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arXiv · 1301.2049

VLBI observations of helical jets: hints on the nature of radio-jets

M. Perucho·Y. Y. Kovalev. P. E. Hardee·A. P. Lobanov·I. Agudo·I. Marti-Vidal
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Abstract

We make use of VLBI observations of the radio jet in the quasar S5 0836+710 at different frequencies and epochs to study its properties. The jet shows helical structure at all frequencies. The ridge-line of the emission in the jet coincides at all frequencies and epochs, within the errors. We conclude that the helicity is a real, physical structure. Small differences between epochs reveal wave-like motion of the ridge-line transversal to the jet propagation axis. These transversal motions are measured to be superluminal. This unphysical result could correspond to a possible small amplitude oscillation of the ridge-line at the radio-core and to large errors in the determination of the positions. In addition, higher resolution images at 15 GHz show that the ridge-line does not coincide exactly with the centre of the radio jet. At arc-second scales, this powerful jet shows non-collimated, irregular structure and a lack of a hot-spot. Following this collection of evidence, we conclude that the ridge-line could be related to a pressure maximum within the jet cross-section, associated with the observed helical pattern that could lead to jet disruption at longer scales. We discuss the implications regarding the nature of the instability and the jet flow itself.

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M. Perucho, Y. Y. Kovalev. P. E. Hardee, A. P. Lobanov, I. Agudo, I. Marti-Vidal. 2013-01-13. VLBI observations of helical jets: hints on the nature of radio-jets. https://arxiv.org/abs/1301.2049

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