Magnetic-field configurations in compact extragalactic jets

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Jones

Multifrequency and multitime polarimetry of active, compact radio sources strongly suggest that the magnetic-field structures in these sources are largely disordered or turbulent. Some initial, detailed model calculations of relativistic jets with turbulent fields have been performed in an effort to better understand the relationships between the observed polarization properties and physical structures of sources. Simulations are described involving nearly steady, isothermal, constant velocity jets with magnetic fields having approximately a Kolmogorov turbulence spectrum that is carried along the jet. They produce structures similar to those actually observed, including a core-jet appearance with superluminal knots. Likewise, the polarization has a behavior in frequency and time that is at least qualitatively similar to that observed. In addition, although individual portions of the model sources are highly polarized, as also seen with very long baseline interferometry, the integrated polarizations are relatively small, as observed.

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 346-346
Author(s):  
V. Fedorenko ◽  
A. Zentsova ◽  
T. J.-L. Courvoisier ◽  
S. Paltani

Several points indicate that extragalactic jets can interact with dense gaseous obstacles which occur on their ways. Examples of these interactions are the knotty structure of the radio and optical jet in M 87 and in other objects. These observations have been interpreted by Blandford & Königl in terms of collision of a jet with supernova remnants. We have reanalysed this idea taking into account new observations and improvements in the theory of diffusive shock acceleration. We find that the model requires a very high supernova birthrate (∼ 1 SN/year), which is not observed. It is more probable that the “obstacles” are formed by the stellar winds from the red giants. We estimate that the value of the magnetic field is ∼ 10−5 G in the interaction region (r=1kpc) (paper in preparation).


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S313) ◽  
pp. 231-235
Author(s):  
Leah K. Morabito ◽  
Adam Deller ◽  
J. B. R. Oonk ◽  
Huub Röttgering ◽  
George Miley

AbstractThe correlation between radio spectral steepness and redshift has been successfully used to find high redshift (z ⩾ 2) radio galaxies, but the origin of this relation is unknown. The ultra-steep spectra of high-z radio sources make them ideally suited for studies with the Low Band Antenna of the new Low Frequency Array, which covers 10–80 MHz and has baselines up to about 1300 km. As part of an ongoing survey, we use the longest baselines to map the low-frequency (< 70 MHz) spatial distributions along the jets of 5 bright extended steep spectrum high-z radio sources. From this, we will determine whether the spectra change over these spatially resolved sources, thereby constraining particle acceleration processes. We present early results from our low-frequency survey of ultra-steep spectrum radio galaxies. The first low frequency long baseline images of these objects are presented.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S342) ◽  
pp. 201-204
Author(s):  
Xinwu Cao

AbstractIt is still a mystery why only a small fraction of quasars contain relativistic jets. A strong magnetic field is a necessary ingredient for jet formation. Gas falls from the Bondi radius RB nearly freely to the circularization radius Rc, and a thin accretion disk is formed within Rc We suggest that the external weak magnetic field threading interstellar medium is substantially enhanced in this region, and the magnetic field at Rc can be sufficiently strong to drive outflows from the disk if the angular velocity of the gas is low at RB. In this case, the magnetic field is efficiently dragged in the disk, because most angular momentum of the disk is removed by the outflows that lead to a significantly high radial velocity. The strong magnetic field formed in this way may accelerate jets in the region near the black hole, either by the Blandford-Payne or/and Blandford-Znajek mechanisms. If the angular velocity of the circumnuclear gas is low, the field advection in the thin disk is inefficient, and it will appear as a radio-quiet (RQ) quasar.


2019 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. A56 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Keim ◽  
J. R. Callingham ◽  
H. J. A. Röttgering

Extragalactic peaked-spectrum radio sources are thought to be the progenitors of larger, radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN). Synchrotron self-absorption (SSA) has often been identified as the cause of their spectral peak. The identification of new megahertz-peaked spectrum sources from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey provides an opportunity to test how radio sources with spectral peaks below 1 GHz fit within this evolutionary picture. We observed six peaked-spectrum sources selected from the GLEAM survey, three that have spectral characteristics which violate SSA and three that have spectral peaks below 230 MHz, with the Very Long Baseline Array at 1.55 and 4.96 GHz. We present milliarcsecond resolution images of each source and constrain their morphology, linear size, luminosity, and magnetic field strength. Of the sources that are resolved by our study, the sources that violate SSA appear to be compact doubles, while the sources with peak frequencies below 230 MHz have core-jet features. We find that all of our sources are smaller than expected from SSA by factors of ≳20. We also find that component magnetic field strengths calculated from SSA are likely inaccurate, differing by factors of ≳5 from equipartition estimates. The calculated equipartition magnetic field strengths more closely resemble estimates from previously studied gigahertz-peaked spectrum sources. Exploring a model of the interaction between jets and the interstellar medium, we demonstrate that free-free absorption (FFA) can accurately describe the linear sizes and peak frequencies of our sources. Our findings support the theory that there is a fraction of peaked-spectrum sources whose spectral peaks are best modeled by FFA, implying our understanding of the early stages of radio AGN is incomplete.


1998 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 115-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Alberdi ◽  
L. Lara ◽  
J.L. Gómez ◽  
J.M. Marcaide ◽  
M.A. Pérez-Torres ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have performed simultaneous multi-frequency polarization VLBA observations of the compact radio sources 3C 395 and 4C 39.25 which show both stationary and superluminal components in their parsec-scale structures. Those of 3C 395 have been reported elsewhere. Here we report on high resolution maps of the total intensity and polarized radio emission of 4C 39.25, trace the magnetic field configuration along the jet, and explore different possibilities for the nature of the components within the framework of the bent shocked relativistic jet model.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 434-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. C. Wardle ◽  
D. H. Roberts

We present some first results of a program to map the distribution of linear polarization in compact radio sources with milliarcsecond resolution. We show first-epoch maps of 3C345 and 0735 + 178 and first- and second-epoch maps of OJ287. In general, the polarization is mainly associated with optically thin (jet) components. In the case of OJ287, polarization maps made 1 year apart are strikingly different. We also discuss some of the theoretical issues raised by these observations.


1990 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
R.R. Andreassian ◽  
A.N. Makarov

The present paper is devoted to a study of the magnetic field configuration of our Galaxy based on Faraday rotation measures (RM) of 185 pulsars and 802 extragalactic radio sources. RM data of pulsars located near the plane of the Galaxy are used for the study of magnetic fields in neighbouring spiral arms. For the distribution of spiral arms the well-known model of Georgelin and Georgelin (1976) is used. The calculations show (for details see Andreassian and Makarov, 1987, 1989) that in the Perseus spiral arm and the local Orion arm the magnetic fields have approximately the same directions (lo;bo) ≈ (80°;0°), while in the Sagittarius-Carina arm the magnetic field has an opposite direction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 482 (2) ◽  
pp. 1670-1689 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Chanapote ◽  
K Asanok ◽  
R Dodson ◽  
M Rioja ◽  
J A Green ◽  
...  

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