detections

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution VLBI imaging combined with Gaia data to classify and understand multiple Gaia-detected quasars, demonstrating the effectiveness of radio interferometry in resolving ambiguous quasar systems.

Contribution

First high-resolution VLBI imaging of a Gaia-selected quasar sample with multiple detections, refining classifications and demonstrating the combined Gaia-VLBI approach.

Findings

VLBI reveals compact radio structures consistent with single AGNs.

No significant emission detected at secondary Gaia positions.

Supports classification of sources as quasar-star pairs.

Abstract

Our previous work identified a class of SDSS quasars exhibiting multiple Gaia detections, classifying them as candidates for various astrophysical systems such as quasar-star pairs, dual quasars, and gravitationally lensed quasars. In this paper, we present a pilot VLBI study targeting a radio-bright subsample and report the first high-resolution imaging results. By leveraging the milliarcsecond-scale resolution of VLBI and its precise astrometric coordination incorporating with Gaia, we aim to refine the classification of these multiple matched sources, search for potential dual AGNs, and assess the efficacy of the combined Gaia-VLBI approach in resolving ambiguous quasar systems. We cross-matched the SQUAB quasar sample with the FIRST and NVSS catalogs, identifying 18 radio-emitting sources. The three brightest were selected for dual-frequency (1.6 and 4.9 GHz) VLBA observations. We performed VLBI imaging at both Gaia positions, constructed spectral index maps, and estimated brightness temperatures to characterize the radio morphology and physical properties. For the three target sources, our VLBI observations reveal compact radio structures consistent with single AGN at the primary Gaia positions. No significant emission is detected at the secondary Gaia locations. These results support the interpretation of the sources as quasar$-$star pairs, in line with earlier studies. This pilot study demonstrates the value of radio-VLBI high-resolution follow-ups on Gaia-selected quasar systems with multiple counterparts, showing how they can unambiguously reveal the true nature of these systems and help remove contaminants from dual AGN candidate samples.