Proposal code

v017

Proposal title

VSOP Observations of 2 Bl-Lac type objects: Mrk421 and Mrk501

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. G. Giovannini I.R.A. - CNR and Astronomy Dpt., ITALY
W.D. Cotton N.R.A.O. - U.S.A.
L. Lara I.R.A. - CNR, Italy and IAA-CSIC, SPAIN
T. Venturi I.R.A. - CNR, ITALY

Proposal Abstract

We request VSOP observations at 6 and 18 cm of 2 nearby BL-Lac type objects: Mrk421 and Mrk501. Previous global VLBI observations show that Mrk421 has a straight extended parsec scale jet with knots moving at an apparent superluminal velocity, while Mrk501 has a very distorted (helical) jet and a possible counter-jet. In this object no motion have been detected up to now. The requested high resolution observations compared with the large amount of available data from gamma to radio for both objects, will allow the study of the nature and physic of the central engine in BL-Lac type objects. In addition a comparison with high power sources (quasar) and low power radio galaxies will allow us to test unified scheme models.

The full Cover Sheets (compressed post-script, typically 50kbytes) can be retrieved. Note that many proposals were reduced in extent by the Scientific Review Committee (e.g. by reducing the number of experiments), however the Cover Sheets contain the full proposal as submitted. Also note that AO1 proposals were submitted in November 1995, and information such as affiliations and contact details has changed for some proposers since that time. The Cover Sheets (and the details on this page, which were derived from the Cover Sheets) may therefore have changed.