2008/10/30 by T. G. Arshakian, Arshakian, T. G., J. León-Tavares +13
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #FOS: Physical sciences #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0810.5523
openalex publication_date 2008/10/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Variations of the optical continuum emission in the radio galaxy 3C 390.3 are compared to the properties of radio emission from the compact, sub-parsec-scale jet in this object. We showed that very long-term variations of optical continuum emission (>10 years) is correlated with the radio emission from the base of the jet located above the disk, while the optical long-term variations (1-2 years) follows the radio flares from the stationary component in the jet with time delay of about 1 year. This stationary feature is most likely to be a standing shock formed in the continuous relativistic flow seen at a distance of ~0.4 parsecs from the base of the jet. To account for the correlations observed we propose a model of the nuclear region of 3C 390.3 in which the beamed continuum emission from the jet and counterjet ionizes material in a subrelativistic outflow surrounding the jet. This results in the formation of two conical regions with double-peaked broad emission lines (in addition to the conventional broad line region around the central nucleus) at a distance ~0.6 parsecs from the central engine.