2001/04/18 by J. M. Attridge, Joanne M. Attridge · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/320505
AASTeX v5.02; 10 pages; 4 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters
arxiv created 2001/04/18 · openalex publication_date 2001/05/20 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Very long baseline polarimetry at 86 GHz probes magnetic field structures within the cores of active galactic nuclei at higher angular resolutions and a spectral octave higher than previously achievable. Observations of 3C 273 and 3C 279 taken in 2000 April with the Coordinated Millimeter VLBI Array have resulted in the first total intensity (Stokes I ) and linear polarization VLBI images reported of any source at 86 GHz. These results reveal the 86 GHz electric vector position angles within the jets of 3C 273 and 3C 279 to be orthogonal to each other and the core of 3C 273 to be unpolarized. If this lack of polarization is due to Faraday depolarization alone, the dispersion in rotation measure is ≳90,000 rad m -2 for the core of 3C 273.