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We report on the acceleration properties of 329 features in 95 blazar jets from the MOJAVE VLBA program. Nearly half the features and three-quarters of the jets show significant changes in speed and/or direction. In general, apparent speed changes are distinctly larger than changes in direction, indicating that changes in the Lorentz factors of jet features dominate the observed speed changes rather than bends along the line of sight. Observed accelerations tend to increase the speed of features near the jet base, $\lesssim 10-20$ parsecs projected, and decrease their speed at longer distances. The range of apparent speeds at fixed distance in an individual jet can span a factor of a few, indicating that shock properties and geometry may influence the apparent motions; however, we suggest that the broad trend of jet features increasing their speed near the origin is due to an overall acceleration of the jet flow out to de-projected distances of order $10^2$ parsecs, beyond which the flow begins to decelerate or remains nearly constant in speed. We estimate intrinsic rates of change of the Lorentz factors in the galaxy frame of order $\dot{\Gamma}/\Gamma \simeq 10^{-3}$ to $10^{-2}$ per year which can lead to total Lorentz factor changes of a factor of a few on the length scales observed here. Finally, we also find evidence for jet collimation at projected distances of $\lesssim 10$ parsecs in the form of the non-radial motion and bending accelerations that tend to better align features with the inner jet., Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for Publication in ApJ

We present a 1.4-GHz catalog of 810 radio sources (560 sources in the complete sample) with 1.8" resolution found within a 17' radius in the SSA13 field (RA=13h12m,DEC=42d38'). The radio image from the VLA has an rms noise level of 4.82 microJy/beam at the field center, and Subaru optical images in r-band (6300A) and z-band (9200A) have a three-sigma detection magnitude of 26.1 and 24.9, respectively. 88% of the radio sources are identified with an optical counterpart, and there is significantly more reddening for objects fainter than 24-mag. The radio and optical parameters are tabulated, and source morphologies are displayed by radio contours overlaying optical false-color images. The radio structures show a wealth of complexity and these are classified into a small number of categories. About one-third of the radio sources are larger than 1.2" and their orientation is often similar to that of the associated galaxy or binary-galaxy system. The density of sources in the SSA13 field above 75 microJy is 0.40 per square arcmin, with a slope of -2.43 in the differential counts. The radio spectral index may steepen for sources below 75 microJy. We estimate that at most 40% of the microJansky radio sources are dominated by AGN processes., Comment: 50 pages, 14 figures of which fig 6 contains 33 parts. In press, Astrophysical Journal, Suppl

We present a new method for studying the intrinsic brightness temperatures of the parsec-scale jet cores of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Our method uses observed superluminal motions and observed brightness temperatures for a large sample of AGN to constrain the characteristic intrinsic brightness temperature of the sample as a whole. To study changes in intrinsic brightness temperature, we assume that the Doppler factors of individual jets are constant in time as justified by their relatively small changes in observed flux density. We find that in their median-low brightness temperature state, the sources in our sample have a narrow range of intrinsic brightness temperatures centered on a characteristic temperature, T_int = 3 x 10^10 K, which is close to the value expected for equipartition, when the energy in the radiating particles equals the energy stored in the magnetic fields. However, in their maximum brightness state, we find that sources in our sample have a characteristic intrinsic brightness temperature greater than 2 x 10^11 K, which is well in excess of the equipartition temperature. In this state, we estimate the energy in radiating particles exceeds the energy in the magnetic field by a factor of ~ 10^5. We suggest that the excess of particle energy when sources are in their maximum brightness state is due to injection or acceleration of particles at the base of the jet. Our results suggest that the common method of estimating jet Doppler factors by using a single measurement of observed brightness temperature and/or the assumption of equipartition may lead to large scatter or systematic errors in the derived values., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Accepted to Appear in ApJ Letters

We have measured the size of the compact radio nucleus of the giant radio galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) as 0.5 ± 0.1 milliarcseconds. The corresponding linear dimensions of 0.01 pc ~ 10 light-days ~ 1016 cm make this the smallest known extragalactic radio source. If the radio lobes are powered by a massive central engine, such as a black hole, their large total energy content combined with our measurement of the size of the central radio source, suggest that the central mass density may have exceeded 5 × 1013 M☉ pc-3, a value far larger than has been determined for any other active galactic nucleus or quasar.

