Models of decelerating relativistic jets in 3C 31

Conference item

We model the brightness and polarization structure of the inner jets in the low-luminosity radio galaxy 3C 31 on the assumption that they are intrinsically symmetrical, axisymmetric relativistic jets. Our approach is to make parametrized models of velocity, emissivity and field ordering, to predict the radio emission and to optimize the parameters by fitting to deep, high-resolution VLA observations of Stokes I, Q and U. Our models axe in excellent agreement with the observations for an angle to the line of sight of approximate to 50degrees. The jets decelerate from v/c approximate to 0.9 to sub-relativistic speeds on several-kiloparsec scales. We use this velocity variation, together with the formulation of conservation of particle number, energy and momentum given by Bicknell (1994), to calculate the physical parameters of the flow. ROSAT observations constrain the external pressure distribution, allowing us to derive unique solutions for pressure, density, Mach number and mass flux as functions of distance from the nucleus. Both stellar mass injection and entrainment of the surrounding IGM axe likely to contribute to jet deceleration.

Authors: Laing, R; Bridle, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: PARTICLES AND FIELDS IN RADIO GALAXIES
• Volume: 250
• Pages: 269-275
• Publication date: 2002-01-01
• Event title: Oxford Radio Galaxy Workshop
• ISBN: 1583810900
• Keywords: RADIO GALAXIES; DEPOLARIZATION