Space VLBI Observations of Gamma-Ray Sources
P.G. Edwards, H. Hirabayashi, et al.
Abstract
HALCA, the first dedicated satellite for Very Long Baseline Interferometry
observations on Earth-space baselines, was launched by
Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in February 1997.
Observations with HALCA and ground-telescopes are made as part of
the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP). VSOP observations are
undertaken at 1.6 GHz (l18 cm) and 5 GHz (l6 cm),
with extragalactic, radio-loud, flat-spectrum sources predominant
in the observing schedule. Many GeV and TeV gamma-ray sources have been
observed as part of the General Observing Time, and also as part
of the mission-led VSOP Survey Program of ~ 300 Active Galactic Nuclei.
This paper will very briefly describe the VLBI Space Observatory
Programme, and review the results of observations from a number
of the gamma-ray sources that have been observed to date,
including 3C279, Mkn 421 and Mkn 501, as well as some of the
prominent sources that have not been detected at gamma-ray energies.
VSOP observations offer the highest resolution imaging possible
at these frequencies and are therefore an important ingredient
in our understanding of these sources.
File translated from TEX by TTH, version 2.32.
On 16 Jul 1999, 09:19.