The form of the quasar luminosity function and its redshift dependence to z~1 has long been established; powerful evolution is required so that by z=1 there is an increase of order 102 – 103 in the space density of the most luminous sources. However it is more difficult to deduce the form of the LF at high redshifts. In this contribution we discuss how a sample of relatively bright radio sources has been used to determine the high-redshift behavior of the radiodoud quasar luminosity function, and the particular advantages of using a radio-selected sample. Our results illustrate how radio-loud quasar samples can be an efficient probe of the high-redshift. Universe.

Eighteen days of MERLIN data and 42 hours of A‐array VLA data at 1.4 GHz have been combined to image a 10‐arcmin field centred on the Hubble Deep Field (HDF). This area also includes the Hubble Flanking Fields (HFF). A complete sample of 92 radio sources with S1.4GHz>40μJy was detected using the VLA data alone and then imaged with the MERLIN+VLA combination. The combined images offer: i) higher angular resolution (synthesised beams of diameter 0.2–0.5 arcsec); ii) improved astrometric accuracy and iii) improved sensitivity compared with VLA‐only data. The images are amongst the most sensitive yet made at 1.4 GHz, with rms noise levels of 3.3μJy/beam in the 0.2‐arcsec images. Virtually all the sources are resolved, with angular sizes in the range 0.2 to 3 arcsec. Radio sources associated with compact galaxies have been used to align the HDF, the HFF and a larger CFHT optical field, to the radio‐based International Celestial Reference Frame. The HST optical fields have been registered to

With the goal of investigating the link between black hole (BH) and star formation (SF) activity, we study a deep sample of radio selected star forming galaxies (SFGs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Using a multi-wavelength approach we characterize their host galaxies properties (stellar masses, optical colors, and morphology). Moreover, comparing the star formation rate derived from the radio and far-infrared luminosity, we found evidences that the main contribution to the radio emission in the radio-quiet AGNs is star-formation activity in their host galaxy.

We have mapped the broad line radio galaxy 3C390.3 at 1.3, 6, and 18 cm wavelengths with resolutions ranging from 0.2 to 2.7 mas. Our new 6 cm image is consistent with a stationary bright region located 4 to 5 mas from the core and motion of the other features with apparent velocities of 0.4 to 0.7 mas/yr. Our high resolution 1.3 cm image indicates that the ‘jet’ breaks up into 5 or more distinct features.

We report a change in the trajectory of a well studied jet component of the quasar 3C279. The component changes in apparent projected speed and direction, and we find it to be moving with a Lorentz factor gamma >~ 15 at an initial angle of ~ 1 kiloparsec (deprojected) along the jet. While the change in trajectory on the sky appears to be 26 degrees the intrinsic change is ~ 28 and after the change to be D >~ 23. Comparison to independent constraints on the Doppler factor suggest that the energy in the radiating particles cannot greatly exceed the energy in the magnetic field unless the volume filling factor is very much less than one., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Accepted by ApJ Letters. Replaced version adds a comment to the discussion

(Abridged) We discuss multiple VLBI continuum and spectral line observations and WSRT spectroscopy of NGC 1052. Sub-parsec scale features move outward at approximately 0.26c in bi-symmetric jets, most likely oriented near the plane of the sky. Absorption and emission signatures reveal ionised, atomic, and molecular components of the surrounding medium. Seven-frequency (1.4 to 43 GHz) VLBA observations show free-free absorption in the inner parsec, probably together with synchrotron self-absorption. There is apparently a geometrically thick but patchy structure oriented roughly orthogonal to the jets. The western jet is receding: it is covered more deeply and extensively. HI spectral line VLBI reveals atomic gas in front of both jets. There appear to be three velocity systems. The deepest, at "high velocities" (receding by 125 to 200 km/s), seems restricted to a shell 1 to 2 pc away from the core, within which this gas might be largely ionised. WSRT spectroscopy has revealed 1667 and 1665 MHz OH absorption with their line ratio varying roughly from 1:1 to 2:1 between -35 and 200 km/s. In the high velocity system the OH profiles are similar to HI, suggesting co-location of that atomic and molecular gas, and leaving unclear the connection to the H2O masing gas seen elsewhere. We have also detected both 18cm OH satellite lines in the high velocity system. They have conjugate profiles: 1612 MHz is in absorption, and 1720 MHz in emission., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, LaTeX, includes aa.cls, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

