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Electron–positron jets associated with the quasar 3C279
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Electron–positron jets associated with the quasar 3C279
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Journal Article
Electron–positron jets associated with the quasar 3C279
1998
Overview
A long-standing question in extragalactic astrophysics is the composition of the relativistic jets of plasma that stream from the nuclei of quasars and active galaxies—do they consist of a ‘normal’ (electron–proton) plasma, or a ‘pair’ (electron–positron) plasma? Distinguishing between these possibilities is crucial for understanding the physical processes occurring close to the putative supermassive black holes that are believed responsible for the jets. Here we report the detection of circularly polarized radio emission from the jets of the archtypal quasar 3C279. The circular polarization is produced by Faraday conversion, which requires the energy distribution of the radiating particles to extend to very low energies, indicating that electron–positron pairs are an important component of the jet plasma. Similar detections in three other radio sources suggest that, in general, extragalactic radio jets are composed mainly of an electron–positron plasma.
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing,Nature Publishing Group
Subject
/ Characteristics and properties of external galaxies and extragalactic objects
/ Exact sciences and technology
/ Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations
/ Humanities and Social Sciences
/ Jets
/ Jets and bursts. Galactic winds and fountains
/ Quasars
/ Quasars. Active or peculiar galaxies, objects, and systems
/ Radio
/ Science
/ Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe
/ Streams
