2025 Project Description

Locating the 3C 84 Black Hole and Exploring Its Connection to Subparsec-Scale Jet Dynamics

Supervisors

Minchul Kam, Keiichi Asada
Find out more about supervisors on ASIAA website

Task Description and Goals

The radio source 3C 84 (Perseus A) is located within the elliptical galaxy NGC 1275, the central galaxy of the Perseus cluster. It hosts two-sided jets that emerge from the central core at a very wide angle on subparsec scales. The jet's direction has varied continuously over the past decades, reflecting the complex evolution of jet morphology in the core region. The origin of this dynamic jet activity and its connection to the black hole remains elusive. In this project, the summer student will investigate the multifrequency Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) dataset of 3C 84 observed over various periods. By analyzing the core-shift effect, the student will determine the black hole's location at different times and analyze how this location correlates with the dynamic jet activity. Additionally, the student will explore the radio spectrum of the core and the jet to study potential indications of free-free absorbing materials near the core region that might influence jet activity.

Required Background

Experience in (i) AGN studies, particularly at radio wavelengths, and (ii) VLBI data reduction and imaging.