Linear polarization properties of parsec-scale AGN jets

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Access rights

openAccess
CC BY

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2017-12-01

Major/Subject

Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

Series

Galaxies, Volume 5, issue 4

Abstract

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.

Description

Keywords

Active galactic nuclei, Linear polarization, Radio interferometry, Relativistic jets

Other note

Citation

Pushkarev, A B, Kovalev, Y Y, Lister, M L, Savolainen, T, Aller, M F, Aller, H D & Hodge, M A 2017, ' Linear polarization properties of parsec-scale AGN jets ', Galaxies, vol. 5, no. 4, 93 . https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies5040093