High dynamic range VLA observations of eight core-dominated quasars

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115579· OSTI ID:6440538

Kollgaard, R I; Wardle, J F.C.; Roberts, D H ^[1]

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1. Brandeis Univ., Waltham, MA (USA)

The Very Large Array has been used at 5 GHz to make high dynamic range observations of eight quasars with prominent cores. All exhibit one-sided jets, and all but one show evidence of diffuse halos. The luminosity of the extended emission by itself is sufficient for these to be Fanaroff-Riley Class II radio sources. This interpretation is confirmed by the polarization of the extended structure: the inferred magnetic field is parallel to the jet axis in all cases, and in all but one instance turns to be nearly perpendicular to the jet at its outer end. These latter structures are identified as classical terminal hot-spots. Both the total intensity data and especially the polarization data strongly support the notion that these quasars are similar to the classical lobe-dominated quasars, but are oriented with jet axes close to the line of sight. If this is so, then the relatively high degrees of polarization observed in the terminal hotspots appear to require that the downstream fluid velocities in the hotspots are mildly relativistic, in the range v/c = 0.2 - 0.8. This, in turn, implies that the jets are at least moderately relativistic over their entire length. 53 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6440538
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal; (USA) Vol. 100; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY RANGE
HOT SPOTS
LUMINOSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MORPHOLOGY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA JETS
POLARIZATION
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPECTRA