Proposal code

w316

Proposal title

VSOP Observations of Centaurus A

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. Kenta Fujisawa NAO, Mitaka, Japan
M. Morimoto Nishiharima Observatory, Japan
S. Iguchi, H. Hobayashi NAO, Mitaka, Japan
S. Kamemo, M. Inoue NAO, Mitaka, Japan
N. Kawaguchi, S. Horiuchi NAO, Mitaka, Japan
Y. Murata, K. Wajima ISAS, Sagamihara, Japan
R. Okayasu ISAS, Sagamihara, Japan

Proposal Abstract

We have observed Centaurus A (Cen A) at 5 GHz and obtained the highest resolution (2.15\times0.524mas) image. The light-month jet of Cen A exhibits a prominent bending with real angle of >45 degree. No such heavy bending has been found in any AGN. We consider this bending is a key feature for investigating the jet physics, and propose follow-up observations of Cen A by VSOP. This bending could be interpreted with two categories of theoretical models, magnetic field or particle dominant models. Interestingly, these two models predict different motions of the bending. Monitoring the structural variability focusing on the bending of the jet, would let us obtain a clue of physical process of AGN jet acceleration in the light-month scale. Space VLBI observation is the best solution for this observation, because the space baseline fill the sparse ground baselines for high quality imaging.

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 AO3 proposals were submitted in October 1999, 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.