The inner jet of an active galactic nucleus as revealed by a radio-to-γ-ray outburst

Alan P. Marscher (), Svetlana G. Jorstad, Francesca D. D’Arcangelo, Paul S. Smith, G. Grant Williams, Valeri M. Larionov, Haruki Oh, Alice R. Olmstead, Margo F. Aller, Hugh D. Aller, Ian M. McHardy, Anne Lähteenmäki, Merja Tornikoski, Esko Valtaoja, Vladimir A. Hagen-Thorn, Eugenia N. Kopatskaya, Walter K. Gear, Gino Tosti, Omar Kurtanidze, Maria Nikolashvili, Lorand Sigua, H. Richard Miller and Wesley T. Ryle
Additional contact information
Alan P. Marscher: Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
Svetlana G. Jorstad: Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
Francesca D. D’Arcangelo: Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
Paul S. Smith: Steward Observatory,
G. Grant Williams: MMT Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0065, USA
Valeri M. Larionov: Astronomical Institute of St Petersburg State University, Universitetskij Prospect 28, Petrodvorets, 198504 St Petersburg, Russia
Haruki Oh: Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
Alice R. Olmstead: Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
Margo F. Aller: University of Michigan, 830 Dennison Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1090, USA
Hugh D. Aller: University of Michigan, 830 Dennison Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1090, USA
Ian M. McHardy: University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Anne Lähteenmäki: Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Helsinki University of Technology TKK, Metsähovintie 114, 02540 Kylmälä, Finland
Merja Tornikoski: Metsähovi Radio Observatory, Helsinki University of Technology TKK, Metsähovintie 114, 02540 Kylmälä, Finland
Esko Valtaoja: Tuorla Observatory Väisäläntie 20
Vladimir A. Hagen-Thorn: Astronomical Institute of St Petersburg State University, Universitetskij Prospect 28, Petrodvorets, 198504 St Petersburg, Russia
Eugenia N. Kopatskaya: Astronomical Institute of St Petersburg State University, Universitetskij Prospect 28, Petrodvorets, 198504 St Petersburg, Russia
Walter K. Gear: School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University
Gino Tosti: University of Perugia, Via A. Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Omar Kurtanidze: Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Mt Kanobili, Abastumani, Georgia
Maria Nikolashvili: Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Mt Kanobili, Abastumani, Georgia
Lorand Sigua: Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Mt Kanobili, Abastumani, Georgia
H. Richard Miller: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA
Wesley T. Ryle: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA

Nature, 2008, vol. 452, issue 7190, 966-969

Abstract: Blazars: model behaviour Blazars are the most extreme active galactic nuclei, possessing oppositely directed plasma jets emanating from accreting supermassive black holes at near-light speeds. The jets have been modelled as being propelled by magnetic fields twisted by differential rotation of the black hole's accretion disk or inertial-frame-dragging ergosphere. Until now, this general picture of jet formation, and the exact location of the outbursts, had not been verified. Marscher et al. now report high-resolution radio images and optical polarization measurements of the blazar BL Lacertae. The new measurements reveal a bright feature in the jet that causes a double flare of radiation from optical frequencies to TeV γ-ray energies. This suggests that the event begins in a region with a helical magnetic field, in line with model predictions.

Date: 2008
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature06895 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7190:d:10.1038_nature06895

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/nature06895

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().