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Register a new userLinear Polarization Properties of Parsec-Scale AGN~Jets
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Alexander Pushkarev
Publication date
2017
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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We used 15 GHz multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) polarization sensitive observations of 484 sources within a time interval 1996--2016 from the MOJAVE program, and also from the NRAO data archive. We have analyzed the linear polarization characteristics of the compact core features and regions downstream, and their changes along and across the parsec-scale active galactic nuclei (AGN) jets. We detected a significant increase of fractional polarization with distance from the radio core along the jet as well as towards the jet edges. Compared to quasars, BL Lacs have a higher degree of polarization and exhibit more stable electric vector position angles (EVPAs) in their core features and a better alignment of the EVPAs with the local jet direction. The latter is accompanied by a higher degree of linear polarization, suggesting that compact bright jet features might be strong transverse shocks, which enhance magnetic field regularity by compression.
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(Abridged) We consider the polarization properties of optically thin synchrotron radiation emitted by relativistically moving electron--positron jets carrying large-scale helical magnetic fields. In our model, the jet is cylindrical, and the emitting plasma moves parallel to the jet axis with a characteristic Lorentz factor $Gamma$. We draw attention to the strong influence that the bulk relativistic motion of the emitting relativistic particles has on the observed polarization. We conclude that large-scale magnetic fields can explain the salient polarization properties of parsec-scale AGN jets. Since the typical degrees of polarization are $leq 15%$, the emitting parts of the jets must have comparable rest-frame toroidal and poloidal fields. In this case, most relativistic jets are strongly dominated by the toroidal magnetic field component in the observers frame, $B_phi/B_z sim Gamma$. We also discuss the possibility that relativistic AGN jets may be electromagnetically (Poynting flux) dominated. In this case, dissipation of the toroidal magnetic field (and not fluid shocks) may be responsible for particle acceleration.
A number of works reported on the existence of a large scale alignment of the polarization plane of extragalactic sources as well as the alignment of radio-sources structural axes. However, both claims and their interpretation remain controversial. For the first time we explore the parsec-scale jets alignments. Additionally, we use archival polarimetric data at different wavelengths in order to compare relative orientations of the jets and the polarization planes of their emission. Using the flux density distribution in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) radio maps from the Astrogeo database, we determine the parsec-scale jet orientation for the largest sample of active galactic nuclei (AGN) to date. Employing the method of parallel transport and a sample statistics characterizing the jet orientation dispersion among neighbors, we test whether the identified jets are significantly aligned. We show that the parsec-scale jets in our sample do not demonstrate any significant global alignments. Moreover, the jet direction is found to be weakly correlated with the polarization plane direction at different frequencies.
We present Directors Discretionary Time multi-frequency observations obtained with the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) of the blazar PSO J030947.49+271757.31 (hereafter PSO J0309+27) at $z = 6.10pm0.03$. The milliarcsecond angular resolution of our VLBA observations at 1.5, 5 and 8.4 GHz unveils a bright one-sided jet extended for $sim500$ parsecs in projection. This high-z radio-loud AGN is resolved into multiple compact sub-components, embedded in a more diffuse and faint radio emission, which enshrouds them in a continuous jet structure. We derive limits on some physical parameters directly from the observable quantities, such as viewing angle, Lorentz and Doppler factors. If PSO J0309+27 is a genuine blazar, as suggested by its X-ray properties, then we find that its bulk Lorentz factor must be relatively low (less than 5). Such value would be in favour of a scenario currently proposed to reconcile the paucity of high-z blazars with respect to current predictions. Nevertheless, we cannot exclude that PSO J0309+27 is seen under a larger viewing angle, which would imply that the X-ray emission must be enhanced, for example, by inverse Compton with the Cosmic Microwave Background. More stringent constraints on the bulk Lorentz factor in PSO J0309+27 and the other high-z blazars are necessary to test whether their properties are intrinsically different with respect to the low-z blazar population.
We report on an ongoing effort to image active galactic nuclei simultaneously observed at 2.3 and 8.6 GHz in the framework of a long-term VLBI project RDV (Research and Development - VLBA) started in 1994 aiming to observe compact extragalactic radio sources in the astrometric/geodetic mode. Observations of bright extragalactic sources are carried out bi-monthly making up to six sessions per year with participation of all ten VLBA antennas and up to nine additional (geodetic and EVN) radio telescopes. Analysis of single-epoch results for 370 quasars, BL Lacs and radio galaxies is presented. We discuss VLBI core properties (flux densities, sizes, brightness temperatures), spectral characteristics of the cores and jets, evolution of brightness temperatures in the jets.
We present 5321 milliarcsecond-resolution total intensity and linear polarization maps of 437 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) obtained with the VLBA at 15 GHz as part of the MOJAVE survey, and also from the NRAO data archive. The former is a long-term program to study the structure and evolution of powerful parsec-scale outflows associated with AGNs. The targeted AGNs are drawn from several flux-limited radio and gamma-ray samples, and all have correlated VLBA flux densities greater than about 50 mJy at 15 GHz. Approximately 80% of these AGNs are associated with gamma-ray sources detected by the Fermi LAT instrument. The vast majority were observed with the VLBA on 5 to 15 occasions between 1996 January 19 and 2016 December 26, at intervals ranging from a month to several years, with the most typical sampling interval being six months. A detailed analysis of the linear and circular polarization evolution of these AGN jets are presented in other papers in this series.
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