A Bright Optical Synchrotron Counterpart of the Western Hot SPOT in Pictor A
Abstract
A B = 19.5 mag bright, highly polarized (P > 30%) object was detected close to the western hot spot in Pictor A during an optical polarization survey of radio hot spots in classical double radio sources. The unresolved source exhibits a featureless continuum between 400 and 800 nm and is identified as the optical couterpart of the radio hot spot. It is surrounded by optical filaments aligned roughly perpendicular to the source axis. The hot spot is also marginally detected in an Einstein IPC frame.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1086/165039
- Bibcode:
- 1987ApJ...314...70R
- Keywords:
-
- Extragalactic Radio Sources;
- Galactic Structure;
- Light Sources;
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Optical Polarization;
- Polarimetry;
- Astrophysics;
- GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NAME: PICTOR A;
- GALAXIES: STRUCTURE;
- POLARIZATION;
- RADIO SOURCES: GALAXIES;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS