Proposal code

w002

Proposal title

Observations of 2 BL-Lac type objects: Mrk 501 and Mrk 421

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. Gabriele Giovannini Istituto di Radioastronomia - Italy
L. Lara IAA - CSIC; Spain
W.D. Cotton N.R.A.O. - USA
L. Feretti and T. Venturi Istituto di Radioastronomia - Italy

Proposal Abstract

We request VSOP observations at 6 and 18 cm of 2 nearby BL-Lac type objects: Mrk 501 and Mrk 421. Previous VLBA and VSOP observations at 18 cm (Mrk501 only) show a strong core emission, a one-sided jet with large oscillations and an extended low brightness emission after change of the jet direction of ~ 90^\circ. The aim of requested observations are: - to derive the jet velocity and orientation to compare jet properties of low power sources and high power radio quasars; - to measure the intrinsic core properties and size; - to compare different epoch maps and derive the proper motion of jet substructures and confirm the jet oscillation. In particular if jet oscillations are due to orbital motion-precession effects we expect a regular outward motion while if the oscillations are due to hydrodynamic jet instabilities, we expect a less organized motion.

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 AO2 proposals were submitted in May 1998, 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.