The synchrotron light from the jet of 3C 273.
Abstract
New optical data from polarimetry, photometry and astrometry are presented for the jet of 3C 273. They confirm the high degree of polarization at the outer end of the jet as well as the drop in polarization level in the inner region. The optical hot spot counterpart at the outer extreme of the jet reveals itself by a 90^deg^ flip in polarization, angle very similar to that found in the radio data. These findings confirm the synchrotron nature of the optical radiation and - based on life time arguments for the relativistic particles - demand in situ particle acceleration throughout the visible jet. Spectral index measurements along the jet show a spectrum f_v_ ~ v^-0.9^ in the part with low polarization steepening with increasing distance from the nucleus to v^-1.8^, There is no pronounced radio counterpart to the peak at the outer end of the optical jet. Based on their colours the extensions at both ends of the jet are probably chance coincidences with unrelated galaxies.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- December 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991A&A...252..458R
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Polarimetry;
- Quasars;
- Radio Jets (Astronomy);
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Astrometry;
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Relativistic Particles;
- Astrophysics