NRAO: National Radio Astronomy Observatory

About this Image

These images of 0735+178, obtained by Gómez, Agudo, Marscher, Alberdi & Gabuzda ( Gómez et al. 1999), provide the highest resolution observations of this source to date, revealing a twisted jet in the inner regions of 0735+178. Two sharp projected bends of 90 deg. can be observed within 2 mas (1 mas=3.3 pc at the distance of 0735+178, z=0.424) from the core. The magnetic field appears to smoothly follow one of the bends in the jet, suggesting that this structure may be the result of a precessing nozzle in the jet of 0735+178.

In order to test this hypothesis we have performed 3D hydrodynamic relativistic simulations of a precessing jet, using the numerical code developed by Aloy, Marti, & Ibañez ( Aloy et al. 2000, and references therein). The images to the left show the time evolution (from top to bottom) of the expected emission from a precessing jet, when viewed at 10 deg. A twisted jet structure, similar to that observed in 0735+178, can easily be distinguished.

Further VLBA observations, in progress, should provide the necessary information to test whether the fluid in the jet of 0735+178 moves ballistically away from the core, or in such a way that the fluid velocity vectors remain parallel to the jet axis. This will provide information regarding the hydrodynamic properties of the jet in 0735+178, as well as the ambient medium through which it propagates.

Investigator(s):  Gómez, Agudo, Marscher, Alberdi and Gabuzda

Alternate Resolutions

Help

This image is available in the following downloadable versions:

• 540 x 354 color GIF
• 705 x 462 color GIF
• 466 x 558 color GIF

If you would like to obtain a higher resolution version of this image, please contact Pat Smiley.

For More Information

• Read the Journal article
• Up one level for more info on Quasars
• For unfamiliar terms, visit the NRAO Radio Astronomy Glossary

Technical Data

Telescope	VLBA
Date of Observation	1996-11-00
Type of Observation	Continuum Observations
Center of Image	RA: 07:38:7.40, Dec: 17:42:19.00 (J2000)
Field of View	0.0000 x 0.0000 degrees
Technical Caption	Left panel: 22 GHz; right panel: 43 GHz



Astronomical database entries for [HB89] 0735 178
• Query NED for images of [HB89] 0735 178
• Query SIMBAD for more [HB89] 0735 178 data

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