The Trails of Superluminal Jet Components in 3C111

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dc.creatorKadler, M.
dc.creatorRos, E.
dc.creatorPerucho, M.
dc.creatorKovalev, Y. Y.
dc.creatorHoman, D. C.
dc.creatorAgudo, I.
dc.creatorKellermann, K. I.
dc.creatorAller, M. F.
dc.creatorAller, H. D.
dc.creatorLister, M. L.
dc.creatorZensus, J. A.
dc.date2008-01-04
dc.date2008-01-07
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T09:44:05Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T09:44:05Z
dc.descriptionIn 1996, a major radio flux-density outburst occured in the broad-line radio galaxy 3C111. It was followed by a particularly bright plasma ejection associated with a superluminal jet component, which has shaped the parsec-scale structure of 3C111 for almost a decade. Here, we present results from 18 epochs of Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations conducted since 1995 as part of the VLBA 2 cm Survey and MOJAVE monitoring programs. This major event allows us to study a variety of processes associated with outbursts of radio-loud AGN in much greater detail than has been possible in other cases: the primary perturbation gives rise to the formation of a leading and a following component, which are interpreted as a forward and a backward-shock. Both components evolve in characteristically different ways and allow us to draw conclusions about the work flow of jet-production events; the expansion, acceleration and recollimation of the ejected jet plasma in an environment with steep pressure and density gradients are revealed; trailing components are formed in the wake of the primary perturbation possibly as a result of coupling to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability pinching modes from the interaction of the jet with the external medium. The interaction of the jet with its ambient medium is further described by the linear-polarization signature of jet components traveling along the jet and passing a region of steep pressure/density gradients.
dc.description16 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; a reference is updated
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0801.0617
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0801.0617
dc.identifierAstroph.J. 680 (2008), 867-884
dc.identifierdoi:10.1086/529539
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/162745
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleThe Trails of Superluminal Jet Components in 3C111
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