We present a new sample of quarter-Jansky flat-spectrum radio sources selected to search for high-redshift quasars and to study the evolution of the flat-spectrum quasar population. The sample comprises 878 radio sources selected from the Parkes catalogues with spectral indices α 5 G H z 2 . 7 G H z ≥ -0.4 where S ν oc ν α . The sample covers all right ascensions and the declination range from -80°.0 to +2°.5, excluding low galactic latitudes (‖ b ‖< 10°) and the Magellanic Cloud regions. We have obtained improved radio source positions, firstly to reconfirm the majority of the existing identifications, and secondly, using digitized sky-survey data and deep B, Gunn-i and Gunn-z CCD-imaging, to find optical identifications for 223 previously-unidentified sources. We present the final catalogue of 878 flat-spectrum sources: 827 are compact radio sources identified with galaxies, quasars and BL Lac objects, 38 have either extended radio structure or are identified with Galactic objects (PN, HII or non-compact radio source), 4 are obscured by Galactic stars, and 9 (1 per cent of the total sample) remain unidentified.

We present the results of a multi-epoch VLBA study of the powerful radio source 4C +12.50 (PKS 1345+125) at a wavelength of 2 cm. This compact radio source is associated with a hidden quasar whose host galaxy shows signs of a recent merger. It has been classified as a compact symmetric source (CSO) due to its small overall size (~220 pc) and twin-jet morphology, although it also has faint extended emission that may be a relic of previous activity. We report the detection of exceedingly high linear fractional polarization in isolated features of the southern jet (up to 60%), which is highly unusual for a CSO. Given the large amount of gas present in the host galaxy, we would expect significant Faraday depolarization across the whole source, unless the depolarizing gas is fairly clumpy. The southern jet also contains two features that are moving outward from the core at apparent speeds of v/c = 1.0 +/- 0.3 and 1.2 +/- 0.3. These represent the first positive detections of superluminal motion in a CSO, and taken together with the jet to counter-jet flux ratio, suggest an intrinsic flow speed of v/c = 0.84 +/- 0.12. The apparent ridgeline of the jet and counter-jet are consistent with a conical helix of wavelength 280 pc that is the result of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities driven by a slow precession of the jet nozzle. A fit to the data implies that the nozzle is precessing around a cone with half-angle 23 degrees, whose axis lies at an angle of 82 degrees to the line of sight. We suggest that the "S"-shaped jet morphologies commonly seen in recent AGN outflows such as 4C +12.50 may simply reflect the fact that their black hole spin axes are still precessing, and have not had sufficient time to align with their accretion disks., Comment: 15 pages including 6 figures. Uses emulateapj.sty. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Sagittarius (Sgr) A(*) is a unique radio source located at the center of our galaxy. The radiation from Sgr A(*) may be generated in matter accreting onto a massive black hole. In observations at long wavelengths, the apparent angular size of Sgr A(*) decreases in the manner expected for emission from a point source scattered by electron density fluctuations along the line of sight. Measurements at a wavelength of 7 millimeters with the nearly completed Very Long Baseline Array indicate a size of 0.7 milliarc seconds, which is consistent with an extrapolation from results at longer wavelengths. The true size of Sgr A(*) must be less than 0.4 milliarc seconds, or 3.3 astronomical units. The inferred black hole mass is less than 1.5 x 10(6) solar masses according to a recent model for the emission.

Images of Sgr* A with milliarcsecond resolution obtained by using five telescopes of the partially completed Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in conjunction with a few additional telescopes are presented. The image of Sgr A* at a wavelength of 3.6 cm confirms almost exactly the elliptical Gaussian model that has been proposed on the basis of previous data. The source size at 1.34 cm wavelength is 2.4 +/- 0.2 mas, similar to previous results. At both wavelengths, the radio source is smooth, without detectable fine structure. These observations support the suggestion that the radio emission from Sgr A* is strongly scattered by electron-density fluctuations along the line of sight. On the assumption that the emission is due to a black hole accreting stellar winds from massive stars in the central 0.5 pc, the observations are consistent with a black hole mass of less than about 2 million solar masses.

Radio telescopes in more than 20 different countries on five continents are being used for VLBI observations of galactic and extragalactic radio sources, as well for applications to geodesy and geophysics. New radio telescopes and networks of radio telescopes dedicated to VLBI which are being built in the United States, the U.S.S.R., Italy, China, Poland, the U.K. as well as in Australia will greatly improve the sensitivity, resolution, image quality, and frequency coverage of the existing networks. The Mk II VLBI recording system, which is based on consumer type Video Tape Recorders, is widely used but the sensitivity is limited. Broad band recording systems are expensive, but are becoming more popular due to their much greater sensitivity. They are expected to dominate VLBI systems in the 1990s. The first tests of an earth-to-space VLBI system took place in 1986, and by the mid 1990s dedicated VLBI antennas will be launched into earth orbit by the U.S.S.R. and by Japan in collaboration with Australia and other countries throughout the world. Space VLBI missions will give an order of magnitude improvement in resolution over the ground based VLBI networks operating at the same wavelengths.

