The Accelerating Jet of 3C279
Abstract
Analysis of the proper motions of the sub-parsec scale jet of 3C 279 at 15 GHz with the VLBA shows significant recent changes in apparent velocity for the significant jet feature labeled in the recent literature as C5. This is due mainly to a bulk acceleration, parallel to direction of apparent motion, of -0.034 ± 0.007 mas/yr2 and change in the angle with the line of sight. In addition, there is a less significant azimuthal bending of the jet away from the line of sight of -0.011 ± 0.007 mas/yr2, perpindicular to the direction of apparent motion. We use these acceleration values, proper motion data, polarization, total flux density and brighteness temperature considerations to set limits on the trajectory of the jet . The simplest models show that Γ=16.7 as the line of sight angle decreases from about 3 to 3.4 degrees. Additional models that involve simultaneous changes in bulk motion and angle with the line of sight fit these data better and will be discussed.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21543416B