3C 120: connection between the optical variability and superluminal components of the millisecond radio structure

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012448· OSTI ID:5962150

Belokon', E T

A connection between the optical outbursts (/triangle/B = O./sup m/7) and ejections from the nucleus of compact components of a millisecond radio jet has been found for a second superluminal source: 3C 120 (a similar phenomenon was found earlier for the quasar 3C 345). The conclusion is based on identity of the periods for the epochs of ejection of the radio components (P/sub rad/ = 303 days /+-/ 3 days) and the period (P/sub opt/ = 302 days) of occurrence of optical outbursts (/triangle/B = 0./sup m/7) in the same time interval. A composite light curve reveals a multicomponent structure of the optical variability of 3C 120 that is similar to the structure of the variability of NGC 4151. The distances between the components of the 200-millisecond jet of 3C 120 correspond to the cycle of the component of the optical variability with /triangle/T = 15 yr if it is assumed that the proper motion of the radio components remains the same at different scales. This correspondence is an argument for the existence of relativistic velocities in the large-scale structures.

• Research Organization: Leningrad State Univ. (USSR)
• OSTI ID: 5962150
• Journal Information: Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysics (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN ATPYA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY PROPAGATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FOURIER ANALYSIS
GALAXIES
JETS
LUMINOSITY
MATHEMATICS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
RADIOASTRONOMY
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
REMOTE SENSING
SEYFERT GALAXIES
STATISTICS
TIMING PROPERTIES
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY