Brightness Temperature Constraints to Compact Synchrotron Source Radiation Obtained from IDV and VLBI Observations

Abstract

We discuss the observational and theoretical constraints on the brightness temperature of compact opaque synchrotron sources. We consider the implication of observed apparent velocities on the amount of Doppler boosting and compare this with values deduced from directly measured brightness temperatures from ground and space based VLBI observations, as well as the implications of intraday variability. We also discuss the maximum rest frame brightness temperature expected under conditions of both inverse Compton cooling and equipartition conditions.