Observational study of jet-formation regions in supermassive black holes with a novel VLBI technique

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26800109
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
• Principal Investigator: Hada Kazuhiro 国立天文台, 水沢VLBI観測所, 助教 (60724458)
• Research Collaborator: HONMA Mareki 国立天文台, 水沢VLBI観測所, 助教 (20332166) ; DOI Akihiro 宇宙科学研究所, 助教 (90403641) ; KINO Motoki 韓国天文研究院, 上席研究員 (70531234) ; GIOVANNINI Gabriele ボローニャ大学, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 電波天文学 / 超長基線電波干渉計（VLBI） / 活動銀河核 / ブラックホール / 相対論的ジェット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Understanding the formation mechanisms of relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is one of central questions in modern astrophysics. In this program, we studied several nearby AGN jets, including M87, by using the multi-frequency phase-referencing VLBI technique. We found that the M87 jet could be powered by the central supermassive black hole with strong magnetic fields. We also found that some other sources, in contrast to M87, could have jets that were launched in the accretion disks. These results suggest that various formation mechanisms are viable in AGN jets depending on their individual properties and surrounding environment.

Free Research Field

電波天文学