Extended radio jets in the high-redshift quasars 3C 9 and 280.1.

Total intensity and polarization observations made with the VLA at 5 GHz of two high-redshift quasars 3C 9 and 280.1 are presented. They appear to have extended one-sided radio jets, which are the most luminous yet to be reported. The jet in 3C 280.1 which was observed with rather higher resolution is discussed in greater detail. This jet has no prominent hotspot at its end and shows several wiggles along its path. The magnetic field is nearly aligned with the axis of the jet and appears to bend along with it. Several possible explanations for the morphological features of the jet are considered, and it is suggested that they are likely to be due to hydrodynamic instabilities. In this scenario, the observed wiggles in the jet are attributed to the onset of helical modes of large wavelength. The absence of a prominent hotspot at the end of the jet may be understood if the energy in the beam is gradually dissipated in shocks and small-wavelength perturbations.