Bremen 2017 – scientific programme
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EP: Fachverband Extraterrestrische Physik
EP 3: Astrophysik
EP 3.6: Talk
Monday, March 13, 2017, 17:45–18:00, GW2 B2880
What matter(s) at the Event Horizon? Radio Interferometry at highest resolution — •Silke Britzen1, Anton Zensus1, Christian Fendt2, Andreas Eckart1,3, and Vladimir Karas4 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany — 2Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany — 3I. Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Germany — 4Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
M87 is the central elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster and at a distance of 16.7 Mpc the closest active black hole to our galaxy. The bright jet and counter-jet have been studied intensively in all wavelength regimes (radio to TeV). Most detailed information for this show-case jet has been obtained in the radio regime with increasing observing frequencies and resolution in recent years. This source is a prime object to be studied in exquisite detail with the upcoming Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations since it promises to allow a direct view on the jet launching process itself. I will present our most recent results based on an analysis of 16 years of radio interferometric monitoring data which reveal for the first time details concerning the physical processes of the jet loading of M87. I will discuss the implications for the jet launching mechanism. In addition, I will present the current status of the EHT-observations to image the photon sphere around the event horizon of M87 (and Sgr A*)and possible tests of General Relativity (GR).