First detection of hotspot advance in a Compact Symmetric Object. Evidence for a class of very young extragalactic radio source

Abstract

We present the results of multi-epoch global VLBI observations of the Compact Symmetric Object (CSO), 0710+439 at 5 GHz. Analysis of data spread over 13 years shows strong evidence for an increase in the separation of the outer components at a rate of $0.251 \pm 0.029 h^{-1}c$. Dividing the overall size of 86.8 $h^{-1}$pc by this separation rate implies an estimated kinematic age of only $1100 \pm 100$ yrs. After taking into account possible temporal variations in hotspot advance speeds due to cloud collisions or hydrodynamic instabilities we argue that the upper limit to the age of 0710+439 is most likely within a factor of 2 of this estimate and certainly within a factor of 10 (i.e. $<11 000$ yrs). This result therefore strongly supports the idea that Compact Symmetric Objects are very young radio-loud sources. Furthermore the large radiative efficiency we calculate for 0710+439 is consistent with strong negative luminosity evolution as CSOs grow in size and with them evolving into classical double sources.