Proposal code

w081

Proposal title

Polarization Monitoring of gamma-ray Blazars at 5 & 1.6 GHz

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. G. A. Moellenbrock ISAS, Japan
D. H. Roberts Brandeis University, USA
J. F. C. Wardle Brandeis University, USA

Proposal Abstract

We propose multi-epoch 5 and 1.6 GHz polarization-sensitive VSOP observations of three superluminal gamma-ray blazars to further investigate the complex parsec-scale polarization structure we have been monitoring at higher frequencies (8,15,22,43 GHz) with the VLBA. These observations, with high resolution at lower frequencies, will characterize the sharp bends or oscillations in these sources over a larger range of scale than is possible from the ground at higher frequencies. Our ensemble of monitoring observations (including contemporaneous matched-resolution ground-based VLBI) will demonstrate the utility of polarization observations in unraveling complex and evolving jet trajectories. Possible helical structures will be investigated, and the refined shock model of Wardle et al. (1994, ApJ 437, 122) will be applied to constrain the relativisitic flow velocities and preferred orientations necessary to explain the gamma-ray emission.

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.