Radio-based searches for high-redshift quasars offer significant advantages: large surveys with accurate positions, simple selection effects, relatively unrestricted redshift range — and radio emission is unaffected by dust obscuration. We have recently completed such a search, finding the highest-redshift radio quasar known and showing that the redshift cutoff is real, and not due merely to dust obscuration. Future searches will use one of the most prominent features in quasar spectra as a signature: the far-infrared bump which is redshifted into the millimeter waveband. The VLT will play an important role in this work, not only in identifying the quasars themselves, but also in studying the faint galaxies and absorption systems along the line of sight.

We describe the parsec-scale kinematics of 200 active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets based on 15 GHz Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data obtained between 1994 August 31 and 2011 May 1. We present new VLBA 15 GHz images of these and 59 additional AGNs from the MOJAVE and 2 cm Survey programs. Nearly all of the 60 most heavily observed jets show significant changes in their innermost position angle over a 12–16 yr interval, ranging from 10° to 150° on the sky, corresponding to intrinsic variations of ∼0.°5 to ∼2°. The BL Lac jets show smaller variations than quasars. Roughly half of the heavily observed jets show systematic position angle trends with time, and 20 show indications of oscillatory behavior. The time spans of the data sets are too short compared to the fitted periods (5–12 yr), however, to reliably establish periodicity. The rapid changes and large jumps in position angle seen in many cases suggest that the superluminal AGN jet features occupy only a portion of the entire jet cross section and may be energized portions of thin instability structures within the jet. We have derived vector proper motions for 887 moving features in 200 jets having at least five VLBA epochs. For 557 well-sampled features, there are sufficient data to additionally study possible accelerations. We find that the moving features are generally non-ballistic, with 70% of the well-sampled features showing either significant accelerations or non-radial motions. Inward motions are rare (2% of all features), are slow (−1), are more prevalent in BL Lac jets, and are typically found within 1 mas of the unresolved core feature. There is a general trend of increasing apparent speed with distance down the jet for both radio galaxies and BL Lac objects. In most jets, the speeds of the features cluster around a characteristic value, yet there is a considerable dispersion in the distribution. Orientation variations within the jet cannot fully account for the dispersion, implying that the features have a range of Lorentz factor and/or pattern speed. Very slow pattern speed features are rare, comprising only 4% of the sample, and are more prevalent in radio galaxy and BL Lac jets. We confirm a previously reported upper envelope to the distribution of speed versus beamed luminosity for moving jet features. Below 1026 W Hz−1 there is a fall-off in maximum speed with decreasing 15 GHz radio luminosity. The general shape of the envelope implies that the most intrinsically powerful AGN jets have a wide range of Lorentz factors up to ∼40, while intrinsically weak jets are only mildly relativistic.

We used the 1.4 GHz NVSS to study radio sources in two color-selected QSO samples: a volume-limited sample of 1313 QSOs defined by M_i < -23 in the redshift range 0.2 < z < 0.45 and a magnitude-limited sample of 2471 QSOs with m_r < 18.5 and 1.8 < z < 2.5. About 10% were detected above the 2.4 mJy NVSS catalog limit and are powered primarily by AGNs. The space density of the low-redshift QSOs evolves as rho proportional to (1+z)^6. In both redshift ranges the flux-density distributions and luminosity functions of QSOs stronger than 2.4 mJy are power laws, with no features to suggest more than one kind of radio source. Extrapolating the power laws to lower luminosities predicts the remaining QSOs should be extremely radio quiet, but they are not. Most were detected statistically on the NVSS images with median peak flux densities S_p(mJy/beam) ~ 0.3 and 0.05 in the low- and high-redshift samples, corresponding to 1.4 GHz spectral luminosities log[L(W/Hz)] ~ 22.7$ and 24.1, respectively. We suggest that the faint radio sources are powered by star formation at rates ~20 M_sun per year in the moderate luminosity (median M_i ~ -23.4) low-redshift QSOs and ~500 M_sun per year in the very luminous (M_i} ~ -27.5) high-redshift QSOs. Such luminous starbursts [ log(L / L_sun) ~ 11.2 and 12.6, respectively] are consistent with "quasar mode" accretion in which cold gas flows fuel both AGN and starburst.

Deep radio observations at 1.4GHz for the Extended Chandra Deep Field South were performed in June through September of 2007 and presented in a first data release (Miller et al. 2008). The survey was made using six separate pointings of the Very Large Array (VLA) with over 40 hours of observation per pointing. In the current paper, we improve on the data reduction to produce a second data release (DR2) mosaic image. This DR2 image covers an area of about a third of a square degree and reaches a best rms sensitivity of 6 uJy and has a typical sensitivity of 7.4 uJy per 2.8" by 1.6" beam. We also present a more comprehensive catalog, including sources down to peak flux densities of five or more times the local rms noise along with information on source sizes and relevant pointing data. We discuss in some detail the consideration of whether sources are resolved under the complication of a radio image created as a mosaic of separate pointings each suffering some degree of bandwidth smearing, and the accurate evaluation of the flux densities of such sources. Finally, the radio morphologies and optical/near-IR counterpart identifications (Bonzini et al. 2012) are used to identify 17 likely multiple-component sources and arrive at a catalog of 883 radio sources, which is roughly double the number of sources contained in the first data release.

An unusual counterjet feature was discovered in 3C 84, the compact radio nucleus of NGC 1275, in the “First Science” observations on the VLBA at 8.4 GHz (Walker et al., 1994), and simultaneously in Global VLBI observations at 22 GHz (Vermeulen et al., 1994). Comparison of these images indicated a strongly inverted spectrum in this feature, but the interpretation was clouded by the two-year difference between the epochs of observation. To resolve this ambiguity, and to study the spectrum of the counterjet, we exploited the capabilities of the VLBA to make nearly simultaneous observations of 3C 84 at 2.3, 5.0, 8.4, 15.4, 22, and 43 GHz, in four apparitions over a 16-day period in January 1995. These observations also served to continue structural monitoring programs at 15 and 22 GHz. This paper presents preliminary images from those observations. A companion contribution by Walker et al. (1995) discusses the interpretation of the images.

An upper limit on the space density of quasars at z > 5 is obtained independent of any optical magnitude limit, from the complete identification of a large sample of flat-spectrum radio sources. This upper limit is below the observed space density at z ∼ 2 — 3, showing that the turnover in space density is real and not merely due to obscuration.

A northern feature, that is most likely related to a counterjet, was found on parsec scales in 3C 84 (which is in NGC 1275) in “First Science” observations on the VLBA1 at 8.4 GHz (Walker et al., 1994) and in Global VLBI observations at 22 GHz (Vermeulen et al., 1994). The jet/counterjet length ratio, brightness ratio at 22 GHz, and speeds, as measured over many years with VLBI, fit a simple beaming model with symmetric jets oriented at 30–50 degrees to the line-of-sight and traveling at a speed of 0.3–0.5 times the speed of light. These ranges allow for Hubble constants of between 50 and 100 km s−1 Mpc−1. The brightness of the counterjet at 8.4 GHz was very much lower than expected with this model, assuming that the spectral indices in the near and far side jets are similar. This was interpreted as the result of free-free absorption in an ionized medium that lies in front of the counterjet but not in front of the near-side jet. An accretion disk or torus has an appropriate geometry to show this effect (for an analysis, see Levinson et al., 1995).

We present the brightness distribution of nine radio sources selected from the VLA Intermediate Source Survey [Fomalont et al. Science, 225, 23 (1984)] and suggest optical identifications for six of the sources. The radio structures include both unresolved and multicomponent morphology characteristic of stronger source samples. The optically identified sample includes one extended source identified with a bright spiral galaxy, two flat spectrum unresolved sources identified with quasistellar objects, and three steep spectrum sources identified with faint galaxies

VLBA observations of the two-sided emission structures in 3C 84 have been used to study the ionized gas in the vicinity of the presumed accretion disk on parsec scales. Strong free-free absorption is seen with a radial gradient, but only upper limits have been obtained on a stimulated recombination line at 23 GHz.

We report on some preliminary results on the evolution and luminosity functions of submillijansky (sub-mJy) radio sources, based on the VLA Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS) sample.

Multi-frequency VLBA observations were used to study the magnitude and radial dependence of free-free absorption of the radio emission from the counterjet in 3C 84.

