Hybrid mapping of the Black Hole Shadow in M87
  We present a reanalysis of the EHT 228 GHz observations of M87. We apply
traditional hybrid mapping techniques to the publicly available
`network-calibrated' data. We explore the impact on the final image of
different starting models, including: a point source, a disk, an annulus, a
Gaussian, and an asymmetric double Gaussian. The images converge to an extended
source with a size $\sim 44~\mu$as. Starting with the annulus and disk models
leads to images with the lowest noise, smallest off-source artifacts, and
better closure residuals. The source appears as a ring, or edge-brightened
disk, with higher surface brightness in the southern half, consistent with
previous results. Starting with the other models leads to a surface brightness
distribution with a similar size, and an internal depression, but not as
clearly ring-like. A consideration of visibility amplitudes vs. UV-distance
argues for a roughly circularly symmetric structure of $\sim 50~\mu$as scale,
with a sharp-edge, based on a prominent minimum in the UV-distribution, and the
amplitude of the secondary peak in the UV-plot is more consistent with an
annular model than a flat disk model. With further processing, we find a
possible modest extension from the ring toward the southwest, in a direction
consistent with the southern limb of the jet seen on 3mm VLBI images on a
factor of few larger scales. However, this extension appears along the
direction of one of the principle sidelobes of the synthesized beam, and hence
requires testing with better UV-coverage.
