We observed 20 Palomar-Green (PG) quasars at low redshift (z < 0.5) with total flux density > 1 mJy, including 4 radio-loud quasars (RLQs) and 16 radio-quiet quasars (RQQs), using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 5 GHz. Ten RQQs are clearly detected in the VLBA images, and a compact radio core is identified in eight of them, indicating the prevalence of active galactic nucleus (AGN)-related radio emission in this flux-density-limited RQQ sample. The RQQs and RLQs in our sample have a division at ∼30 mJy. The radio emission from RQQs appears to be the result of a combination of star formation and AGN-associated activities. All RQQs in our sample have a 5 GHz flux density ratio of Very Large Array (VLA) A-array to D-array |$f_{\rm c} = S_{\rm A}^{\rm VLA}/S_{\rm D}^{\rm VLA}$| above 0.2. The RQQs with f_a (VLBA and VLA flux density ratio |$S^{\rm VLBA}/S_{\rm A}^{\rm VLA}) > 0.2$| versus f_a < 0.2 show significant differences in morphology, compactness and total flux density. f_a of RQQs is systematically lower than that of RLQs, probably due to the extended jets or relic jets of RQQs on 10s to 100s parsecs which are resolved out in VLBA images. Future larger samples, especially with the addition of milli-arcsec resolution radio images of RQQs with total flux densities below 1 mJy, can test the conclusions of this paper and contributes to the understanding of the radio emission mechanism of RQQs, and the dichotomy and physical connection between RQQs and RLQs.

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) will explore the radio sky to new depths in order to conduct transformational science. SKAO data products made available to astronomers will be correspondingly large and complex, requiring the application of advanced analysis techniques to extract key science findings. To this end, SKAO is conducting a series of Science Data Challenges, each designed to familiarize the scientific community with SKAO data and to drive the development of new analysis techniques. We present the results from Science Data Challenge 2 (SDC2), which invited participants to find and characterize 233 245 neutral hydrogen (H i) sources in a simulated data product representing a 2000 h SKA-Mid spectral line observation from redshifts 0.25–0.5. Through the generous support of eight international supercomputing facilities, participants were able to undertake the Challenge using dedicated computational resources. Alongside the main challenge, ‘reproducibility awards’ were made in recognition of those pipelines which demonstrated Open Science best practice. The Challenge saw over 100 participants develop a range of new and existing techniques, with results that highlight the strengths of multidisciplinary and collaborative effort. The winning strategy – which combined predictions from two independent machine learning techniques to yield a 20 per cent improvement in overall performance – underscores one of the main Challenge outcomes: that of method complementarity. It is likely that the combination of methods in a so-called ensemble approach will be key to exploiting very large astronomical data sets.

This study uses multifrequency very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) to study the radio emission from 10 radio-quiet quasars (RQQs) and four radio-loud quasars (RLQs). The diverse morphologies, radio spectra, and brightness temperatures observed in the VLBI images of these RQQs, together with the variability in their GHz spectra and VLBI flux densities, shed light on the origins of their nuclear radio emission. The total radio emission of RQQs appears to originate from non-thermal synchrotron radiation due to a combination of active galactic nuclei and star formation activities. However, our data suggest that the VLBI-detected radio emission from these RQQs is primarily associated with compact jets or corona, with extended emissions such as star formation and large-scale jets being resolved by the high resolution of the VLBI images. Wind emission models are not in complete agreement the VLBI observations. Unlike RLQs, where the parsec-scale radio emission is dominated by a relativistically boosted core, the radio cores of RQQs are either not dominant or are mixed with significant jet emission. RQQs with compact cores or core-jet structures typically have more pronounced variability, with flat or inverted spectra, whereas jet-dominated RQQs have steep spectra and unremarkable variability. Future high-resolution observations of more RQQs could help to determine the fraction of different emission sources and their associated physical mechanisms.

A tidal disruption event (TDE) involves the shredding of a star in the proximity of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The nearby (≈230 Mpc) relatively radio-quiet, thermal-emission-dominated source AT2019dsg is the first TDE with a potential neutrino association. The origin of nonthermal emission remains inconclusive; possibilities include a relativistic jet or a subrelativistic outflow. Distinguishing between them can address neutrino production mechanisms. High-resolution very long baseline interferometry 5 GHz observations provide a proper motion of 0.94 ± 0.65 mas yr⁻¹ (3.2 ± 2.2 c; 1σ). Modeling the radio emission favors an origin from the interaction between a decelerating outflow (velocity ≈0.1 c) and a dense circumnuclear medium. The transition of the synchrotron self-absorption frequency through the observation band marks a peak flux density of 1.19 ± 0.18 mJy at 152.8 ± 16.2 days. An equipartition analysis indicates an emission-region distance of ≥ 4.7 × 10¹⁶ cm, magnetic field strength ≥ 0.17 G, and number density ≥ 5.7 × 10³ cm⁻³. The disruption involves a ≈2 M _⊙ star with a penetration factor ≈1 and a total energy output of ≤ 1.5 × 10⁵² erg. The outflow is radiatively driven by the accretion of stellar debris onto the SMBH. Neutrino production is likely related to the acceleration of protons to peta-electron-volt energies and the availability of a suitable cross section at the outflow base. The present study thus helps exclude jet-related origins for nonthermal emission and neutrino production, and constrains nonjetted scenarios.

Context.The nature of jets in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the early Universe and their feedback to the host galaxy remains a highly topical question. Observations of the radio structure of high-redshift AGNs enabled by very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) provide indispensable input into studies of their properties and role in the galaxies’ evolution. To date, only five AGNs at redshiftz > 6 have been studied with the VLBI technique.Aims.VIK J2318−3113 is a recently discovered quasar atz = 6.44 that had not been imaged with VLBI before the current work. Here we present the first VLBI imaging results of this high-redshift quasar, with the aim of corroborating its high-resolution appearance with the physical model of the object.Methods.We carried out VLBI phase-referencing observations of VIK J2318−3113 using the Very Long Baseline Array at two frequencies, 1.6 and 4.7 GHz, and obtained the first view at the radio structure on the milliarcsecond scale.Results.The source was clearly detected at 1.6 GHz. We found that almost all of its radio emission comes from the parsec-scale core region. Our dual-frequency observations constrain the spectral index and brightness temperature of the radio core. Its properties are similar to those of other known high-redshift radio-loud AGNs.

Studies of high-redshift radio galaxies can shed light on the activity of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in massive elliptical galaxies, and on the assembly and evolution of galaxy clusters in the Universe. J1606+3124 has been tentatively identified as a radio galaxy at a redshift of 4.56, at an era of one-tenth of the current age of the Universe. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images show a compact triple structure with a size of 68 pc. The radio properties of J1606+3124, including the edge-brightening morphology, peaked GHz radio spectrum, slow variability, and low jet speed, consistently indicate that it is a compact symmetric object (CSO). The radio source size and expansion rate of the hotspots suggest that J1606+3124 is a young (kinematic age of ∼3600 yr) radio source. Infrared observations reveal a gas- and dust-rich host galaxy environment, which may hinder the growth of the jet; however, the ultra-high jet power of J1606+3124 gives it an excellent chance to grow into a large-scale double-lobe radio galaxy. If its redshift and galaxy classification can be confirmed by further optical spectroscopic observations, J1606+3124 will be the highest redshift CSO galaxy known to date.