Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-07-16
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
To be published by the Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana, Vol. 79, in the Proceedings of the Workshop: "The Central K
Scientific paper
Very long baseline interferometric observations of the radio galaxy 3C 120 show a systematic presence of gradients in Faraday rotation and degree of polarization across and along the jet. These are revealed by the passage of multiple superluminal components throughout the jet as they move out from the core in a sequence of 12 monthly polarimetric observations taken with the VLBA at 15, 22, and 43 GHz. The degree of polarization has an asymmetric profile in which the northern side of the jet is more highly polarized. The Faraday rotation measure is also stratified across the jet width, with larger values for the southern side. Superposed on this structure we find a localized region of high Faraday rotation measure (about 6000 rad/m^2) between approximately 3 and 4 mas from the core. This region of enhanced Faraday rotation may result from the interaction of the jet with the ambient medium, which may also explain the stratification in degree of polarization. The data are also consistent with a helical magnetic field in a two-fluid jet model, consisting of an inner emitting jet and a sheath of nonrelativistic electrons.
Agudo Iv'an
Gomez Jos'e L.
Jorstad Svetlana G.
Marscher Alan P.
Roca-Sogorb Mar
No associations
LandOfFree
Stratification in polarization and Faraday rotation in the jet of 3C 120 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Stratification in polarization and Faraday rotation in the jet of 3C 120, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stratification in polarization and Faraday rotation in the jet of 3C 120 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-660682