VLBA+Effelsberg observations of the radio galaxy 3C 111 at 7 mm show remarkable rapid changes in structure which cannot be described in terms of simple component motions or changes in the structure of fixed components.

A VLBA map of CTD 93 at 2 cm shows the morphology to be better described as a core-jet configuration than as a symmetric compact double structure.

VLBA observations of 130 quasars and AGN made at 15 GHz with submilliarcsecond resolution show a variety of structures, most of which appear linear.

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Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) allows us to study a core of AGN with a sub-parsec resolution. We analyze the dependencies “apparent angular size – redshift” and “apparent motion – redshift” which contain an imprint of the source's properties and cosmology. We present data on the “angular size – redshift” relation obtained with VLBI at 5 GHz on a sample of 300 AGN distributed over the widest available range of redshifts 0.016 ≤ z ≤ 4.5. The sample exceeds those used in similar studies earlier by Kellermann (1993, 79 sources) and Wilkinson et al. (1997, 160 sources). Unlike extended source, the angular size-redshift for compact radio sources appears consistent with the predictions of standard Friedmann world models with qo ≃ 0.5 without taking into account evolutionary effects or selection effects due to a “linear size – luminosity” or “linear size – spectral index” dependences. We discuss different approaches allowing us to disentangle intrinsic evolutionary properties of sources and parameters of the cosmological model. Recent estimates of parameters of the cosmological model are given. We also discuss a perspective of conclusive cosmological tests using the VLBI technique.

For more than three decades following his optical identifications of the Crab Nebula and the first radio galaxies in 1948, John Bolton was at the forefront of radio astronomy and led the way to the discovery of quasars and ever more distant radio galaxies. At both Caltech and at the CSIRO Radiophysics Laboratory in Australia, he was the driving force behind a dedicated group of colleagues and students who continue to build on his many pioneering discoveries in radio astronomy. Bolton was recognized by many honors and prizes including the 1988 Bruce Medal of Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

This paper reviews John G. Bolton's contributions to our understanding of compact radio sources associated with quasars and active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and his work leading to the discovery of quasars. Particular attention is given to the interpretation of the observed properties of quasars and AGNs within the framework of unified models which interpret the wide variety of observed properties as being the result of orientation rather than of any intrinsic differences.

Les nouvelles observations optiques et radio sont presentees pour le quasar quadruple Cloverleaf (feuille de trefle) H 1413+117. Des modeles de lentilles gravitationnelles s'ajustant aux nouvelles proprietes observees de ce quasar sont egalement presentes.

The VLB Array (VLBA) is a synthesis radio telescope which has been designed to extend the resolution of the VLA in order to allow sub-milliarcsec studies of compact galactic and extragalactic radio sources over a wide range of wavelengths and spectral resolution.

Plusieurs radio sources comme 3C 345 et 3C 120 sont constituées de plusieurs composantes qui semblent se séparer avec une vitesse apparente de 5 ou 10 fois la vitesse de la lumière. Ce phénomène peut être interprété comme une preuve contre l’interprétation cosmologique du décalage vers le rouge. D’autres explications tirées de la physique et de la cosmologie conventionnelles sont abordées mais elles ne sont pas tout à fait satisfaisantes.

High resolution observations made with intercontinental arrays of up to seven radio telescopes permit resolutions better than one thousandth of an arc second, and have disclosed remarkably complex structure in the nuclei of galaxies and quasars. Dimensions as small as a few hundredths of a parsec have been measured for the nuclei of some nearby galaxies; the source at the nucleus of our own Galaxy contains a component only 7 A.U. across and puts a limit on the size of the fundamental energy machine at the Galactic nucleus. In some compact sources, individual components appear to separate with linear velocities well in excess of the speed of light. Although a variety of explanations have been offered, none are entirely satisfactory.

The counts of radio sources at short wavelengths are discussed and are compared with the results of the V/Vm analysis. Although the space distributions of compact and extended radio sources appear different, the former are not necessarily more uniformly distributed as suggested in earlier discussions.

Active Galactic Nuclei and quasars are characterized at radio wavelengths by a high surface brightness, a flat spectrum, variations in intensity on time scales of a few days to a few years, and by large internal motions which probably reflect Doppler beaming from a synchrotron source which is moving with relativistic velocity away from the central energy source and toward the observer. The observations do not support interpretations based on simple ballistic models where the observed motion and core strength depends only on the geometric orientation of a relativistic beam, but appear to require significant dispersion in intrinsic properties as well as complex dynamics.